Book Description
This digital document, covering the life and work of Walter (John) de la Mare, is an entry from Contemporary Authors, a reference volume published by Thompson Gale. The length of the entry is 4351 words. The page length listed above is based on a typical 300-word page. Although the exact content of each entry from this volume can vary, typical entries include the following information:

• Place and date of birth and death (if deceased)
• Family members
• Education
• Professional associations and honors
• Employment
• Writings, including books and periodicals
• A description of the author's work
• References to further readings about the author

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

An excellent collection
This volume collects a few volumes of de la Mare's short stories, as well as gathering together previously uncollected stories.If you're at all interested in de la Mare's gloomy, poetic prose, there's much material here to sink your teeth into.

A great storyteller and stylist
I'm very high on this book and its companion volume, because it gives us something that for many years has been difficult to come by: a feast of De la Mare's elegant fictional prose in the short story form.

De la Mare's fiction has been available in mere piecemeal form for decades now, despite his considerable distinction as a writer of stories. In part, I think, it's because he was bucking the prevalent trends of his time in the writing of prose, as well as approach. He seems almost to come from an earlier generation.

That's not to say he's outmoded. His thinking and construction are every bit as sophisticated as his use of language; but the angle of attack is more poetic than realistic or naturalistic. He has something of a reputation as a writer of supernatural fiction, but that's a bit misleading. He wrote distinguished supernatural fiction, of course, but it might be more accurate to call him the poet of the unseen. There are dramatic scenes in his work, but it's interesting to consider how much happens offstage, and how much is implied rather than shown. It's a highly nuanced method, and understandably adaptable to the story of the supernatural, when it suited the author's purposes.

This particular volume contains several of his best stories. I'll single out for particular praise "Miss Duveen," "Seaton's Aunt" (one of the most harrowing stories of its length in English), and an especial favorite, the long story "The Almond Tree."

The rest of the book is worth one's time, too. The companion volume is every bit as high in quality. With two large volumes of stories in this series, all I can say is I regret there aren't any more. (There's a book of stories for children to follow, but that's a different category, with different rules.)

If you like de la Mare, you might find A. E. Coppard to your taste, also. ... Read more

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One of the few critical works of the de la Mare, this volume focuses on the stories and two selected novels. ... Read more

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An appreciative study by a friend and intimate of the poet. Illus

THIS TITLE IS CITED AND RECOMMENDED BY:Books for College Libraries. ... Read more

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