The Bell in the Fog, and Other Stories

‘The Bell in the Fog, and Other Stories’ is a supernatural short story collection from famous American author Gertrude Atherton. The collection focusses on the dark side of human nature and the corrupting influence of wealth, and is heavily influenced by Atherton’s fascination and admiration for renowned author Henry James’ horror stories. ‘The Bell in the Fog’ bears some resemblance to James’ most famous tale ‘The Turn of the Screw’ and is dedicated to the author. Other stories in the collection include ‘The Dead and the Countess’ about restless cemetery inhabitants, and ‘The Tragedy of a Snob’ in which a middle-class man foolishly believes that money alone will grant him access to New York’s elite social circles. A haunting collection of chilling tales for fans of the supernatural.

Gertrude Atherton (1857-1948) was an American novelist, short story writer and early feminist. Born in California, Gertrude attended schools in California and Kentucky and became widely read. She married George H.B. Atherton in 1876, and lived with him and his mother in San Francisco, where they had two children. Atherton struggled with married life, her husband did not support her writing ambitions and Gertrude found life as a wife and mother stifling. When her husband died at sea in 1887, Atherton felt free to pursue her burgeoning career as an author and went on to publish over 50 novels. She is best known for her California series of novels which explored the social history of California and included popular works such as ‘The Californians’ and the controversial ‘Black Oxen’ which was adapted into a silent movie in 1923. Feminist themes and strong female characters are common in her novels. She died in San Francisco in 1948.