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Elizabeth
“If you were to go into your bedroom tonight – perhaps by candlelight – and sit quietly before the large mirror, you might see what I have seen. Sit patiently, looking neither at yourself nor at the glass. You might notice that the image is not yours, but that of an exceptional person who lived at some other time...”
The image in the mirror of fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Cuttner is that of the fey and long-dead Frances, who introduces Elizabeth to her chilling world of the supernatural. Through Frances, Elizabeth learns what it is to wield power – power of a kind that is malevolent and seemingly invincible. Power that begins with the killing of her parents...
First published in 1976, Ken Greenhall's debut novel Elizabeth is a lost classic of modern horror fiction that deserves rediscovery. This edition includes a new introduction by Jonathan Janz.
The image in the mirror of fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Cuttner is that of the fey and long-dead Frances, who introduces Elizabeth to her chilling world of the supernatural. Through Frances, Elizabeth learns what it is to wield power – power of a kind that is malevolent and seemingly invincible. Power that begins with the killing of her parents...
First published in 1976, Ken Greenhall's debut novel Elizabeth is a lost classic of modern horror fiction that deserves rediscovery. This edition includes a new introduction by Jonathan Janz.
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
April 10, 2017
NEVER have I been so unsettled reading a book narrated by a 14 year old girl. But perhaps that is because Elizabeth is not your ordinary teenager. She's descended from a long line of witches and is now discovering the power within her. Or is she? You'll have to read this to find out!
The prose in this book is simply outstanding. It's chilling at times because the narrator seems to have no feelings whatsoever. She talks about sex, acts of violence, and eating breakfast all in the same tone. Sometimes I would need to read a sentence or paragraph over again to be sure that I read it correctly.
Then, there's the sex. It's not graphic at all, there are no mentions of sex organs or the mechanics of the act itself...it's just there. Perhaps that is why it never bothered me, as sex between a 14 year old girl and adults should. Then again, perhaps it is because Elizabeth herself never expresses any feeling about it, she only mentions it as a...tool, (please forgive the half-hearted pun), to get what she wants.
The entire time I was reading, I was wondering if Elizabeth, indeed, possessed supernatural powers. Was everything going on simply a matter of coincidence and her overactive imagination? Or were these things actually happening because of her actions? (In this regard, Elizabeth reminds me of one of my favorite books, THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR by Anne Rivers Siddons.) It was the masterful writing of Mr. Greenhall that had me turning this fact over and over again in my mind. I know what conclusion I came to, I'm interested in yours!
This novel reminds me of why I became a horror fan in the first place, it wasn't the gore or the blood, (though those DO have their place and I love them too), it's human nature and what people can be capable of, underneath their ordinary facades. These days we have tons of books and TV shows about sociopaths/psychopaths/personality disorders-all of which are trying to explain things to us. Mr. Greenhall wrote this back in the day,(the 1970's), before FBI profiling and Criminal Minds. Even without all of those studies and the psychiatric manuals, he had this criminal profile down PAT.
Is Elizabeth continuing on her family's tradition of witchcraft, or is she another type of animal altogether? I HIGHLY recommend you read this book, and then come talk to me. We'll discuss it together!
*Thank you to the most awesome Valancourt Books for the free review copy in exchange for my honest review. This is it!*
**Further thanks to Valancourt for bringing back these horror gems that may otherwise have been entirely forgotten. Bravo, guys! Bravo!**
The prose in this book is simply outstanding. It's chilling at times because the narrator seems to have no feelings whatsoever. She talks about sex, acts of violence, and eating breakfast all in the same tone. Sometimes I would need to read a sentence or paragraph over again to be sure that I read it correctly.
Then, there's the sex. It's not graphic at all, there are no mentions of sex organs or the mechanics of the act itself...it's just there. Perhaps that is why it never bothered me, as sex between a 14 year old girl and adults should. Then again, perhaps it is because Elizabeth herself never expresses any feeling about it, she only mentions it as a...tool, (please forgive the half-hearted pun), to get what she wants.
The entire time I was reading, I was wondering if Elizabeth, indeed, possessed supernatural powers. Was everything going on simply a matter of coincidence and her overactive imagination? Or were these things actually happening because of her actions? (In this regard, Elizabeth reminds me of one of my favorite books, THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR by Anne Rivers Siddons.) It was the masterful writing of Mr. Greenhall that had me turning this fact over and over again in my mind. I know what conclusion I came to, I'm interested in yours!
