Talbot Estus

Talbot Estus, born Waldo Easterman in Lansing, Texas is a noted American (Texan) novellist, 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".

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.

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