Man-Size in Marble

Edith Nesbit

Summary

"They are only marble, Jack... they cannot move."

Looking for a peaceful life of artistic inspiration, a young married couple moves into a charming cottage in the English countryside, nestled near an ancient church. The local villagers speak in hushed tones of a dark legend: every Halloween, the two life-sized marble effigies of knights in the church rise from their tombs to walk the earth once more. While the skeptical husband laughs off the "rural superstition," his wife Laura is consumed by an inexplicable dread. As All Saints' Eve approaches, the boundary between stone and flesh begins to blur with devastating consequences.

A Masterclass in Gothic Suspense: Edith Nesbit, the creator of The Railway Children, showcases her darker genius in this quintessential Victorian horror. The story masterfully builds tension through the contrast between the sunny, domestic bliss of the newlyweds and the cold, subterranean malice of the church's inhabitants. It is a haunting exploration of the vulnerability of human happiness in the face of ancient, uncaring forces.

The Terror of the Inanimate: Man-Size in Marble is celebrated for its shocking and visceral conclusion, which remains one of the most famous endings in ghost-story history. Nesbit plays on the primal fear of the uncanny—the idea that something made of stone could possess a sentient, murderous intent. It is a taut, atmospheric work that proves why Nesbit was admired by contemporary horror giants like H.G. Wells and Lord Dunsany.

Stone cold and blood red. Purchase "Man-Size in Marble" today and experience the ultimate in Victorian dread.

Available since: 01/06/2026.

Print length: 64 pages.

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