This novel reminds me of why I became a horror fan in the first place, it wasn't the gore or the blood, (though those DO have their place and I love them too), it's human nature and what people can be capable of, underneath their ordinary facades. These days we have tons of books and TV shows about sociopaths/psychopaths/personality disorders-all of which are trying to explain things to us. Mr. Greenhall wrote this back in the day,(the 1970's), before FBI profiling and Criminal Minds. Even without all of those studies and the psychiatric manuals, he had this criminal profile down PAT.
Is Elizabeth continuing on her family's tradition of witchcraft, or is she another type of animal altogether? I HIGHLY recommend you read this book, and then come talk to me. We'll discuss it together!
*Thank you to the most awesome Valancourt Books for the free review copy in exchange for my honest review. This is it!*
**Further thanks to Valancourt for bringing back these horror gems that may otherwise have been entirely forgotten. Bravo, guys! Bravo!**
March 13, 2021
"I think people who suppose themselves virtuous eventually become ridiculous because of the unending self-deception they must practice."
So says our narrator, Elizabeth, who has no need of self-deception. She knows who she is. She knows what she is. She knows what she wants. She is not virtuous. Just look at this little bit of her narration in chapter 1:
"I first came to live with Grandmother about a year ago, after I killed my parents. I don't mean to sound callous. Let me explain."
This book reminded me of being a teenager. Not because of the narrator being one, but because it is the sort of thing I would have probably stayed up till 4AM reading. A book of witchcraft, murder, incest, mystery and a narrator who is, not the nicest of young women... hell, let's be blunt, she's obviously a sociopath teenage girl with power. In other words, it's everything that caused a panic during the horror paperback boom. Some of the stuff that made me the reader I am now.
This one has been an interesting reading experience. Rarely have I ever gone from loving a book, to almost hating it and back to loving it. I've never done that before with a book so short... nor has the aspect I loved also been the aspects that frustrate me.
Elizabeth is a weird little book. It's like a fever dream. Things happen fast. Things don't always make full sense, operating almost like, well, a dream. That said, its logic leaps never feel too much and instead give it a surreal quality. I love this. I hate this. On one hand I love that it doesn't linger, it keeps things going constantly even if it's filled with quiet scenes. At the same time a character is introduced and within a few chapters seems to drop an important line or two and then fade away. It's a frustrating experience.
It's a book that requires constant attention. Almost every line can is saying more than it actually says. Sometimes it's immediately clear what is being said... sometimes not so much. It's prose is sensual, there's a lot of suggestion, but rarely ever actually showing anything.
Do I like this book? Yes, I almost loved it. Aspects mentioned above frustrated me a bit too much for that though. I find the last three or four chapters were the way too fast, and wished it would have lingered a few moments on them. That said, the fast pace frequently worked well. Overall 3/5 stars
October 25, 2018
”I paused before the mirror. My eyes were half opened, and I touched their outer corners and felt the small crusty deposits that had formed there in the night. I reached down and grasped the hem of my wrinkled nightgown and pulled it over my head. I looked again at the mirror and then shivered and moved away, feeling as though a stranger had been looking at my body.
I enjoyed the feeling.”
Fourteen year old Elizabeth Cuttner is not by any means a normal teenager. Her parents die in an odd boating accident, but that really doesn’t seem to bother her too much. She goes to live with her grandmother, her uncle, and her aunt. She decides she is done with school, and her relatives realize that the battle is hardly worth the fight.
Elizabeth likes living there in that house, and so does everyone else. They build this uncommon situation of symbiotic living that is certainly atypical, but at the same time becomes a sanctuary for each of them. The thought of change would be a source of anxiety for all of them.
They hire a tutor for Elizabeth named Miss Anne Barton. Their relationship is uneasy because Anne has decided that she must save Elizabeth from herself, but Elizabeth is only beginning to understand things about herself that actually makes her world much more interesting. ”I’ve learned that the things people say are irrelevant to their true nature. If I had known Miss Barton only by her words, I might have thought she was virtuous; that she wished me well.
‘Can evil be learned?’ I asked.
Frances smiled.”
Now who is Francis, you might ask?
She is the woman in the mirror. Elizabeth’s confident, friend, and true tutor.
