Sjömansbiblioteket

'The Angels of Mons' is a short story by Arthur Machen based on a popular British legend - at the beginning of the First World War some soldiers claimed to have been aided by a supernatural force at the decisive moment in the Battle of Mons (1915).

Machen creates a storyline that blends supernatural elements with patriotism, folk tales and urban legends. A must-read for fans of supernatural yet 'based on a true story' narratives.

Jorge Luis Borges cited Machen as a great writer and an inspiration for the magical realism movement in literature. Notorious occultist Aleister Crowley also greatly admired Machen for effortlessly crossing over the threshold that separates reality and the magical realm.

'The Angels of Mons' is highly recommended for fans of the 'Good Omens' series inspired by Terry Pratchett's fiction and starring Michael Sheen and David Tennant.


Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh writer of supernatural, fantasy, and horror novels. Before his literary career skyrocketed he also worked as a journalist and an actor. His major belief was that the ordinary and external world surreptitiously conceals something far more mysterious and bizarre. In turn, we are deeply interested in trying to lift the veil enshrouding the threshold separating the two. His most acclaimed works include the classic horror novella 'The Great God Pan' and the semi-autobiographical 'The Hill of Dreams'.

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