Arthur Machen (1863-1947) was a Welsh journalist, novelist, and short story writer. He is best known for his supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. He translated several books from French including Memoirs of Casanova. His lively English style generated demand of his translated editions for many years. Many consider the novels The House of Souls and The Hill of Dreams to be his best work.

The mystical qualities of the stories in "The House of Souls" are both rare and beautiful, and as a work of art alone it deserves to live. It is almost perfect-tender, true, intimate, and restrained.