Product Details

• Published on: 2008-04-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 228 pages

Synopsis
George Oliver Onions was a 20th century British writer. Onions published over 40 novels and short story collections. Before becoming a writer Onions was a commercial artist. His first edition novels had full color paintings painted by him on their dust jackets. . In 1913 he legally changed his name to George Oliver but continued to use Oliver Onions as his pen name. Onions wrote detective stories, science fiction, ghost stories and historical fiction. Widdershins is his best know work about ghosts. The novella The Beckoning Fair is included. This novella is considered to be one of the best psychological horror fiction stories ever written. A struggling writer moves into rooms in a vacant house in hopes that the isolation will help him concentrate. His art and his sanity are jeopardized. A feminine spirit gradually possesses him. The story can also be viewed as a psychotic breakdown culminating in murder and a catatonic state. Onions often writes about the connection between creativity and insanity. This is a great book not to be read by the faint of heart.

Customer Reviews

Excellent short stories!
In case you're wondering,the title of this book means"contrary to the course of the Sun",and I discovered that interesting fact from a note at the beginning of this edition.This whole book is very interesting; the stories are mainly ghost stories,the best-known being The Beckoning Fair One, about a set of rooms haunted by a beautiful woman who never actually shows herslf,but who is very jealous,and The Cigarette Case,a classic tale about two men who dine with two elegant ladies in a gorgeous house,then go back the next day to find the house dilapidated and everything covered in dust.
All is good here;I particularly liked Benlian,a strange tale wherein a man builds a statue of his god and then attempts to pass bodily into it.That was one I couldn't get out of my mind,and also Rooum had me going for a while.If you think there's nothing spooky about crane operators,this will make you think again!
These stories are fresh and original,and will keep you engrossed till the end.I enjoyed them,and I hope you will too.