Uncle James is decidedly friendly. Elizabeth doesn’t mind his visits or the things he asks her to do. What is really interesting about these Lolitaesque encounters is how little it bothers me. All of it happens off stage, but it is really more about how matter of fact Elizabeth is about it. She doesn’t see herself as a victim and would find it odd that we would see her that way. Ken Greenhall handles this incendiary subject deftly. I’m more unnerved by the fact that it doesn’t distress me than by the act itself. Elizabeth is forming her own ideas about morality, and they do not necessary dovetail with ours.
When Grandmother decides that enough is enough, she determines that Elizabeth must go away to school. This does not make anyone happy, least of all Elizabeth.
”The fragments of the mirror were strewn across the floor and the top of the dresser, reflecting the gentle flame of the gaslight. James and Mr. Taylor looked at the scattered fragments and were silent. I think the broken mirror frightened them more than Grandmother’s absence; it was an omen.”
Everybody is relieved about the unexpected reprieve, and some feel more guilty about it than others. This is when the novel really kicks into a different gear as Miss Barton investigates the disappearance of the grandmother and the myriad of strange occurrences surrounding the short, but disconcerning, life of Elizabeth Cuttner.
As a reader, the plot leaves me anxious and uneasy as I ponder where I am being led. The atmosphere certainly incorporates gothic elements with mirrors, toads, snakes, and mysterious nighttime activities. I’ve heard about Greenhall for years, but until Valancourt Books started re-releasing his novels, I have virtually ignored him. Not any more. I really enjoy the way he builds the tension of the novel. He gives us a final twist at the end that will leave me always wondering, what does Elizabeth do next?
A dose of gothic horror to add some chills to your October reading list.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
I enjoyed the feeling.”
Fourteen year old Elizabeth Cuttner is not by any means a normal teenager. Her parents die in an odd boating accident, but that really doesn’t seem to bother her too much. She goes to live with her grandmother, her uncle, and her aunt. She decides she is done with school, and her relatives realize that the battle is hardly worth the fight.
Elizabeth likes living there in that house, and so does everyone else. They build this uncommon situation of symbiotic living that is certainly atypical, but at the same time becomes a sanctuary for each of them. The thought of change would be a source of anxiety for all of them.
They hire a tutor for Elizabeth named Miss Anne Barton. Their relationship is uneasy because Anne has decided that she must save Elizabeth from herself, but Elizabeth is only beginning to understand things about herself that actually makes her world much more interesting. ”I’ve learned that the things people say are irrelevant to their true nature. If I had known Miss Barton only by her words, I might have thought she was virtuous; that she wished me well.
‘Can evil be learned?’ I asked.
Frances smiled.”
Now who is Francis, you might ask?
She is the woman in the mirror. Elizabeth’s confident, friend, and true tutor.
Uncle James is decidedly friendly. Elizabeth doesn’t mind his visits or the things he asks her to do. What is really interesting about these Lolitaesque encounters is how little it bothers me. All of it happens off stage, but it is really more about how matter of fact Elizabeth is about it. She doesn’t see herself as a victim and would find it odd that we would see her that way. Ken Greenhall handles this incendiary subject deftly. I’m more unnerved by the fact that it doesn’t distress me than by the act itself. Elizabeth is forming her own ideas about morality, and they do not necessary dovetail with ours.
When Grandmother decides that enough is enough, she determines that Elizabeth must go away to school. This does not make anyone happy, least of all Elizabeth.
”The fragments of the mirror were strewn across the floor and the top of the dresser, reflecting the gentle flame of the gaslight. James and Mr. Taylor looked at the scattered fragments and were silent. I think the broken mirror frightened them more than Grandmother’s absence; it was an omen.”
Everybody is relieved about the unexpected reprieve, and some feel more guilty about it than others. This is when the novel really kicks into a different gear as Miss Barton investigates the disappearance of the grandmother and the myriad of strange occurrences surrounding the short, but disconcerning, life of Elizabeth Cuttner.
As a reader, the plot leaves me anxious and uneasy as I ponder where I am being led. The atmosphere certainly incorporates gothic elements with mirrors, toads, snakes, and mysterious nighttime activities. I’ve heard about Greenhall for years, but until Valancourt Books started re-releasing his novels, I have virtually ignored him. Not any more. I really enjoy the way he builds the tension of the novel. He gives us a final twist at the end that will leave me always wondering, what does Elizabeth do next?
