Arthur Machen

Date of Birth: March 3, 1863

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: December 15, 1947

Biography

Arthur Machen, born Arthur Llewellyn Jones, was a distinguished Welsh author and mystic, celebrated for his supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. Machen was born on March 3, 1863, in Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales. His works are renowned for their elaborate and often eerie descriptions, blending the natural with the supernatural to evoke a sense of ancient mystery and spiritual depth. His notable works include “The Great God Pan,” “The White People,” and “The Hill of Dreams.” Machen’s writing career began in the late 19th century, and he quickly gained a reputation for his unique style and eerie storytelling. His work was initially met with mixed reviews, but over time, he became a significant influence on other writers, including H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. Machen was also an actor, journalist, and translator, contributing to various literary and theatrical circles. Throughout his life, Machen remained deeply connected to his Welsh heritage and the ancient myths and landscapes that inspired much of his writing. He passed away on December 15, 1947, in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, leaving behind a legacy of literature that continues to captivate readers to this day.

5 Interesting Facts about Arthur Machen

1. Arthur Machen’s novella “The Great God Pan” was considered so controversial upon its release in 1894 that it was labelled as degenerate and horrific by the critics of the time.

2. Machen was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an influential secret society devoted to the study and practice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities.

3. His work, “The Angels of Mons,” which described a supernatural intervention during World War I, became a widely believed urban legend and boosted his fame.

4. Despite his later literary fame, Machen spent many years in financial difficulty, taking various low-paying jobs to support his family.

5. Machen was an avid walker and often drew inspiration for his writing from the Welsh landscape and the ancient Roman ruins near his birthplace.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Arthur Machen

1. “It was better, he thought, to fail in striving for something splendid than to succeed in the pursuit of a thing mean and contemptible.”

2. “I dream in fire but work in clay.”

3. “For truly, it is a terrible thing for a man to find out suddenly that all his life he has been speaking nothing but the truth.”

4. “He who has once looked upon the Beautiful is not again free.”

5. “The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Arthur Machen’s net worth is not well documented, but he is known to have struggled financially throughout much of his life. His literary works, however, gained significant recognition posthumously.

Children

Arthur Machen had two children with his first wife, Amy Hogg. Their daughter, Hilary, was born in 1895, and their son, Janet, was born in 1896. After Amy’s death, Machen married Dorothie Purefoy Hudleston, but they did not have any children together.