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Reader and Collector, v. 3, issue 3, June 1944
Page 2
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2. Royal Humane Society's medal for saving a life at sea. For some time before the World War he and his wife lived in the south of France. When war broke out he returned to England (at the age of 40) and was granted a commission by the 171st Bridge of Royal Field Artillery. Two years later, in 1917 he went to France with his battery and was soon in the thick of the fight; his Brigade doing splendid work at Ypres. At the time the Germans made their great attack, in April, 1918, he with a few other brother officers and non-commissioner officers successfully stemmed the rush of an overwhelming number of enemy. Shortly thereafter, Hodgson volunteered for the dangerous duty of observation officer of the Brigade. On his first mission, he was killed by a shell. And thus, a most promising literary career came to an abrupt ending. I never could understand why his work was so little known to the general public. It was curious and unfortunate that he had become so engulfed in oblivion. And so, I started my campaign to obtain recognition for Hodgson in this country. For over ten years I have preached the gospel of William Hope Hodgson; by word of mouth, by letters and in articles. For years I have circulated my little collection of Hodgson's first editions all over the country. California to Rhode Island, Oregon to Florida, Wisconsin to South Carolina. To readers and writers and editors. Year after year I have kept up the campaign. Slowly but surely I began to get results. Hodgson's name began to appear in the amateur fantasy magazines. Requests for Hodgson's stories began to creep into the readers columns of the professional magazines. And, requests for a loan of Hodgson books began to multiply. Then came the break for which I was waiting patiently. An appeal for Hodgson's stories came from Miss Gnaedinger of Famous Fantastic Mysteries. A copy of "The Ghost Pirates" and several short stories were soon in her hands. Then followed months of anxious waiting. Copyrights had to be settled. Mrs. Hodgson had to be located, a far from easy matter. A splendid cover, illustrating one of Hodgson's novels, and painted by Lawrence was being held, pending the settlement of copyrights. Unfortunately, due to the long period of delay, this illustration was never used in Famous Fantastic Mysteries.* I had just about given up hope when Mrs. Hodgson was located and the copyright obstacles were removed. Then, in the December, 1943 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries, Miss Gnaedinger published Hodgson's short story "The Derlict." This was followed by the novel "The Ghost Pirates" (cut by about 10,000 words) in the March, 1944 number. I am extremely grateful to Miss Gnaedinger and her associates for taking the lead in reprinting some of Hodgson's stories. But, I am not so easily satisfied. I will not rest content until I have seen every one of his books reprinted in some book or magazine in this country. Until that time comes, however, we will have to be content with those of his books which we are able to locate in the second-hand book shops. (it is not an easy matter.) A complete list of Hodgson's books may be of some assistance to the weird fan. For the benefit of the collector I am also giving the name of the publisher and the date of publication. 1. "The Boats of the Glen Carrig," a novel published by Chapman & Hall, 1907. 2. "The House on the Borderland," a novel published by Chapman & Hall, 1908. 3. "The Ghost Pirates," a novel published by Stanley Paul, 1909 *The illustration by Lawrence eventually appeared on the cover of the April 1943 issue of 10-Story Magazine Mystery.
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2. Royal Humane Society's medal for saving a life at sea. For some time before the World War he and his wife lived in the south of France. When war broke out he returned to England (at the age of 40) and was granted a commission by the 171st Bridge of Royal Field Artillery. Two years later, in 1917 he went to France with his battery and was soon in the thick of the fight; his Brigade doing splendid work at Ypres. At the time the Germans made their great attack, in April, 1918, he with a few other brother officers and non-commissioner officers successfully stemmed the rush of an overwhelming number of enemy. Shortly thereafter, Hodgson volunteered for the dangerous duty of observation officer of the Brigade. On his first mission, he was killed by a shell. And thus, a most promising literary career came to an abrupt ending. I never could understand why his work was so little known to the general public. It was curious and unfortunate that he had become so engulfed in oblivion. And so, I started my campaign to obtain recognition for Hodgson in this country. For over ten years I have preached the gospel of William Hope Hodgson; by word of mouth, by letters and in articles. For years I have circulated my little collection of Hodgson's first editions all over the country. California to Rhode Island, Oregon to Florida, Wisconsin to South Carolina. To readers and writers and editors. Year after year I have kept up the campaign. Slowly but surely I began to get results. Hodgson's name began to appear in the amateur fantasy magazines. Requests for Hodgson's stories began to creep into the readers columns of the professional magazines. And, requests for a loan of Hodgson books began to multiply. Then came the break for which I was waiting patiently. An appeal for Hodgson's stories came from Miss Gnaedinger of Famous Fantastic Mysteries. A copy of "The Ghost Pirates" and several short stories were soon in her hands. Then followed months of anxious waiting. Copyrights had to be settled. Mrs. Hodgson had to be located, a far from easy matter. A splendid cover, illustrating one of Hodgson's novels, and painted by Lawrence was being held, pending the settlement of copyrights. Unfortunately, due to the long period of delay, this illustration was never used in Famous Fantastic Mysteries.* I had just about given up hope when Mrs. Hodgson was located and the copyright obstacles were removed. Then, in the December, 1943 issue of Famous Fantastic Mysteries, Miss Gnaedinger published Hodgson's short story "The Derlict." This was followed by the novel "The Ghost Pirates" (cut by about 10,000 words) in the March, 1944 number. I am extremely grateful to Miss Gnaedinger and her associates for taking the lead in reprinting some of Hodgson's stories. But, I am not so easily satisfied. I will not rest content until I have seen every one of his books reprinted in some book or magazine in this country. Until that time comes, however, we will have to be content with those of his books which we are able to locate in the second-hand book shops. (it is not an easy matter.) A complete list of Hodgson's books may be of some assistance to the weird fan. For the benefit of the collector I am also giving the name of the publisher and the date of publication. 1. "The Boats of the Glen Carrig," a novel published by Chapman & Hall, 1907. 2. "The House on the Borderland," a novel published by Chapman & Hall, 1908. 3. "The Ghost Pirates," a novel published by Stanley Paul, 1909 *The illustration by Lawrence eventually appeared on the cover of the April 1943 issue of 10-Story Magazine Mystery.
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