Dead Man's Lane

by Joan Aiken

Dead Man's Lane (Penguin Children's 60s S.) Aiken, Joan

Genres: Childrens, Short Stories

About the author

Joan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.

She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).

Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.

Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.

Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.

Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.

Reviews

[Manuel Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

ENGLISH: This is the fifth time I've read this little book, which contains three stories. The best, for me, is "The end of silence," where the father of two girls tries to recover from his woe for the loss of his wife by giving his love to an owl.

ESPAÑOL: Esta es la quinta vez que he leído este librito, que contiene tres cuentos. Para mí, el mejor es "El fin del silencio": el padre de dos chicas intenta recuperarse del dolor por la pérdida de su esposa entregando su amor a una lechuza.

[Maura Heaphy Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three intriguing little horror stories, suitable for young readers, but satisfyingly articulate and complicated for an adult. I particularly like #1 and 3: the first for its unreliable narrator, and the third for the sheer creepiness of its murderous child-ghost. A good introduction to the author of The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this itty bitty book for ages. I had totally forgotten about it, but found it in yet another box of mine from a move many years ago. ( I really have learned to de-clutter! Just took me a while.)
I thought I had heard of the author previously but could not place where. No matter, I pressed on with no ill conceived ideas. I was surprised! Nay, a bit shocked actually that such a book aimed at children should be so, oh, I don't know, shocking?
The first story left me, even a hardened reader quite taken aback at the ending. Well, written and pulls the reader in and the rug is pulled out from under you! Rather exciting, but quite daunting for an adult, let alone a child!
The next two short stories are actually quite gay (in the old fashioned wording, keep up people!) and entertaining. I rather took to Whitman. Sadly, the story ends again rather tragically. I won't give away the ending. Yet one of the characters feels as I do.
The last story. Well, it was nicely done but this time from an adult's perspective. I found it a little lacking toward the end. I had half expected another little twist, but alas! it was actually nicely packaged and tidied up to become more a sad story of sorts.
All in all, I rather enjoyed reading this in my lunch hour today. I hope to read more of Joan Aiken.

[Clare Sudbery · Rating 4 out of 5]

(not actually a review, just a quick summary because I'm just using Goodreads to remember which books I've read. Also note that date read is VERY much approximate).
Cute little ghost story for teens. Girl rides bike through town.

[Genevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tiny book, thin, paperback, the size of a hand––I think there were three stories in it, all chilling ghost story types. Excellent, as always with Joan Aiken; but not her best. I don't know if they are included in any other Aiken collections.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this when I was about 10 years old from a school book fair. A collection of three interesting short stories by Joan Aiken for only 60p!