A dose of gothic horror to add some chills to your October reading list.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
September 28, 2021
The image in the mirror of fourteen year old Elizabeth Cuttner, is that of long dead Witch, Frances, who introduces Elizabeth to her chilling world of the supernatural. Through Frances, Elizabeth learns what it is like to wield power – power of a kind that is malevolent and seemingly invincible.
Power that begins with the killing of her parents....
What a wonderfully creepy little novella. Elizabeth is disturbed. She possesses an almost sinister mind and is entirely without empathy. At fourteen years of age, she willingly and enthusiastically engages in an incestuous relationship with her uncle. She delights in manipulating the adults around her, and indulges in witchcraft to commit murder.
First published in 1975, I would consider this almost a lost classic. Although listed as horror, I think this novella would feel more at home in the gothic noir/witchcraft genre.
A really quick, creepy read 👌🏻
Power that begins with the killing of her parents....
What a wonderfully creepy little novella. Elizabeth is disturbed. She possesses an almost sinister mind and is entirely without empathy. At fourteen years of age, she willingly and enthusiastically engages in an incestuous relationship with her uncle. She delights in manipulating the adults around her, and indulges in witchcraft to commit murder.
First published in 1975, I would consider this almost a lost classic. Although listed as horror, I think this novella would feel more at home in the gothic noir/witchcraft genre.
A really quick, creepy read 👌🏻
February 1, 2016
One of my favorite horror reads of the past couple years, Elizabeth is narrated in the first-person by the 14 year-old title character, who one day finds she has magical powers, and discovers that she comes from a long line of witches. With the help of Frances, a long-dead witch who appears to Elizabeth in mirrors, she slowly gains more and more power, disposing of anyone who gets in the way of her quest for even more, including family, with a cold indifference that can be rather chilling .
The narration here is excellent, as Elizabeth can be both charming and extremely cold-blooded, sometimes in the same sentence. She has a knowledge beyond her years, and a wittiness that brings some much-needed levity to this otherwise dark story. Also, though only 14, she knows how to sexually seduce to get what she wants from men, and even women. One thing I really liked about the novel was that author Hamilton (i.e. Ken Greenhall) keeps the reader in doubt throughout as to whether Elizabeth actually has a unique gift at all. There's always the chance that the strange occurrences surrounding her are merely coincidence as opposed to any supernatural powers.
Elizabeth is a forgotten near-masterpiece from the days when Stephen King was just turning into a sensation after Carrie and Salem's Lot, and somehow this novel got lost in the subsequent horror fiction explosion. It deserves to be reprinted by a publisher like Valancourt or Centipede, so that a new generation of fans may discover this uniquely understated slice of horror.
Absolutely essential, as is the author's Hell Hound (published as Ken Greenhall in the US and under Hamilton in the UK, with Baxter* as it's title) and, to a slightly lesser extent, Childgrave (published under Greenhall in the US and Hamilton in the UK). If it hadn't been for Will Errickson and his excellent 'Too Much Horror Fiction' blog, it probably never would have caught my eye during one of my frequent used bookstore-binges from a couple years back.
4.5 Stars
*Also the name of the 1989 French film based on Hell Hound.
The narration here is excellent, as Elizabeth can be both charming and extremely cold-blooded, sometimes in the same sentence. She has a knowledge beyond her years, and a wittiness that brings some much-needed levity to this otherwise dark story. Also, though only 14, she knows how to sexually seduce to get what she wants from men, and even women. One thing I really liked about the novel was that author Hamilton (i.e. Ken Greenhall) keeps the reader in doubt throughout as to whether Elizabeth actually has a unique gift at all. There's always the chance that the strange occurrences surrounding her are merely coincidence as opposed to any supernatural powers.
Elizabeth is a forgotten near-masterpiece from the days when Stephen King was just turning into a sensation after Carrie and Salem's Lot, and somehow this novel got lost in the subsequent horror fiction explosion. It deserves to be reprinted by a publisher like Valancourt or Centipede, so that a new generation of fans may discover this uniquely understated slice of horror.
Absolutely essential, as is the author's Hell Hound (published as Ken Greenhall in the US and under Hamilton in the UK, with Baxter* as it's title) and, to a slightly lesser extent, Childgrave (published under Greenhall in the US and Hamilton in the UK). If it hadn't been for Will Errickson and his excellent 'Too Much Horror Fiction' blog, it probably never would have caught my eye during one of my frequent used bookstore-binges from a couple years back.
