Writer of
metaphysical thrillers. A keen eye for human foibles, fine
characterisation, and a strong suspense element give his books an
outwardly naturalistic form: but this masks a deep interest in
spiritual forces. These are often exemplified by a mysterious
unreachable off-stage character, as in his first great success,
I Am Jonathan
Scrivener.
His most explicitly supernatural work is the novel Julian Grant Loses His
Way, set in
the after-life, and the collection Three Fantastic
Tales, but
virtually all his books are permeated by his metaphysical ideas.
Admired by Hugh Walpole, P.G. Wodehouse, Henry Miller and others,
his work was widely acclaimed in the Thirties and Forties but has
virtually faded from view since. His full name was Claude Houghton
Oldfield.
Mark Valentine
Novels
A Hair
Divides,
1931
Julian
Grant Loses His Way, 1933
I Am
Jonathan Scrivener, 1934
This
Was Ivor Trent, 1935
Hudson
Rejoins the Herd, 1939
Short stories
Three
Fantastic Tales, 1934
The
Beast,
1936
Essays
The
Kingdoms of the Spirit, 1924
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