The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion: A Short Story

By Andrew Barger

In "The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion" Andrew Barger brings a precocious monster of antiquity back to life. At times the tale is dark, at times it is funny. This is a short story contained in his first collection entitled MAILBOXES - MANSIONS - MEMPHISTOPHELES.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Barger
• Release date: Aug 6, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466029989

Andrew Barger

Andrew Barger is the author of The Divine Dantes trilogy that follows the characters of The Divine Comedy through a modern world. Andrew is the award winning author of "Coffee with Poe: A Novel of Edgar Allan Poe's Life" and "The Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849". His first collection of short stories is "Mailboxes - Mansions - Memphistopheles". His other popular anthologies are "The Best Vampire Stories 1800-1849", "The Best Werewolf Short Stories 1800-1849" and "The Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849".

Book preview

The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion

A Short Story

Andrew Barger

Smashwords Edition

Discover other titles by Andrew Barger: www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AndrewBarger

This book is available in print at all major online book retailers. It is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting Andrew Barger’s creative efforts and hard work.

Fiction by Andrew Barger

Mailboxes – Mansions – Memphistopheles

A Collection of Dark Tales

Coffee with Poe

A Novel of Edgar Allan Poe’s Life

Edited by Andrew Barger

The Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849

A Classic Ghost Anthology

Edgar Allan Poe

Annotated and Illustrated Entire Stories and Poems

The Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849

A Classic Horror Anthology

The Best Werewolf Short Stories 1800-1849

A Classic Werewolf Anthology

Leo Tolstoy’s 20 Greatest Short Stories

Annotated

Orion

An Epic English Poem

Website: AndrewBarger.com

Blog: AndrewBarger.Blogspot.com

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Contents

Introduction

The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion

About Andrew

Why are you . . . waving a fish . . . at me . . . in a threatening manner? Very square.

---The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion

Introduction

Nineteenth century legends of brownies, those little creatures who take up residence in the quaint cottages of Ireland and the stone houses of chilly Scottish moors, are well documented thanks in large part to the Ettrick Sheppard that was James Hogg. It seems these creatures have fallen out of publishing favor (although as real as ever) not only in Europe, but most certainly in America, where they have seldom (if ever) been seen on these literary shores.

By this tale the feisty brownie has been resurrected through a wonderful literary manifestation called The Short Story. They tell us The Short Story is dead in the modern age given our handy e-reading devices. Don’t you believe it. The Short Story is more alive than ever.

It is the other end of the literary spectrum that is in danger of becoming extinct: The loooooong novel. Who wants to slug through War and Peace on a computer screen even if it fits in the palm of one’s hand? Who wants to read Tolstoy’s masterpiece on their phone? What’s more, very few have the patience in this time of hyperbursts of information from multiple people at the same time. Video killed the radio star. Tweets and text messages killed the long novel. May it rest in peace.

It is The Short Story that can be digested on our subways and trains and buses in one sitting. It is The Short Story that is more inviting in our modern age despite our ability to now carry entire libraries of huge novels in our pockets. For instance, in researching The Best Ghost Stories 1800-1849 and The Best Horror Stories 1800-1849 I read many short stories on my phone. This was a far from intolerable experience. The little tales were actually enjoyable even on the smallest of our electronic devices.

If you are about to read The Brownie of the Alabaster Mansion on your phone, I commend you. It is my hope that the creature will once again pull up a fireside chair and take residence in shirt pockets and carry on bags to be forgotten no more.

In truth, the brownie has always existed apart from the literature James Hogg created over 150 years ago, especially in America. It is only recently, however, that this pathetic creature has moved into the Alabaster Mansion.