Nugent Barker
Encyclopedia
Little is known about Nugent Barker (1888-1955), who is remembered for the evocative ghost story
'Whessoe', and the grimly humorous 'Curious Adventure of Mr Bond'. Although rated highly by contemporaries little is known of his life, and the twenty-one tales in Written With My Left Hand, first collected in 1950, are thought to represent the total of Barker’s literary output.
When O’Brien reprinted ‘Whessoe’ in the Best British Short Stories of 1929 the book contained the only biographical notice extant:
In the late 1920s, Barker lived at 16 Tite Street in Chelsea, in the house previously occupied by Oscar Wilde
. Barker was still living at this address at the time of his death in 1955.
Douglas A. Anderson
noted in a Foreword to a later edition of Written With My Left Hand that Barker ranks alongside fellow twentieth-century exponents of the strange story, Walter de la Mare
and John Metcalfe
.
Ghost story
A ghost story may be any piece of fiction, or drama, or an account of an experience, that includes a ghost, or simply takes as a premise the possibility of ghosts or characters' belief in them. Colloquially, the term can refer to any kind of scary story. In a narrower sense, the ghost story has...
'Whessoe', and the grimly humorous 'Curious Adventure of Mr Bond'. Although rated highly by contemporaries little is known of his life, and the twenty-one tales in Written With My Left Hand, first collected in 1950, are thought to represent the total of Barker’s literary output.
When O’Brien reprinted ‘Whessoe’ in the Best British Short Stories of 1929 the book contained the only biographical notice extant:
- Educated at Cheltenham College. Began life as a black and white artist. In 1914 the doctors failed to pass him into the army on account of his eyes. Has recently devoted himself entirely to literature. He comes from one of the oldest Irish families, the Nugents of Westmeath. He lives in London.
In the late 1920s, Barker lived at 16 Tite Street in Chelsea, in the house previously occupied by Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
. Barker was still living at this address at the time of his death in 1955.
Douglas A. Anderson
Douglas A. Anderson
Douglas Allen Anderson is an author and editor on the subjects of fantasy and medieval literature, specializing in textual analysis of the works of J. R. R...
noted in a Foreword to a later edition of Written With My Left Hand that Barker ranks alongside fellow twentieth-century exponents of the strange story, Walter de la Mare
Walter de la Mare
Walter John de la Mare , OM CH was an English poet, short story writer and novelist, probably best remembered for his works for children and the poem "The Listeners"....
and John Metcalfe
John Metcalfe (writer)
William John Metcalfe was a teacher, short story writer and novelist.- Biography :John Metcalfe was born in Heacham, Norfolk, England, on October 6, 1891. He graduated from the University of London in 1913, after which he taught in Paris until 1914...
.
External Links
- http://www.tartaruspress.com/b7.htm
- http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/~agg/ghosts/#barkern