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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S0301 The Fair Family by Tony Walker
S02E64 The Pleasure Pilgrims by Ella D'Arcy
S02E61 The Piano by Tony Walker
S02E60 Surprise View by Tony Walker
S02E63 Thrawn Janet by Robert Louis Stevenson
S02E62 Sir Gawain & The Green Knight
S02E59 Harry by Rosemary Timperley
S02E58 Taig O'Kane and The Corpse by Douglas Hyde
S02E57 Whatever Happened to Corporal Cuckoo? by Gerald Kersh
S02E56 The Beast of Blanchland by Rowan Bowman
S02E55 The Haunting of Unit 409 by Tony Walker
S02E54 The Girl With The Hungry Eyes by Fritz Leiber
S02E53 Laura Silver Bell by J Sheridan Le Fanu
SO2E52 The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
S02E51 The Pomegranate Seed by Edith Wharton
S0250 Dragoon by DeWayne Hayes
S02E49 The Night Wire by H F Arnold
The First Sheaf by H R Wakefield
S02E48 The Reluctant Bride by Iqbal Hussain
The Shining Pyramid by Arthur Machen
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