4.5 Stars
*Also the name of the 1989 French film based on Hell Hound.
December 20, 2018
Urged on by a ghost named Frances living in her mirror, Elizabeth's first victims were her parents. When she goes to live with relatives, will Frances help Elizabeth kill again?
Elizabeth is yet another book whose existence I would have know inkling of if not for Paperbacks from Hell! I eventually overcame my cheapness and nabbed the ebook.
I'd say Elizabeth is part of the "creepy kids" subgenre of horror, although at 14 and sexually precocious, she's at the upper end of the spectrum. A long dead ancestor named Frances who lives in mirrors is Elizabeth's key to power. Her lone obstacle is Miss Barton, a tutor her family hires after her family's dead, someone from the same bloodline.
Elizabeth is touted as a lost horror classic. I can kind see why that is. There's a feeling of creeping doom through most of it, a feeling that Elizabeth is an uncaring, unfeeling monster, witch or no witch. The fact that she's not relatable in the least makes her a chilling first person narrator. There's a pretty big ick factor when Elizabeth seduces male relatives which only adds to the horror.
The book is a breezy read and short, making it really hard to put down. I only stopped because my lunch breaks only last so long. It's a little like a train wreck, waiting to see what Elizabeth does next. The writing itself is pretty unexceptional, though. Nothing remarkable, though there were a few quotable lines.
While I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would, Elizabeth is still a worthwhile read for horror fans everywhere. 3.5 out of five stars.
Elizabeth is yet another book whose existence I would have know inkling of if not for Paperbacks from Hell! I eventually overcame my cheapness and nabbed the ebook.
I'd say Elizabeth is part of the "creepy kids" subgenre of horror, although at 14 and sexually precocious, she's at the upper end of the spectrum. A long dead ancestor named Frances who lives in mirrors is Elizabeth's key to power. Her lone obstacle is Miss Barton, a tutor her family hires after her family's dead, someone from the same bloodline.
Elizabeth is touted as a lost horror classic. I can kind see why that is. There's a feeling of creeping doom through most of it, a feeling that Elizabeth is an uncaring, unfeeling monster, witch or no witch. The fact that she's not relatable in the least makes her a chilling first person narrator. There's a pretty big ick factor when Elizabeth seduces male relatives which only adds to the horror.
The book is a breezy read and short, making it really hard to put down. I only stopped because my lunch breaks only last so long. It's a little like a train wreck, waiting to see what Elizabeth does next. The writing itself is pretty unexceptional, though. Nothing remarkable, though there were a few quotable lines.
While I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would, Elizabeth is still a worthwhile read for horror fans everywhere. 3.5 out of five stars.
October 30, 2020
Happy Halloween! If you are interested in a quick but still quite disturbing horror read, then please consider this little gem - a vastly underrated author's debut novel.
Elizabeth is a young witch, and not the good kind. Totally without empathy and responding to the siren call of a long-dead ancestor haunting her from mirrors, our antiheroine embarks upon a life of orderly indolence as she carefully curtails any intrusions into how she wants to live that life. Despite being 14 years of age, she's definitely her own woman, with her own personal life goals. As the back cover notes, her career starts with the killing of her parents. Soon she finds herself in just the place she'd love to stay: the family manse, complete with a sinister matriarch, a creepy cousin obsessed with snakes, a charming uncle (her lover) and a charming aunt, a new tutor (her aunt's lover), and of course a sex-attic. All seems to be proceeding swimmingly until a mysterious disappearance occurs, and a troubling murder mystery develops in which prim tutor and amoral student seek to discover who exactly is responsible.
The tone and the narrator's voice are so well done. Flat and without affect, hypnotic, weirdly seductive. Ken Greenhall is masterful with the prose - so many strangely ambiguous asides and pointed ways to describe things, and all done with elegance and subtlety. This is one of those novels where the reader is slowly drawn into the mind of a murderous psychopath, eventually realizing - aghast - that they fully understand her. And maybe even sympathize with her. Eek! But the girl just wants to live her life and solve some mysteries, who can blame her. Except for the incest and the murders, I really get where she's coming from.
