The Beetle

'The Beetle' is Richard Marsh's most famous work, initially outselling 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker. Narrated from four different perspectives, it focuses on a monstrous creature from Ancient Egypt, which possesses the unfortunate and unemployed Richard Holt. The plot is set in motion when the creature sends Richard on a mission to steal some letters from the home of MP, Paul Lessingham. The content of the letters then sets off a chain of events that affects everyone who knows about them.
A grisly, ghoulish, and supernatural story, this is a perfect read for those who like their stories served up with spine-tingling chills. Richard Marsh (1857 - 1915) was born Richard Bernard Heldmann, in London. The son of a lace merchant, he began his writing career at the age of 23, writing adventure stories for boys in the 'Union Jack' magazine, 'Graphic, ' and 'Quiver and Young England.' During his final year as a co-editor at ´Union Jack´, it was discovered that he had been forging cheques, and living between France and Britain.
Apprehended after a year, he was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour. After completing his sentence, Marsh returned to writing, using the pen name we all know him by. While a prolific writer of short stories, Marsh also wrote full novels, including 'The Goddess: A Demon, ' and 'The House of Mystery.' Although a successful horror writer, he also wrote crime novels, such as 'The Datchet Diamonds´.