The Grey Chamber

<p>British writer Marjorie Bowen (the pseudonym of Margaret Gabrielle Vere Long 1885-1952) was a prolific author of short stories novels essays and other works many of them reflecting her turbulent life as she lived through two world wars and the death of her first-born child and first husband. She retains a stellar reputation as an author of powerful weird stories including such classics as The Avenging of Ann Leete and The Crown Derby Plate both included in this volume.</p><p> </p><p>But editor John C. Tibbetts author of a pioneering recent study of Bowen's work has combed through her entire corpus of fiction to present a wide-ranging selection of stories and essays in this volume<em>.</em> We find less celebrated horror tales such as The Scoured Silk and Florence Flannery; stories on the changing roles of women in Bowen's era; and even a time-travel narrative involving the composer G. F. Handel. These and other stories make clear why August Derleth long desired to publish a book of her supernatural tales with Arkham House.</p><p> </p><p>Among Bowen's essays Tibbetts has selected those that reflect her interest in the Elizabethan magician John Dee the artist William Hogarth and other subjects. Also included is a previously unpublished essay on her own work Through the Eyes of an Author.</p><p> </p><p>All in all this volume exhibits Bowen's remarkable breadth and range; but her recurring interest in the weird permeates every one of these pieces.</p><p> </p><p><strong>John C. Tibbetts</strong> is a professor at the University of Kansas and the author of <em>The Furies of Marjorie Bowen</em> (2019) the first full-length critical study of her work. He has also written <em>The Gothic Imagination</em> (2011) as well as books on music and film.</p>