Elizabeth is a young witch, and not the good kind. Totally without empathy and responding to the siren call of a long-dead ancestor haunting her from mirrors, our antiheroine embarks upon a life of orderly indolence as she carefully curtails any intrusions into how she wants to live that life. Despite being 14 years of age, she's definitely her own woman, with her own personal life goals. As the back cover notes, her career starts with the killing of her parents. Soon she finds herself in just the place she'd love to stay: the family manse, complete with a sinister matriarch, a creepy cousin obsessed with snakes, a charming uncle (her lover) and a charming aunt, a new tutor (her aunt's lover), and of course a sex-attic. All seems to be proceeding swimmingly until a mysterious disappearance occurs, and a troubling murder mystery develops in which prim tutor and amoral student seek to discover who exactly is responsible.
The tone and the narrator's voice are so well done. Flat and without affect, hypnotic, weirdly seductive. Ken Greenhall is masterful with the prose - so many strangely ambiguous asides and pointed ways to describe things, and all done with elegance and subtlety. This is one of those novels where the reader is slowly drawn into the mind of a murderous psychopath, eventually realizing - aghast - that they fully understand her. And maybe even sympathize with her. Eek! But the girl just wants to live her life and solve some mysteries, who can blame her. Except for the incest and the murders, I really get where she's coming from.
April 6, 2017
Ken Greenhall (aka Jessica Hamilton) is the stylistic heir to Shirley Jackson. The fact that he's been forgotten is a sign that the cultural gatekeepers are assholes.
April 17, 2023
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The only reason I knew about this book was because I picked up Grady Hendrix's PAPERBACKS FROM HELL and this was one of the titles that he had offhandedly mentioned that he liked. It also didn't sound like it was going to be super gory, and even though I am the biggest wuss on the planet when it comes to horror, I do like atmospheric horror.
ELIZABETH is the story of a sinister fourteen-year-old girl who starts doing bad things to the people around her under the direction of a ghost named Frances who lives in her mirror. She also ends up adopting a cat familiar at some point who she names Mr. Scratch (and no, he doesn't die-- hooray!). It's written in first person and has the chatty, unreliable narration style that a lot of self-published horror these days has.
I don't want to say too much more because of spoilers, but one of the focal questions about this book is whether Elizabeth is a witch or just a psycho. The ending doesn't really deliver on this, either, so if you're not a fan of vague endings, this might make you made. I personally don't care either way so long as a story is good (I can live with a bit of disappointment), but the story was also... weird.
First, Jessica Hamilton is actually a penname for a dude (as was common in the '70s), so don't pick this one up thinking you're supporting women in horror, as I did. Second, this book is gross. If I had known that huge portions of this book revolve around the underage heroine sleeping with her uncle, I would not have picked it up because that is nasty. It's not, like, endorsed or even particularly fetishized, but it just felt like a cheap way to make the story feel more sensational and gross than it needed to be. Which I guess is maybe why this became a cult horror book, in a way. It definitely has '70s grindhouse vibes.
I'd recommend this book to people who like books that push boundaries and enjoy reading stories with major creep factor. I did read this book to the end, even if I was ew-ing most of the way there, so I'm not going to give it too low of a rating, but I don't think I'd read anything else by this author, either. Yuck. Bonus star because the cat survived though and because Mr. Scratch is a hilarious name.
2.5 stars
November 23, 2021
If you are looking for a classic gem to read for the Halloween season, you might just enjoy this paperback from hell by Ken Greenhall, writing under the pseudonym of Jessica Hamilton, about a young witch in New York.
Elizabeth is a fascinating character, full of contradictions and cold menace. She exudes sexuality and uses it frequently, but really doesn't care a hoot for love. She is precocious, intelligent, and a good student, but doesn't care for school and doesn't want to finish her education. She can be all smiles while secretly holding nothing but disdain. She feels no empathy, but learns to imitate it.
But what makes her really remarkable is that Elizabeth is a witch. Or thinks she is.
Elizabeth is 14-years-old and already is a full-fledged antisocial personality. She moves in with her grandmother, her uncle and his wife, her cousin, and her live-in tutor after the death of her parents. The motley crew has a maladaptive and incestuous relationship, though somehow a rather functional and happy one. But woe be it for anyone who disrupts the routine of their daily mundane lives, even members of Elizabeth's own family.
Now, I won't say anything more about the plot other to say that the tone of the novel takes an unexpected turn into mystery territory as Elizabeth tries to use her powers to solve a murder. This is one of those novels that has several layers like an onion, and part of the pleasure is peeling away those layers to get at what's underneath.
