âThe Bell in the Fog, and Other Storiesâ 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 Athertonâs fascination and admiration for renowned author Henry Jamesâ horror stories. âThe Bell in the Fogâ bears some resemblance to Jamesâ most famous tale âThe Turn of the Screwâ and is dedicated to the author. Other stories in the collection include âThe Dead and the Countessâ about restless cemetery inhabitants, and âThe Tragedy of a Snobâ in which a middle-class man foolishly believes that money alone will grant him access to New Yorkâs 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 âThe Californiansâ and the controversial âBlack Oxenâ 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.