
Reviving the classics: The Beetle
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 out of 5 stars
In London, Robert Holt encounters a mysterious figure who, through mesmerism, forces him to do his bidding. He is sent to the house of an influential politician, Paul Lessingham, to steal some papers from his desk. When discovered and pursued, he utters ‘the Beetle’ in a changed voice, which seems to hold some power over Lessingham…
Richard Marsh’s The Beetle is a classic Late-Victorian Gothic novel. It is a sensational story, full of action and adventure, with the Gothic theme of the ancient Egyptian entity seeking revenge on a member of the British Parliament. The most thrilling element of the book is the story and true nature of the Beetle— a shape-shifter, a gender-fluid creature who possesses incredible hypnotic powers and spreads havoc within the reserved Victorian society.