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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Episode 36: The Cigarette Case by Oliver Onions
Episode 35: The Horla by Guy de Maupassant
Episode 34: The Queen of Spades by Aleksandr Pushkin
Episode 33: Dracula’s Guest by Bram Stoker
Episode 32: The Yellow Sign by Robert W. Chambers
Episode 31: Back Along The Old Track by Sam Hicks
Episode 30: The Housekeeper by Marjorie Bowen
Episode 29: On The Brighton Road by Richard Middleton
Episode 28 The Corner Shop by Cynthia Asquith
Episode 27: The Experiment by M R James
Episode 26: A Christmas Meeting by Rosemary Timperley
Episode 25: The Old Portrait by Hume Nisbet
Episode 24: Smee by A M Burrage
Episode 23: Between the Lights by E F Benson
Episode 22: Saviourgate by Russell Kirk
Episode 21 Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk by Frank Cowper
Episode 20: The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood
Episode 19: The Snow by Hugh Walpole
Episode 18: The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell
Episode 17: Behind the Stumps by Russell Kirk
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