Those of you who know my taste will remember that I tend to enjoy the writing style of the Edwardian period and jazz age. This period tended to have the best mix of poetic flourishes with straightforward modern narrative styles, easy to understand but with a brisk salting of Victorian archaism. Ken Greenhall writes in this style. In fact, he does this so well that I kept forgetting that this book was far more modern than it seemed. This adds to the overall disorienting feel of this book, as the reader is never really sure when in time this story is taking place. We know events must be happening after 1907 because of something mentioned early on in the book. I suspect, based on some vague mentions of technology, that this is supposed to be taking place in the modern day. Therefore, Greenhall's prose and dialogue does a fantastic job helping to portray how Elizabeth and her family are stuck in another time, another world, out of touch with modern life.
My only complaint, strangely enough, concerns the most fascinating central character of the book. As I said earlier, Elizabeth is a blossoming sociopath, and there also is a touch of autism. Therefore, her deadpan reactions to things, her snarky comments to herself, and her disdain for everything around her begins to grow tedious, especially since the whole story is told from her point of view. She is a great character, but to follow her so closely for the whole book is a bit rough.
This is a problem I have with a lot of modern books and movies that have come out in the last decade, especially in the last five years. You know--the "wooden plank" phenomenon. Too many of our contemporary so-called heroes are portrayed as flat, humorless, bitter, and sarcastic that I find it impossible to identify with such characters. It almost seems that there is some psychological deficiency in younger screenwriters and novelists, a maturational development stunted by social media and petty first-world problems that causes a fundamental void of understanding of the subtleties of human behavior and communication. But Greenhall purposefully designed Elizabeth this way--there is a narrative purpose behind her apparent alien qualities, and as such I was more than willing to be patient with Elizabeth's aspie personality.
Unlike a lot of paperback horrors from the 70s and 80s, "Elizabeth" is not a festival of gore or splatter. This is an intelligent and beautifully written psychological horror that should be read, studied, and discussed more in literary circles. I wish I could talk more about it here myself, but the book is very short and so any further blabbering on my part may inadvertently give too much away.
So check out this classic tale of witchcraft by either getting your hands on an original printing, which goes for a pretty penny these days, or the wonderful Valancourt e-book with an introduction by Jonathan Janz. And for another Ken Greenhall gem with an unusual narrator, check out his ingenious "Hell Hound." What other stories do you recommend with an unreliable narrator or an unusual point of view? Let me know in the comments!
Elizabeth is a fascinating character, full of contradictions and cold menace. She exudes sexuality and uses it frequently, but really doesn't care a hoot for love. She is precocious, intelligent, and a good student, but doesn't care for school and doesn't want to finish her education. She can be all smiles while secretly holding nothing but disdain. She feels no empathy, but learns to imitate it.
But what makes her really remarkable is that Elizabeth is a witch. Or thinks she is.
Elizabeth is 14-years-old and already is a full-fledged antisocial personality. She moves in with her grandmother, her uncle and his wife, her cousin, and her live-in tutor after the death of her parents. The motley crew has a maladaptive and incestuous relationship, though somehow a rather functional and happy one. But woe be it for anyone who disrupts the routine of their daily mundane lives, even members of Elizabeth's own family.
Now, I won't say anything more about the plot other to say that the tone of the novel takes an unexpected turn into mystery territory as Elizabeth tries to use her powers to solve a murder. This is one of those novels that has several layers like an onion, and part of the pleasure is peeling away those layers to get at what's underneath.
Those of you who know my taste will remember that I tend to enjoy the writing style of the Edwardian period and jazz age. This period tended to have the best mix of poetic flourishes with straightforward modern narrative styles, easy to understand but with a brisk salting of Victorian archaism. Ken Greenhall writes in this style. In fact, he does this so well that I kept forgetting that this book was far more modern than it seemed. This adds to the overall disorienting feel of this book, as the reader is never really sure when in time this story is taking place. We know events must be happening after 1907 because of something mentioned early on in the book. I suspect, based on some vague mentions of technology, that this is supposed to be taking place in the modern day. Therefore, Greenhall's prose and dialogue does a fantastic job helping to portray how Elizabeth and her family are stuck in another time, another world, out of touch with modern life.
