Description
Kindle and Paperback.
Published in 2018 by HarperCollins.
The Benson brothers – Arthur Christopher, Edward Frederic and Robert Hugh – were one of the most extraordinary and prolific literary families, between them writing more than 150 books. Arthur alone left four million words of diary, although his most lasting legacy is the words to Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory, while Fred is acknowledged as one of the finest writers of Edwardian supernatural fiction: the name E. F. Benson is mentioned in the same breath as other greats such as M. R. James and H. R. Wakefield.
In fact, all three brothers wrote ghost stories, although the work of Arthur and Hugh in this field has long been overshadowed by their brother’s success. Now the best supernatural tales of A. C. and R. H. Benson have been gathered into one volume by anthologist Hugh Lamb, whose introduction examines the lives and writings of these two complex and fascinating men. Originally published between 1903 and 1927, the stories include A. C. Benson’s masterful ‘Basil Netherby’ and ‘The Uttermost Farthing’, and an intriguing article by R. H. Benson about real-life haunted houses.
Contents
Introduction (Ghosts in the House) • essay by Hugh Lamb
Out of the Sea • (1904) • short story by A. C. Benson
Mr. Percival’s Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Traveller • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson
Basil Netherby • (1926) • novelette by A. C. Benson
Father Brent’s Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Snake, the Leper and the Grey Frost • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson
Father Bianchi’s Story • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Gray Cat • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson (variant of The Grey Cat)
Father Maddox’s Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Watcher • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Hill of Trouble • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson
Haunted Houses • (1913) • article by R. H. Benson
The Uttermost Farthing • (1926) • novelette by A. C. Benson
Father Macclesfield’s Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Red Camp • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson
My Own Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Closed Window • (1903) • short story by A. C. Benson
The Blood-Eagle • (1903) • short story by R. H. Benson
The Slype House • (1904) • short story by A. C. Benson
Father Meuron’s Tale • (1907) • short story by R. H. Benson
Epilogue (Ghosts in the House) • essay by Hugh Lamb
Bibliography (Ghosts in the House) • essay by Hugh Lamb