The Joss: A Reversion

"The Joss: A Reversion" by Richard Marsh is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows Mary Blyth, who finds herself in a pinch directly after a frustrating day at work, leading her to an unexpected entanglement with a mysterious stranger and a curious series of events. As she grapples with her difficult circumstances, including her less-than-ideal job in a drapery shop and her troubled friendships, an unexpected inheritance from her late uncle Benjamin Batters sets the stage for intrigue and potential danger, opening the door to a life shrouded in mystery. The opening of the novel introduces Mary Blyth as a relatable young woman experiencing a succession of unfortunate events, setting a tone of frustration and vulnerability. After a long day working under the scrutiny of her boss, Mr. Broadley, and missing out on several sales, she heads out into the chilling streets with her friends Emily and Tom, only to be confronted by a strange man named Isaac Rudd, who pays their dinner bill and makes curious offers. Mary’s day devolves further into chaos as she and her friends navigate a series of threatening encounters, foreshadowing the darker elements tied to her uncle’s enigmatic legacy. Ultimately, when Mary learns of her inheritance, which comes with mysterious conditions involving isolation and a new home, she is faced with an unexpected twist that is sure to enchant readers with a blend of romance and suspense. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Richard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".