Description: The supernatural is a traditional element in literature. Since the epic ofBeowulf, there has been a continuing presence of the unearthly and weird in poetry, drama, and fiction. The Supernatural in Modern English Fiction,first published in 1917 during a period of renewed social and literary interest in the occult and spiritualism, offers readers an overview of some of the greatest known, as well as some forgotten yet eerily important, works of English literature.
Brief description: Dorothy Scarborough (1878-1935) was known for her roles as a teacher, folklorist, and writer. Though born and raised in Texas, Scarborough moved to New York City to earn her Ph.D. in literature at Columbia, where she later taught writing. She was an early member of the Texas Folklore Society (founded in 1910) and served a year as its president. An interest in ghosts led to two books on the subject, Famous Modern Ghost Stories (1921) and Humorous Ghost Stories (1921). She also wrote the acclaimed novel, The Wind (1925), in which a gentle heroine is driven insane by the incessant wind and drought-plagued frontier environment.