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| {{:blitz.jpg?direct&300 |}}In 1941, during the blitz, disaster strikes. Visiting relatives in the outskirts of London, Francesca is killed when a building, weakened by enemy munitions, collapses. Andrew, who was with Francesca at the time, is also assumed dead, the body unrecoverable. In fact, Andrew, traumatized by the event, wanders, dazed, into London where he is eventually picked up by the police and put into an orphanage. Utterly traumatized, the boy does not speak a word for the next 3 years. | {{:blitz.jpg?direct&300 |}}In 1941, during the blitz, disaster strikes. Visiting relatives in the outskirts of London, Francesca is killed when a building, weakened by enemy munitions, collapses. Andrew, who was with Francesca at the time, is also assumed dead, the body unrecoverable. In fact, Andrew, traumatized by the event, wanders, dazed, into London where he is eventually picked up by the police and put into an orphanage. Utterly traumatized, the boy does not speak a word for the next 3 years. |
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| With the death of his wife and son, Nathaniel's writing becomes, again, dark. His stories are now haunted, disjointed things, full of faustian bargains and unutterable sacrifices. Nathaniel begins planning an archaeological excavation to the Nepalese highlands, a journey to be funded from his own, not insubstantial, fortune. On the morning of November 1st, 1947, however, he is found dead in his study, shot through the head...a revolver laying in his right hand. Neighbors say that on the previous evening they recall a large car parked outside the house - possibly an army staff car - but no one is able to say for certain. What was heard, however, was a heated argument took place in Browne's home, which the word //'Carcosa'// was mentioned, and also something about a //'King'//. Unable to find any trace of foul play and discovering copious supplies of opium in Nathaniel's study and blood, the case is deemed a suicide. Thankfully, the police do not notice the burned remains of several maps, notes and books in the fireplace. | With the death of his wife and son, Nathaniel's writing becomes, again, dark. His stories are now haunted, disjointed things, full of faustian bargains and unutterable sacrifices. Nathaniel begins planning an archaeological excavation to the Nepalese highlands, a journey to be funded from his own, not insubstantial, fortune. On the morning of November 1st, 1947, however, he is found dead in his study, shot through the head...a revolver laying in his right hand. A few neighbors would say that - on the night n question - they did recall a large car parked outside the house - possibly an army staff car - but no one is able to say for certain. What they can attest to, however, was the heated argument that took place in Browne's home, in which the word //'Carcosa'// was heard shouted, and also something about a //'King'//. Unable to find any trace of foul play and discovering copious supplies of opium in Nathaniel's study and blood, the case is quickly deemed a suicide. Thankfully, the police do not notice the burned remains of several maps, notes and books in the fireplace. |
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| To everyone's surprise, Nathaniel has left his estate to a long absent second cousin, thought to be living in Australia. With the executors unable to find this heir, and strictly forbidden from dispersing Browne's holdings, the house - and all the rest of the author's assets - are simply locked up and left in a trust. | To everyone's surprise, Nathaniel has left his estate to a long absent second cousin, thought to be living in Australia. With the executors unable to find this heir, and strictly forbidden from dispersing Browne's holdings, the house - and all the rest of the author's assets - are simply locked up and left in a trust. |
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| Withers, by now a Colonel and a veteran of two world wars, attended Browne's funeral, but declined to say any words about his friend, instead simply stating that the author's past was best left a closed book. Happily married, and settled in his career, Colonel Withers had returned to a life that had long ago left behind the horrors of Carcosa and Leng behind... except occasionally in dreams. As the only true survivor of the entire incredible affair, he privately mourned the loss of all his old companions (none more so than [[doctor_frederick_bartlett| Frederick]]), but would never really know to what extent they could be said to have triumphed. | Withers, by now a Colonel and a veteran of two world wars, attended Browne's funeral, but declined to say any words about his friend, instead simply stating that the author's past was best left a closed book. Happily married, and settled in his career, Colonel Withers had returned to a life that had long ago left behind the horrors of Carcosa and Leng behind... except occasionally in dreams. As the only true survivor of the entire incredible affair, he privately mourned the loss of all his old companions (none more so than [[doctor_frederick_bartlett| Frederick]]), and would remain fearful of the King gaze being once more directed down on earth... |
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| {{ :dark-pilgrimage-a-nathaniel-browne-novel.jpg?direct&300|}}In the years after Nathaniel's death, his books experience an incredible upsurge in popularity due, in no small part, to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his demise. His publishers arrange for his last unfinished work to be completed by a leading author of the day. This turned out to be a magnum opus, a fiction of great emotional power which borrowed heavily - although the readers will never know it - from the real world adventure of Nathaniel and his friends. This novel is seen as so unique that scholars would continue to debate the symbolism and meaning of this work for decades to come. | {{ :dark-pilgrimage-a-nathaniel-browne-novel.jpg?direct&300|}}In the years after Nathaniel's death, his books experience an incredible upsurge in popularity due, in no small part, to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his demise. His publishers arrange for his last unfinished work to be completed by a leading author of the day. This turned out to be a magnum opus, a fiction of great emotional power which borrowed heavily - although the readers will never know it - from the real world adventure of Nathaniel and his friends. This novel is seen as so unique that scholars would continue to debate the symbolism and meaning of this work for decades to come. |