The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Rhoda Broughton

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(83 90 98 1)>An excellent ghostly collection by a Welsh writer with an impeccable pedigree</strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(83 90 98 1)>Rhoda Broughton was born in 1840 in Denbighshirein the north of Wales the granddaughter of a baronet. During her lifetime her popularity with everyday readers was sometimes ascribed to her choice of sensational themes. Indeed some of her works touched on subjects which would have been then considered at the least to be risqué. Her journey into the fiction of the supernatural however was almost pre-ordained because she was a niece of Sheridan le Fanu considered one of the founding fathers of the genre. Broughton was also a life-long close friend of Henry James author of one of the most renowned ghost stories'The Turn of Screw'. She was furthermore known to have 'adversarial' relationships with both Lewis Carroll and Oscar Wilde. In keeping with many popular fiction authors of the later Victorian era Broughton's literary output was huge and encompassed both novels and short stories many of which appeared in the pages of the numerous periodicals of her time. Volume of output notwithstanding the skilful structure of her prose has been rightly acknowledged by critics of this genre. Most noteworthy is the view that her work became an influence on that of the incomparable M.R. James. The 'master' (who was habitually sparing with his praise) likewise recognised her contribution and qualities as writer of the uncanny. Others stories included here are'Poor Pretty Bobby' 'Rent Day' and ' Behold it was a Dream!'. Rhoda Broughton died in 1920.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(83 90 98 1)>Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.</span></p>