The upper berth: By the waters of paradise offers an exploration of the human encounter with the unknown, weaving together elements of the supernatural and psychological unease. The stories reflect on how isolation and fear can magnify the mysteries that dwell at the edge of human understanding. The collection highlights the tension between rational thought and the inexplicable, inviting readers to confront the limits of perception and the haunting power of memory. Through settings that evoke both wonder and dread, the narratives present individuals grappling with inner turmoil and forces beyond their control. The works emphasize the lingering influence of past sorrow and the fragile boundary between reality and the spectral. Each tale immerses the reader in an atmosphere where beauty and darkness intertwine, portraying the subtle erosion of certainty when confronted by the uncanny. The collection ultimately reveals how deeply hidden emotions and suppressed fears surface when shaped by loneliness, longing, and the eerie presence of the unseen.
Francis Marion Crawford was an American writer best known for his numerous books, particularly those set in Italy, as well as his famous odd and magical stories. Crawford was born in Bagni di Lucca, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, on August 2, 1854. He was the only son of Thomas Crawford, an American sculptor, and Louisa Cutler Ward. His sister was writer Mary Crawford Fraser (also known as Mrs. Hugh Fraser), and he was the nephew of American poet Julia Ward Howe. Following his father's death in 1857, his mother remarried Luther Terry, with whom she bore Crawford's half-sister, Margaret Ward Terry, who eventually married Winthrop Astor Chanler. He attended St Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, followed by Cambridge University, the University of Heidelberg, and the University of Rome. In 1879, he traveled to India, where he studied Sanskrit and worked as an editor for the Allahabad Indian Herald. After returning to America in February 1881, he spent a year studying Sanskrit at Harvard University and two years contributing to numerous publications, most notably The Critic. Early in 1882, he formed a long-time acquaintance with Isabella Stewart Gardner.
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