After a few intolerable moments I felt better, but the heavy air pressed on me stiflingly and I rushed from the inner room into the larger and outer chamber. Here a blast of cool air revived me, and I saw that the place was changed.

A dozen other candelabra besides those I had lighted were flaming round the walls, the hearth was all ruddy with a blazing fire, everything that had been dim was bright, the luster had returned to the gilding, the flowers bloomed in the vases. A lady was sitting before the hearth in a low armchair. Her light loose gown swept about her on the carpet, her black hair fell around her to her knees, and into it her hands were thrust as she leaned her forehead upon them, and starred between them into the fire. I had scarcely time to observe her attitude when she turned her head quickly towards me, and I recognized the handsome face of the magnificent lady who had plaid such a sinister part in the strange scenes that had been enacted before me two nights ago. I saw something dark looming behind her chair, but I thought it was only her shadow thrown backward by the fire.

She arose and came to meet me, and I recoiled from her. There was something horridly fixed and hollow in her gaze, and filmy in the stirring of her garments. The shadow, as she moved, grew more firm and distinct in outline, and followed her like a servant where she went.

The Ghost of the Rath by Rosa Mulholland in part of the Twelve Irish Ghost Stories anthology and was first published in 1891. It’s a very classic gothic story, with an abandoned, gloomy manor and a secret history with murder. But I find it very evocative, especially in the atmosphere. The place is more vivid than the characters and not only where it becomes alive with the shades of people who lived and died there.

Descriptions are so vivid and visual that it almost feels like you stand there, right beside the characters. This is what I like about classic gothic fiction. Today, many readers seem to think that descriptions are boring and that action should be favoured. I believe that when done well, a description can create a new world we can visit as readers.

This story sure does the trick.

In post is part of the Thursday Quotables meme. If you want to discover more about this meme and maybe take part in it, head over to Bookshelf Fantasies

This post is also part of the Ireland Reading Month organised by 746 Books and The Fluff Is Raging blogs.

“Last year we hosted a whopping 130 posts on all things relating to Irish culture. Books, food, travel, movies, theatre and favourite bookshops – your enthusiasm was boundless and so was your reading.

So this year we hope to be bigger and better.

To celebrate the wealth and breadth and general awesomeness of Irish cultural life, 746 Books and Raging Fluff are co-hosting a month long celebration of all things Irish.”