My latest piece for Aurealis magazine ‘The God Pan and English fantasy’ was published today.
Inspired by a recent read of The Wind in the Willows, in particular the ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ chapter, I write about how fantasists like Kenneth Grahame, as well as Arthur Machen, orient the pagan god Pan to the English values of their time.
I then contrast them with Irish writers like James Stephens, or women writers such as Hope Mirrlees and Sylvia Townsend Warner, who do not necessarily assert the pre-eminence of Christian values, or male dominance.
Special thanks to Hayden Fryer for his accompanying illustration of Pan.