Author: Jonathan Swift%2C John Mitford

1Heath Hover Mystery

By Bertram Mitford

A stranger appears in the middle of the night at Heath Hover while John Seward Mervyn is tending the modest location in a wooded area near a pond. Legends abound regarding Heath Hover; legends such as one's inability to spend a full night at the Heath on certain nights of the year, and that the place was quite simply.... haunted. These were legends which Mervyn has set out to disprove. He would, however, soon find that these were but a few of the mysteries surrounding this peculiar locale. And what was beyond that cellar door that appeared to open by itself at the right (wrong) times? A trip to the other side of the world might just hold the answers to the Heath Hover mystery. ( Roger Melin)

This book is a compilation of short stories originally published in several series in The Lady's Magazine. Volume 1 covers a period of about 18 months, then later, Volume 2 chronicles the changes when Miss Mitford returns to the village some 2 years later. The book's subtitle is “sketches of rural character and scenery”... and this perfectly describes its contents. People and nature are minutely observed and the language reflects Miss Mitford's exquisite eye for detail and love of the changing seasons and the impact they have on the flora and fauna around her. The village characters are described mainly fondly, but not without the occasional wry reference to their faults! In her introduction to a later edition, Anne Thackeray Ritchie quotes from Miss Mitford's reply to William Elford when asked if her characters and descriptions are true......."Yes, as true as is well possible....you, as a great landscape painter know that in painting a favourite scene you do a little embellish and can't help it; you avail yourself of happy accidents of atmosphere; if anything be ugly you strike it out, or if anything be wanting, you put it in. But still the picture is a likeness.” But even if seen through rose-coloured lenses, these gentle little sketches conjure up a time and place long gone and transport us for a while to another, simpler world. ( Anne Fletcher)

This volume continues Miss Mitford's reflections on the changes to village life and characters when she returns two years after the end of Volume 1. It follows the same keen and witty observations of villagers and their continuing stories as well as the seasonal and localised general changes over this time. This selection also includes many memories of Miss Mitford's own school years and her introduction into "society". (Summary by Anne Fletcher)<br> The text source is missing pages 198, 199, 236 and 237, which can be found in the following links:<br> <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101068585114&view=1up&seq=104" rel="nofollow">The Old House at Aberleigh</a><br> <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101068585114&view=1up&seq=340" rel="nofollow">My Godfathers manoeuvering</a><br>

The Hidden Mask is a thrilling fast paced mystery that will have you hooked from start to finish. The mystery begins when Lawrence Clayton arrives home one evening to find his apartment unlocked, and stretched upon the floor at his feet lay the body of an unknown man, dead, evidently murdered, lying on his floor. With an effort he drew himself erect, turned around, and saw that he was not alone. A ghastly looking Dwarf was standing right there and entered his home. Thus starts a chain of the most intriguing events shrouded in mystery, frustration, and at times danger, one after another. Unfortunately, when he tries to report it and tell his best friend, he has not one shred of proof for anything, leading all to think he is having delusions. But he’s not - the “Hidden Mask” is a mystery that will keep you begging for the answers right down to the end. (Summary by Laurie Banza)