The Bishop of Hell and Other Stories by Marjorie Bowen

As if often the case, it's ill-advised to test fate.Ī trio of mature gentlewomen sit around the fire, talking of ghosts and auction sales from thirty years ago. 'Why won't she keep quiet in her grave and leave me alone?'įearing that the reoccurring nightmare is a prophecy, he plots ways to change details of the dream so that the vision will not come true. Then he starts having reoccurring dreams of someone murdering him outside the same house that she was murdered in. At the time it didn't seem like so big of a problem. Here's my reviews of each story:Ī man's ex-girlfriend, Ambrosine, was murdered.

Now newly reprinted under the 'Monster She Wrote' banner, celebrating women writers of the macabre, Bowen's words find a new generation of enthralled readers. In 1949, near the end of her life, she gathered a humble collection of her favorite eerie tales and had them published as The Bishop of Hell and Other Stories. Her extensive bibliography is an endless list of novels and short stories, mostly within the romance and horror genres, but also includes history and biography. Her last, posthumous, novel was The Man with the Scales (1954).Ī 'major influence' to Graham Greene and described as a 'superb writer' by the New Yorker, Marjorie Bowen (1885-1952) might be one of the most popular authors you've never heard of. Her first novel was The Viper of Milan (1906), after which she produced a steady stream of writings until the day of her death on 23rd December 1952. She was married twice: first, from 1912-16, to a Sicilian named Zefferino Emilio Constanza, who died of tuberculosis, and then to one Arthur L. After this, Bowen's prolific writings were the chief financial support for her family. Her books are much sought after by aficionados of gothic horror and received praise from critics.īowen's alcoholic father left the family at an early age and was eventually found dead on a London street.

Several of her books were adapted as films. Many of these stories were published as Berkley Medallion Books. As Joseph Shearing, she wrote several sinister gothic romances full of terror and mystery. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye, and Margaret Campbell. She also wrote under the names Joseph Shearing, George R. Her total output numbers over 150 volumes with the bulk of her work under the 'Bowen' pseudonym. Marjorie Bowen (pseudonym of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V Long née Campbell), was a British author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and biography.

The Bishop of Hell and Other Stories by Marjorie Bowen