Historical Fiction Bowen, Marjorie: The Viper of Milan. V1. 28 Nov 2008

[crutledge]

Marjorie Bowen (pseudonym of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V[ere] Long née Campbell), (1 November 1885 on Hayling Island, Hampshire - 23 December 1952) was a British author who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and biography. Her total output numbers over 150 volumes with the bulk of her work under the 'Bowen' pseudonym. She also wrote under the names Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye and Margaret Campbell. As Joseph Shearing, she wrote several sinister gothic romances full of terror and mystery. Many of these stories were published as Berkley Medallion Books. Several of her books were adapted as films
Her books are much sought after by aficianados of gothic horror and received praise from critics. According to Sally Benson in The New Yorker (1965) "Mr Shearing is a painstaking researcher, a superb writer, a careful technician, and a master of horror. There is no one else quite like him".
Bowen's alchoholic father left the family at an early age and was eventually found dead on a London street. After this Bowen's prolific writings were the chief financial support for her family. She was married twice: first, from 1912-16, to a Sicilian named Zefferino Emilio Constanza, who died of turberculosis, and then to one Arthur L. Long. Her first novel was The Viper of Milan (1906), after which she produced a steady stream of writings until the day of her death. Her last, posthumous, novel was The Man with the Scales (1954).


Set in fourteenth century Italy, the story is about the enmity between two princes, Visconti, the evil Duke of Milan and Mastino della Scala, the dispossessed Duke of Verona. The hatred of these two men is the haut basis of the plot, but the lyrical descriptions of Milan and the countryside and the almost unbelievable cruelty and black heartedness of the unscrupulous Visconti, help to make the impact of this story a really tremendous one.

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[crutledge]

Harry et al,
I think that I now understand the difference between a dash and an emdash. Patricia pointed me in the right direction (thank you, Patricia) and I started looking for info on Book Cleaner. I finially downloaded JSWOLF's bcf files and figured out how to activate then. Book Cleaner had never before entered my vision but I am now painfully aware of it.

I also have managed to fully clean PG Australia HTML files. I would willingly give a donation to have the advertising removed.

I did a search of MOBI books on the forum, and don't believe I'm competing with you on this one, Harry. If I am, I apologize in advance. And it's a great story.

Hang in there, guys. We'll all survive my entry into Mobile Forums! Perhaps another tutorial for newbies to ease their and other's sensibilities. And I'm not trying to be funny!

Charlie

[mtravellerh]

Originally Posted by crutledge

And I'm not trying to be funny!

Charlie

Why not? Kidding aside, this looks great!