Algernon Blackwood

Name: Transition
Author: Algernon Blackwood

Transition (1913)

Summary

“Transition”, published in 1913, is a work by Algernon Blackwood. It explores elements such as John Mudbury, tilt and Palmer.

Quotes from Transition (Algernon Blackwood)

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ And, turning with great happiness in his heart, he saw that Sir James had said it, holding Palmer by the arm as with some natural yet unexpected love of sympathetic friendship.
“Come on,” said Palmer, smiling like a man who accepts a gift in universal fellowship, “let’s help ’em. They’ll never understand.⁠ ⁠... Still, we can always try.”
The entire throng moved up with laughter and amusement. It was a moment of hearty, genuine life at last. Delight and Joy and Peace were everywhere.
Then John Mudbury realised the truth⁠—that he was dead. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ But the mother, thrusting the child away from her, rose up suddenly with a violent start. Her face had turned to chalk. She stretched her arms out⁠—into the air before her. She gasped and shivered. There was an awful anguish in her eyes.
“Look!” repeated John, “these are the presents that I brought.”
But his voice apparently was soundless. And, with a spasm of icy pain, he remembered that Palmer and Sir James⁠—some years ago⁠—had died.
“It’s magic,” he cried, “but⁠—I love you, Jinny⁠—I love you⁠—and⁠—and I have always been true to you⁠—as true as steel. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ John Mudbury was on his way home from the shops, his arms full of Christmas presents. It was after six o’clock and the streets were very crowded. He was an ordinary man, lived in an ordinary suburban flat, with an ordinary wife and four ordinary children. He did not think them ordinary, but everybody else did. He had ordinary presents for each one, a cheap blotter for his wife, a cheap airgun for the eldest boy, and so forth. He was over fifty, bald, in an office, decent in mind and habits, of uncertain opinions, uncertain politics, and uncertain religion. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ But I love to do the old, sweet thing,” replied John Mudbury⁠—then wondered with a gasp of stark amazement why he said it.
“I think⁠—” whispered Milly, staring round her.
“Well, what do you think?” her mother asked sharply. “You’re always thinking something queer.”
“I think,” the child continued dreamily, “that Daddy’s already here.” She paused, then added with a child’s impossible conviction, “I’m sure he is. I feel him.” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ Thought plunged to find something⁠—plunged after this bizarre suggestion of a bigger universe, after this quasi-jocular suggestion that man is not the only⁠—then dashed full-tilt against a sentence that memory thrust beneath his nose: “Science does not exhaust the Universe”⁠—and at the same time dashed full-tilt against destruction of another kind as well⁠ ⁠... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ On the other hand, nothing in life persuaded him that he didn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t. “I’m an Evolutionist,” he loved to say to thoughtful cronies (over a glass) , having never heard that Darwinism had been questioned.⁠ ⁠...
And so he came home gaily, happily, with his bunch of Christmas presents “for the wife and little ones,” stroking himself upon their keen enjoyment and excitement. The night before he had taken “the wife” to see Magic at a select London theatre where the Intellectuals went⁠—and had been extraordinarily stirred. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Algernon Blackwood, Transition (1913)

“ Ten thousand things grew simple suddenly. But, how thickly these people pressed about him, and how⁠—familiarly!
“My parcels,” he said, joyously pushing his way across the throng. “These are Christmas presents I’ve bought for them.” He nodded toward the room. “I’ve saved for weeks⁠—stopped cigars and billiards and⁠—and several other good things⁠—to buy them.”
“Good man!” said Palmer with a happy laugh. “It’s the heart that counts.”
Mudbury looked at him. Palmer had said an amazing truth, only⁠—people would hardly understand and believe him.⁠ ⁠... Would they? ”

Algernon Blackwood

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Quotes from Transition (Algernon Blackwood)

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