The Death Mask by H.D. Everett (1920) | A Forgotten Classic Ghost Story

What if the face of someone long dead began appearing where no human face could possibly be? In The Death-Mask, H. D. Everett takes a deceptively simple supernatural idea and turns it into an increasingly disturbing tale of memory, possession and a presence that refuses to relinquish its influence over the living. Rather than relying upon the familiar trappings of the traditional haunted house, Everett allows the supernatural to invade ordinary domestic surroundings. Familiar objects become unsettling, and the unmistakable likeness of the dead begins to appear in places where reason insists that it cannot exist. First published in 1920 in The Death-Mask and Other Ghosts, issued in London by Philip Allan, the story is the title tale of Everett’s collection of fourteen supernatural stories. The collection is now recognised as an important but comparatively neglected contribution to early twentieth-century British ghost fiction. Henrietta Dorothy Everett (1851–1923) was a prolific British novelist and short-story writer who also published extensively under the name Theo Douglas. Her supernatural fiction often favours suggestion, psychological unease and the intrusion of the uncanny into everyday life rather than overt horror. The Death-Mask is a particularly effective example of her approach: restrained, intimate and increasingly disturbing. Read by Christopher Halton If you enjoy the classic ghost stories of M. R. James, Algernon Blackwood, E. F. Benson and other masters of supernatural fiction, please consider subscribing to Haunted Tales of Darkness for new narrations every week. 0:19 - Introduction 2:12 - Main Story 27:23 - Epilogue If you would like to help support future work, you can now support the channel directly via Patreon.   / chrishalton   Every story involves many hours of writing, research, editing, recording, artwork, and production to preserve the spirit of classic supernatural storytelling. There is never any obligation, of course, and simply watching, listening, commenting, and sharing already helps enormously. But for those who wish to contribute monthly, or leave the occasional gift of support, it is deeply appreciated and directly helps keep new stories and projects alive. Thank you for supporting Haunted Tales of Darkness. #GhostStories #HDEverett #ParsonClench #ClassicGhostStories #HauntedTalesOfDarkness #MRJames #SupernaturalFiction #EnglishGhostStories #Audiobook #HorrorStories