The Temple of Death: The Ghost Stories of A. C. & R. H. Benson

The Temple of Death: The Ghost Stories of A. C. & R. H. Benson
Arthur C. Benson
Robert H. Benson
4/5 stars

A.C., R.H., and E.F. Benson

A. C. Benson and R. H. Benson have been overshadowed by their more popular novelist brother, E. F Benson, but between the three, they produced over 100 volumes of fiction and nonfiction.  This is a collection of stories written by the two less well-remembered Bensons during the early Edwardian era.

While the collection is referred to as "ghost stories", and described as "chilling", they are not ghost stories, and rarely chilling.  They are stories of the supernatural, simply told, and, as mentioned further down, mainly stories of Christian virtue versus demonic powers.

A. C. Benson's creates an excellent atmosphere, giving most stories a creepy feeling of dread.  His stories focus on Christianity triumphing over a supernatural evil, and follow the same formula.  His writing is good, but certainly not great.

Stories by A.C. Benson:
"The Temple of Death"  3/5 stars
"The Closed Window"  4/5 stars
"The Slype House"    4/5 stars
"The Red Camp" 4/5 stars
"Out of the Sea" 4/5 stars
"The Grey Cat" 3/5 stars
"The Hill of Trouble" 4/5 stars
"Basil Netherby" 3/5 stars
"The Uttermost Farthing" 4/5 stars

R. C. Benson's stories are mostly straight-forward Catholicism overcoming Satanic evil.  They lack the atmosphere of A.C. Benson's stories, but make up for it with well-thought out plots.  His writing is better than his brother's, and the narratives flow well.

Stories by R.H. Benson:
"The Watcher" 4/5 stars
"The Blood Eagle" 3/5 stars
"Consolatrix Afflictorium" 5/5 stars
"Over the Gateway" 4/5 stars
"Father Meuron's Tale"  4/5 stars
"Father Macclesfield's Tale" 3/5 stars
"The Traveler" 4/5 stars