Helena Petrovna Blavatsky was born in Southern Russia, at Ekaterinoslav, on August 12th, 1831. Possessed of psychic powers from an early age, she later under-went esoteric training in both India and Tibet, and publicised the knowledge she had gained in such famous works as Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine. Less well known is Blavatsky's talent as a writer of occult fiction. In Nightmare Tales she leads the reader into a bizarre maze of beguiling and sometimes gruesome stories, from The Cave of the Echoes and The Luminous Shield to The Ensouled Violin, based upon the rumour that renowned composer Paganini had sold his soul to the devil in return for his astonishing musical talent. But fascinating as these stories are, they have a deeper, more important purpose than simple entertainment. Strewn like pearls through each tale are keys to hidden truths, expositions of esoteric principles that derive from the Ancient Wisdom. A must-read for all interested in the hidden aspects of Life.