F. Marion Crawford

Broschiertes Buch

The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of F. Marion Crawford

Volume 5-Including One Novel 'Greifenstein, ' and Three Short Stories 'The Screami

Beschreibung

Volume five of a collection of supernatural and weird tales by a forgotten master of the gothic and occult Although an American author, writer F(rancis) Marion Crawford was born in Northern Tuscany, the son of sculptor Thomas Crawford, he spent much of his life in the United States, living and working in Boston. His inherent sensitivity to Italy influenced much of his historical fiction. Indeed, in his novel 'Corleone,' Crawford became the first author to prominently feature the now very familiar theme of the Mafia in fiction. He also produced notable works of history concerned with the various ages of Italy. Travels in the East and the study of Sanskrit in India gave him a grounding in the oriental and an interest in the other worldly. Although the themes of supernatural and weird fiction are often believed to be expressed to best effect in the short story most of Crawford's literary output consisted of novels. Fortunately, several of these include distinctly fantastical themes. His comparatively small oeuvre of short ghost and horror tales is so finely crafted that they have become some of the most highly regarded examples of the form in the English language. M. R James considered some of them to be among the best supernatural stories written, with the chilling and claustrophobic 'The Upper Berth' being especially singled out for merit. Crawford's talent for this genre is so widely acknowledged that it has been rightly noted that the greatest shame was that he did not write more-praise indeed! This five volume Leonaur collection of Crawford's strange novels, novellas and short stories provides a superb and substantial collection by one of Americas finest nineteenth century authors. The final volume of this special collection begins with the gothic masterpiece 'Greifenstein' and is followed by another of Crawford's other worldly tales highly regarded by M. R. James, 'The Screaming Skull,' in which a doctor brutally murders his wife by pouring molten metal into her ear and then dies mysteriously himself; later a man inherits a skull which remains far from silent-as old bones should be! In 'The King's Messenger' the holder of this dignified office actually has far more sinister duties. Finally, 'Man Overboard!' is a fabulous nautical ghost story of two seafaring brothers, one of whom is swept overboard. The survivor wins the bride, but a terrible fate awaits them. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.

Autor

Francis Marion Crawford was an American author who lived from August 2, 1854, to April 9, 1909. He was famous for his many books, especially those set in Italy, and his classic weird and fantastical stories. He was born on August 2, 1854, in Bagni di Lucca, which is in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was the only child of American artist Thomas Crawford and his wife, Louisa Cutler Ward. His sister was the author Mary Crawford Fraser, also known as Mrs. Hugh Fraser, and his nephew was the American artist Julia Ward Howe. After his dad died in 1857, his mom got married again to Luther Terry. They had a daughter together, Margaret Ward Terry, who later married Winthrop Astor Chanler and was Crawford's half-sister. He went to school at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, Cambridge University, the University of Heidelberg, and finally the University of Rome. He went to India in 1879 to study Sanskrit and was the editor of The Indian Herald in Allahabad. When he got back to the United States in February 1881, he continued to study Sanskrit at Harvard University for another year. During that time, he also wrote for a number of magazines, mostly The Critic, for two years. Early in 1882, he became close friends with Isabella Stewart Gardner, a friend he would keep for life.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: LEONAUR
• Seitenzahl: 508
• Erscheinungstermin: 13. Juni 2011
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 216mm x 140mm x 30mm
• Gewicht: 710g
• ISBN-13: 9780857065568
• ISBN-10: 0857065564
• Artikelnr.: 33773289