Elizabeth Jane Howard, born on March 26, 1923, in London, England, was a distinguished English novelist known for her versatile literary contributions. Howard began her career as an actress and model before venturing into writing in 1947. Throughout her prolific career, she penned 12 novels, with her most acclaimed work being the five-volume family saga, 'The Cazalet Chronicles.' Her narrative prowess was not confined to family sagas, as exemplified by her collaboration with Robert Aickman on the collection 'We Are For The Dark: Six Ghost Stories,' published in 1951. Although she gained widespread recognition for her family sagas, Howard's foray into the supernatural, as evidenced by 'Three Miles Up' and other stories, showcased her ability to masterfully blend genres and explore the complexities of human relationships.
Elizabeth Jane Howard was secretary of the Inland Waterways Association. Ghost stories and the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) share a curious connection, intertwining literature and the preservation of Britain's canal
heritage. This connection is particularly evident through notable figures such as Robert Aickman, L. T. C. Rolt, and Elizabeth Jane Howard, each leaving a unique mark on both realms.
Elizabeth Jane Howard's creative collaboration with Robert Aickman resulted in the publication of 'We Are For The Dark,' a collection that marked a significant departure from both authors' conventional works. Released in 1951, the anthology features six ghost stories, three contributed by each author. Notably, the book was published during their romantic relationship.
Robert Aickman describes her as “one of the most brilliant [of women]” and a bit of a looker “so beautiful that continuous problems arose, especially when, at a later date, she joined the Association’s Council. Little in the way of completely normal business was possible or sensible, when she was in the room. … By merely existing, she promoted loves and hates which, through no fault of hers, left some who felt them, fevered and wasted”.
My reading of Three Miles Up is that it is a modern fairy story where Sharon represents one of the fae and leads them into The Perilous Realm. Fairyland is not always a beautiful alluring place, it can be a place of horror and strangeness. We cannot trust the Good People, no matter how fair they seem.
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The Daemon Lover by Shirley Jackson
A Warning To The Curious by M. R. James
Casting The Runes by M. R. James
The Smoke Ghost by Fritz Leiber
The Topley Place Sale by A. N. L. Munby
The Cairn on The Headland by Robert E. Howard
The Judge's House by Bram Stoker
The Vampyre by John Polidori
The Ghostly Rental by Henry James
The Black Widow by John Glasby
The Tarroo-Ushtey by Nigel Kneale
The Shadow on The Moor by Stuart Strauss
Wake Not The Dead by Ernst Raupach
The Beast In The Cave by H. P. Lovecraft
The Second Passenger by Basil Copper
The Premonition by Lewis Darley
The Red Lodge by H R Wakefield
The Irtonwood Ghost by Elinor Glyn
The Story Of The Goblins Who Stole A Sexton by Charles Dickens
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