The Beetle (1897)
— Prelum Classicum Edition
Afeverish tale of obsession, metamorphosis, and imperial dread.
Richard Marsh’s The Beetle—published the same year as Dracula—stalks London with a shape-shifting menace from Egypt, told through racing, multi-voice narratives. Sensational, uncanny, and slyly modern.
About the Series
Prelum Classicum publishes revitalised classics—clean texts, elegant design, and light context that invites modern readers back into timeless works.
Why the 1872 Edition?
We chose the 1897 first-edition text to preserve Marsh’s breakneck pacing and shifting viewpoints—the form that made this novel a late-Victorian sensation and a key work of the imperial Gothic.
What You’ll Find Here
- Clean, readable text of the 1897 edition
- Brief historical framing on fin-de-siècle London, Egyptomania, and the “New Woman” debate
- Light notes/glossary for period terms, locales, and occult lore
- Discussion prompts for book clubs and classrooms
This Philanagnostes Edition is a striking companion to Frankenstein and Dracula in our Gothic set—strange, swift, and unforgettable.
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Coming soon: retail links and launch details.
