H. Russell Wakefield
| Full Name: |
Herbert
Russell
Wakefield |
| Born: |
May 9, 1888
Sandgate, Kent, England, UK |
| Died: |
August 10, 1964 |
| Occupation: |
writer, publisher, and civil servant |
| Nationality: |
English |
| Links: |
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Biography
H. Russell Wakefield was an English short-story writer, novelist, publisher, and civil servant chiefly remembered today for his ghost stories.
Many critics consider Wakefield one of the great masters of the supernatural horror tale; his atmospheric work in the field has been frequently compared to that of M. R. James. August Derleth called him "the last major representative of a ghost story tradition that began with Sheridan Le Fanu and reached its peak with Montague Rhodes James". John Betjeman noted, "M. R. James is the greatest master of the ghost story. Henry James, Sheridan Le Fanu and H. Russell Wakefield are equal seconds." M. R. James himself was slightly more reserved in his praise, calling They Return at Evening "a mixed bag, from which I should remove one or two that leave a nasty taste" but also saying the book had "some admirable pieces, very inventive". H. P. Lovecraft said that Wakefield "manages now and then to hit great heights of horror despite a vitiating air of sophistication". Franz Rottensteiner described Wakefield as "perhaps the last ... representative of the classic ghost story writer" and said that Wakefield's ghost stories have "a certain power". The horror historian R. S. Hadji included Wakefield's "The Frontier Guards" on his list of the most frightening horror stories. On the other hand, S. T. Joshi's view of Wakefield was negative: he has referred to Wakefield as "the mediocre H. Russell Wakefield".
Works in the WWEnd Database
Non Series Works |
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Full Details
