Hildred Castaigne, a troubled artist, battles for inspiration against a history of mental illness and in the wake of America's crippling war with the European Alliance. He resolves to visit Mr. Wilde 'The Repairer of Reputations', determined to acquire a copy of the infamous King in Yellow, a play banned since its publication in 1890, its tattered pages concealing some poisonous allegory that engenders madness and despair. The authorities soon seized the published copies but the legend endures amongst rumours of power and wealth beyond imagination for those who might unlock its twisted secrets.
Castaigne is rival to the love of a local dilettante, Constance, who seems more enamoured of his cousin Louis, a soldier. As terrible dreams and maddening visions overcome him Castaigne turns to his model, Tessie, for comfort. Whilst Castaigne becomes increasingly absorbed by the irrevocable malignity of the play he glimpses visions of the lost world of Carcosa with its crumbling towers and black stars. Can Tessie save him from the overwhelming decadence of the macabre King in Yellow?

 

(October 2005, 52pp, 3 Illustrations, £7.95 inc. P&P)