Florence Flannery

by Marjorie Bowen

A famous short story

Genres: Short Stories

Unknown Binding

About the author

Marjorie Bowen (pseudonym of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret V[ere] Long née Campbell), 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 aficionados of gothic horror and received praise from critics.

Bowen's alcoholic 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 tuberculosis, 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 on 23rd December 1952. Her last, posthumous, novel was The Man with the Scales (1954).

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale of a young lady named Florence Flannery who gets married and goes to live at her husband's house in the country. She soon learns that she has been misled about her husband Daniel Shute's wealth and the fine manor he has boasted to her about has seen better days. Florence becomes intrigued when she discovers her name scratched onto one of the tiny panes on one of the leaded windows: 'Florence Flannery. Borne 1500'. Florence, who is quite amused by this, uses the diamond in her ring to scratch the present year into the glass: '1800'. Although this was not her intention, the new mark looks odd and, as her husband remarks, it is almost as if it represents Florence's year of death. All too soon the idea seems set to become reality.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audible edition. An unpleasant couple in an unpleasant marriage. A mystery involving a woman's name that was etched in an ancient pane of glass. Available in the compilation 'The Bishop of Hell and Other Stories'.