Kingsley Amis – The Green Man

Kingsley Amis – The Green Man (Penguin, 1990: originally Jonathan Cape, 1969)

Photo: Barry Boxall

The Green Man’s Maurice Allington is a worldly publican, but haunted. His pub is inhabited by the spirit of Dr. Thomas Underhill, the seventeenth century scholar rumoured to have killed his wife. The local sexton had refused to dig Underhill’s grave. And the rector had declined to officiate at his funeral.

And there are skeletons in the cupboard of Allington’s own domestic affairs – just rattling to get out.

For review and alternate covers see Vault Of Evil forum

William Drummond – Night Must Fall

William Drummond – Night Must Fall (Fontana, 1964)

A novel by William Drummond from Emlyn Williams’ spine-chilling play

Danny was gay, bawdy, irresistible …. and a vicious psychopath.

DANNY had loved a lot of women in his time. Loved them and left them. What, then, tied him to “Forest View” — a strange house­hold of three women… ?
MRS. BRAMSON: a rich and petulant old woman, now tied to a wheel chair, she domineered and bullied her way through life… until she met Danny.
DORA: warm-hearted, scatter-brained, she was an easy prey to Danny’s unscrup­ulous charm …
and OLIVIA: a girl whose desperate search for love led her down dangerous byways … to Danny!

Night Must Fall also stars Mona Washbourne, Susan Hampshire, Sheila Hancock, Michael Medwin. Directed by KAREL REISZ

See Vault of Evil forum for review

Christine Sparks – The Elephant Man

Christine Sparks – The Elephant Man (Futura, 1980)

Blurb:

A CENTURY AGO, HE FASCINATED, HORRIFIED AND MOVED A GENERATION. NOW, HIS STORY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. THE ELEPHANT MAN

His name was John Merrick. A hideous freak, born with terrible deformities, he suffered as a prisoner in a Victorian circus sideshow. Even when the surgeon, Frederick Treves, rescued him from his torment, mankind continued to treat The Elephant Man like a monster.
Until Treves’ love and compassion breathed new life into Merrick’s soul — and those around could see the poetry in his dreams of freedom.

A Brooksfilms Production for EMI Films ….. Based on the life of John Merrick, the Elephant Man, and not upon the Broadway play or any other fictional account.