1924 Henry Brocken - Walter De La Maré (Marian Ellis illustration) Collins Pub. Hardback blue boards unclipped jacket but has repairs and nibbles.
Henry Brocken is a dreamlike, philosophical fantasy novel about a young man’s journey through illusion, desire, and self-knowledge.
Henry Brocken, a lonely and introspective young man, feels dissatisfied with ordinary life and longs for beauty, love, and deeper meaning. One night, he encounters a mysterious, ageless stranger named Mr. Volant, who acts as a guide and tempter. Volant leads Henry away from reality into a shifting, magical world where dreams, myths, and human longings take physical form.
As Henry travels with Volant, he meets figures drawn from literature, legend, and imagination—symbolic characters who embody human desires, fears, and obsessions. These encounters blur the boundary between reality and illusion. Henry becomes increasingly enchanted by visions of ideal beauty and love, particularly the image of a perfect woman he yearns to possess.
However, as the journey continues, Henry realizes that these dream-world experiences, though beautiful, are ultimately hollow and deceptive. His pursuit of idealized fantasies distances him from genuine human connection and personal growth. Gradually, he understands that Volant represents temptation, illusion, and escapism—the seductive pull of dreams that can prevent true living.
In the end, Henry rejects Volant’s influence and returns to the real world, wiser and more mature. He accepts life’s imperfections and recognizes that meaning comes not from chasing illusions but from engaging honestly with reality.
