The Beckoning Fair One

<strong>The Beckoning Fair One</strong> is sometimes called the greatest ghost story in theEnglish language it may well be. Certainly it is one of the questest ... » 

The Beckoning Fair One is sometimes called the greatest ghost story in theEnglish language it may well be. Certainly it is one of the questest and mostbeautiful supernatural tales ever written. It reminds the reader of ShirleyJacksons The Haunting of Hill House and that is huge praise indeed. Thestory tells of British novelist Paul Oleron who lives restlessly in crampedquarters looking as writers do for some way not to work on the projectat hand. That is when he sees a vast and beautiful old house for rent. He takesthe first floor and moves in. When his friend Elsie Benbough comes to visitweirdness begins. The house it seems does not like Elsie and begins toinflict minor but meanspirited injuries upon her. Feeling the presence ofsomething evil she warns Oleron that he will never be able to work there. ButOleron is entranced . . . and then in love . . . and soon obsessed. . . . «