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 Irtonwood Ghost by Elinor Glyn
The Story Of The Goblins Who Stole A Sexton by Charles Dickens
A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell
Bone to His Bone by E. G. Swain
Couching At The Door by D K Broster
The Gardener by E F Benson
The Horror Under Penmire by Adrian Cole
The Haunted Haven by A. Erskine Ellis
The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde
The Horror at Chilton Castle
Back From The Grave by Robert Silverberg
The Graveyard Rats by Henry Kuttner
The Beast of Averoigne by Clark Ashton Smith
Good Lady Ducayne by M E Braddon
The Hand of M R James by Sarah Tolmie
The Crimson Weaver by R. Murray Gilchrist
The Lost Room by Fitz James O'Brien
The Struwwelpeter by Tony Walker
The Werewolf by Eugene Field
Whitewash and The Empty Berth by Rose Macauley
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