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The Devil's Spectacles

Wilkie Collins

First published September 1998
Type Short Fiction
Length Novelette

"The Devil's Spectacles" tells the story of Alfred, a young landed gentleman who is given by Septimus Notman, a sailor on his deathbed, a pair of unusual spectacles. These, Septimus had received from the Devil in person, under most unusual circumstances. The spectacles have strange supernatural powers, enabling the wearer to see the thoughts and emotions of others around him. Septimus advises Alfred to deploy the Devil's spectacles to unravel a complex love situation in which he currently finds himself. The results are not what Alfred expected. -- publisher's summary by Red Door Audiobooks

First published in The Spirit of the Times, 20 December 1879. This was one of the stories that Collins wished not to be reprinted after his death.

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
September 1998 Cover The Dream-Woman and Other Stories Phoenix Collection 168
2006 Cover The Haunted Hotel & Other Strange Stories Wordsworth Editions Collection 293
July 2009 Cover The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Wilkie Collins: Volume 3 Leonaur Ltd Collection
July 2009 Cover The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Wilkie Collins: Volume 3 Leonaur Ltd Collection
April 2016 Cover The Devil's Spectacles Fantasy and Horror Classics Chapbook
April 2016 Cover The Devil's Spectacles Cullen Press Chapbook