Encyclopedia of Fantasy (1997)
Wakefield, H Russell
Tagged: Author.
(1888-1964) UK writer, one-time private secretary to Lord Northcliffe, noted for his Ghost Stories, some of which rank alongside those of M R James, with whom he is sometimes compared. Although most of his stories are formulaic they are well crafted and frequently atmospheric, and often feature vengeful ghosts (see Vengeance). Wakefield was first inspired to write by an experience he had at a reputedly haunted house in 1917; this resulted in "The Red Lodge", in his first volume They Return at Evening (coll 1928). Other collections are Old Man's Beard (coll 1929; vt Others Who Returned 1929 US), Imagine a Man in a Box (coll 1931), Ghost Stories (coll 1932), A Ghostly Company (coll 1935), The Clock Strikes Twelve (coll 1940; cut vt Stories from The Clock Strikes Twelve 1961 US) and Strayers from Sheol (coll 1961), this last published by Arkham House. Richard Dalby compiled a volume of Wakefield's stories – including the later uncollected ones – as The Best Ghost Stories of H. Russell Wakefield (coll 1978). [MA]
Herbert Russell Wakefield
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