Nigel Tourneur was the pseudonym of a

fin de siecle A fin is a thin component or appendage attached to a larger body or structure. Fins typically function as foils that produce lift or thrust, or provide the ability to steer or stabilize motion while traveling in water, air, or other fluids. Fin ...

writer who is best known for his work ''Hidden Witchery'', a collection of seven short stories and a short prose drama. Set in the indeterminate past, these sensually charged stories are concerned with obsessive love, often given a macabre or supernatural twist. In an "advertisement" the author writes: ". . . Throughout the following stories and sketches — scantily in part, and, it is feared, obscurely, through symbolism — there may be traced the inception, growth, strength, awaywardness and maturity of its physical manhood, culminating in self-knowledge and abnegation. . . " ''Hidden Witchery'' was published in 1898 an edition of 450 copies by

Leonard Smithers Leonard Charles Smithers (19 December 1861 – 19 December 1907) was a London bookseller and publisher associated with the Decadent movement. Biography Born in Sheffield, Smithers worked as a solicitor, qualifying in 1884,Jon R. Godsall, ''Th ...

, with illustrations by

Will G. Mein William Gordon Mein (4 April 1868 - 1939) was a British book illustrator who flourished in the late 19th to early 20th century. He lived in London from around the turn of the century. Life and works Mein was born in Kelso, Scotland, Kelso, Rox ...

. A review in ''The Outlook'' commented: "'Nigel Tourneur,' the author of 'Hidden Witchery' (Smithers), the latest contribution to symbolistic literature, is a Scot, and a literary critic of advanced and independent views. He calls 'Hidden Witchery' a 'tentative' book, and there seems little doubt that the writer's undoubted power will sooner or later find a very different artistic outlet. But the present volume, curious mixture that it is, has touches of exceptionally happy artistry."''The Outlook'', June 11, 1898 As well as short stories, Nigel Tourneur wrote travel and historical articles and his work was published in British and American magazines including the ''

Overland Monthly The ''Overland Monthly'' was a monthly literary and cultural magazine, based in California, United States. It was founded in 1868 and published between the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. History The '' ...

'', ''Westward Ho!'', ''Scottish Art & Letters'', ''

The Gentleman's Magazine ''The Gentleman's Magazine'' was a monthly magazine founded in London, England, by Edward Cave in January 1731. It ran uninterrupted for almost 200 years, until 1922. It was the first to use the term ''magazine'' (from the French ''magazine'' ...

'', the ''

Commonweal Commonweal or common weal may refer to: * Common good, what is shared and beneficial for members of a given community * Common Weal, a Scottish think tank and advocacy group * Commonweal (magazine), ''Commonweal'' (magazine), an American lay-Cath ...

'', ''Child's Own Magazine'', and the ''

Catholic World ''The Catholic World'' was a periodical founded by Paulist Father Isaac Thomas Hecker in April 1865. It was published by the Paulist Fathers for over a century. According to Paulist Press, Hecker "wanted to create an intellectual journal for a g ...

''.

References

External links

Full text of ''Hidden Witchery'' at archive.org
* British writers Year of death missing Year of birth missing {{UK-writer-stub