Supernatural fiction writing may well have had its golden age in the nineteenth and early twentieth century but, as any librarian will know, its appeal is still enormous. Ghost and horror stories are among the most popular genres for readers of whatever age, sex or cultural background. Hence, this major new title from the British Library is a welcome bibliographical tool for anyone involved in reader development or anyone with an interest in the genre.
This very obvious labour of love is a personal selection of 200 authors who represent the evolution of British supernatural fiction. Wilson acknowledges a particular emphasis on Victorian ghost story writers, but also included are branches of the genre from the horror of the “penny dreadfuls” to crime fiction that includes occult or supernatural elements. The author clearly states the scope, coverage and content of his work.
The opening essay, “Shadows in the attic”, explores the nature, evolution and definition of supernatural fiction. Wilson here outlines the enduring themes of the genre – the metaphysical; the individual versus the unknown; influences from beyond the grave; the vengeful dead; demonic forces; fairy lore; curses; shapeshifting; vampires; the exotic supernatural of foreign cultures such as zombies. This section is complemented by an introduction by Ramsey Campbell who explores how the classic ghost story genre developed into the modern horror of Stephen King.
Wilson produces a straightforward alphabetical list of his 200 authors and also an extremely handy title list. The main body of this work, however, is taken up with an entry for each author. Each entry consists of a brief biography, which stresses the author’s influences and their influence on the genre. A bibliography includes any anthologies or short story collections, any other novels with a significant supernatural content and any other related non‐fiction works by the author which may have influenced their supernatural fiction. Also included are selected biographical works, selected bibliographies and critical studies.
Works cited are the first British book appearance of the supernatural fiction of the featured author. The ISBN and pressmark of the British Library copy is also included. Entries are also annotated with a synopsis and note on the significance of the work.
The obvious authors that immediately spring to mind are thankfully included here – M.R. James, Sheridan Le Fanu, Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood, Dennis Wheatley, etc. I must confess that a few of the authors in the list had me scampering to the full author entry to ascertain their supernatural writing credentials. Among these were such authors as D.H. Lawrence, Agatha Christie, Richmal Crompton and John Buchan. Some of the entries seem rather tenuous inclusions in this genre and I wonder if Wilson may have been better limiting his choice to 150 authors.
However, it is refreshing to see such esoteric authors as Aleister Crowley included. There were also many writers here who I have never heard of or thought of as supernatural writers, so that this will certainly be of assistance in recommending works to fans of the genre. I certainly would not have previously thought of suggesting Mrs Gaskell to a lover of ghost stories!
The whole book is well written and will be extremely useful for any librarian involved in helping readers choose classic supernatural fiction. For fans of the genre the book is also a probable essential purchase for the biographies, bibliographies and ideas for authors to read. It will also be of interest to students of English literature and its history.
