Talbot Estus

Talbot Estus, born Waldo Easterman in Lansing, Texas is a noted American novelist, producing works of what he calls romantic horror or macabre romances (though critics can find little difference between the two).

Talbot's earlier works were popular, but his later works suffer from either lack of originality, or, on the odd occasion they are inventive, excessive peculiarity.

He is a tanned, active-looking man with a thick moustache and full head of hair. He has poor eyesight and uses 3 different pairs of glasses for varying tasks. A fastidious dresser, he has a weakness for Panama hats.

His homosexuality an open secret, he shares his London flat with his former publisher, Michael Gillen. Gillen is worried about Estus, believing that he has an irrational fear of the stars (astrophobia) and an unhealthy obsession with the play "The King in Yellow".

Estus told Nathaniel Browne that he had read and enjoyed the stories of Robert W Chambers, but it was his discovery of the French play, 'Le Roi en Jeune' that showed him the true importance, and power of this material.

Since the play predated Chambers it must have been his source, but according to the literary world, Chambers invented it all himself. The existence of the French play disproves that, and it goes far beyond Chambers' mere hints, so Estus wrote to Chambers about it some months back. Chambers, somewhat rudely, has not replied at all. Estus suspects that Chambers is embarassed as being found out as a plagiarist of a far greater work. Estus himself freely acknowledges the play as being the root of his own work.

Works

The Grey Lady (1905) - heavily influenced by 'The Turn of the Screw'

The Haunting of Agatha May (1912) - his biggest success

The Curse of Beydelus (1921) - a tale of a magician's pact with a demon

Evilroot (1926) - a ghost story and an excursion into Egyptology

The Revenant King (1928) - a poorly received tale of medieval horror

Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger (1928)

According to Michael Gillen, Estus is working on an epic treatment of 'The King in Yellow' in novel form.

Facts

Talbot is currently working on a novel treatment of the same material from the play Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger. His attachment to the work seems almost maniacal. In the play itself, he appeared as the King in Yellow.

Talbot is homosexual, and his lover is Michael Gillen though this relationship may be less than secure (or perhaps non-exclusive) as he mistakenly attempted to seduce Nathaniel Browne, confusing respect for his work for personal affection, during a visit.

Talbot often checks windows and seems fearful of the sky at night. Doctor Frederick Bartlett has suggested that Talbot may suffer from astrophobia.