My only complaint, strangely enough, concerns the most fascinating central character of the book. As I said earlier, Elizabeth is a blossoming sociopath, and there also is a touch of autism. Therefore, her deadpan reactions to things, her snarky comments to herself, and her disdain for everything around her begins to grow tedious, especially since the whole story is told from her point of view. She is a great character, but to follow her so closely for the whole book is a bit rough.
This is a problem I have with a lot of modern books and movies that have come out in the last decade, especially in the last five years. You know--the "wooden plank" phenomenon. Too many of our contemporary so-called heroes are portrayed as flat, humorless, bitter, and sarcastic that I find it impossible to identify with such characters. It almost seems that there is some psychological deficiency in younger screenwriters and novelists, a maturational development stunted by social media and petty first-world problems that causes a fundamental void of understanding of the subtleties of human behavior and communication. But Greenhall purposefully designed Elizabeth this way--there is a narrative purpose behind her apparent alien qualities, and as such I was more than willing to be patient with Elizabeth's aspie personality.
Unlike a lot of paperback horrors from the 70s and 80s, "Elizabeth" is not a festival of gore or splatter. This is an intelligent and beautifully written psychological horror that should be read, studied, and discussed more in literary circles. I wish I could talk more about it here myself, but the book is very short and so any further blabbering on my part may inadvertently give too much away.
So check out this classic tale of witchcraft by either getting your hands on an original printing, which goes for a pretty penny these days, or the wonderful Valancourt e-book with an introduction by Jonathan Janz. And for another Ken Greenhall gem with an unusual narrator, check out his ingenious "Hell Hound." What other stories do you recommend with an unreliable narrator or an unusual point of view? Let me know in the comments!
June 24, 2017
ELIZABETH: A Novel of the Unnatural, by Ken Greenhall, was first released in 1976. This new version from VALANCOURT BOOKS includes an insightful introduction by Jonathan Janz. The story centers upon a young Elizabeth Cuttner, who believes that she sees an image of a woman named Frances, reflected in her mirror one day. Frances, she believes, is a witch that died centuries ago.
"Have you ever thought about mirrors?"
". . . There really is no way to know whether your mirror shows you what others see or what is really there."
ELIZABETH is a novel that I found startlingly unsettling to say the least. Narrated in the voice of fourteen year old Elizabeth, what was most noticeable was that her "tone" didn't deviate or show any kind of an emotional reaction, no matter what the topic. Elizabeth could go through the sounds of birds singing, to a sexual affair with a relative in the same manner--each topic was essentially the same in her mind.
". . . He had never understood that I only have one mood."
While the sexual innuendoes--never explicit, only blandly stated as matter-of-fact--may seem uncomfortable to some readers coming from a fourteen year old, to Elizabeth, this was simply the way things were. Her sexuality was a "power", and she wouldn't hesitate to use it to her advantage.
". . . As far as I could understand it, love was . . . certainly of less practical value than what I had learned from Frances. Yet those who would scoff . . . would do the most foolish things in the name of love."
After the death of her parents, Elizabeth goes to live with her Grandmother, Uncle James (her Father's brother), Aunt Katherine, and their son, Keith. They were quite content to keep to themselves, and although the dynamics of other families were usually very different from theirs, Elizabeth saw it as perfectly normal in every way.
". . . We were much as any other family. We saw the need to conceal the truth of our feelings."
During the time that Elizabeth believes Frances is teaching her to wield an unnatural power, a tutor--Miss Barton, also a relation--arrives to school her on different subjects. Although resentful at this intrusion, the teenager appears as stoic as usual on the outside. In truth, even her internal feelings have a way of reasoning things through into a sense of logic that she can accept as fitting into her own, personal, agenda.
"I think imaginative people create most of the world's problems, but I saw no reason to warn them of that . . ."
The unflappable, pragmatic view that we get from Elizabeth is possibly the most important aspect of setting the atmosphere in this novel. We are led along, believing that even the most horrific and tragic situations are merely commonplace, and not worthy of more than a cursory study. In my own opinion, this is a great achievement for an author--to not only "tell" a story, but to have the reader virtually "living" in the world they've created.
". . . morality is only simple when you're judging someone else's actions . . . "
In this story, I was completely transported into Elizabeth's mindset--believing in the things that she, herself, believed were happening. Is Frances a real supernatural force, or merely a product of Elizabeth's cultivated and calculating imagination?
". . . The powerless always think power is evil . . . "
That is the question that each reader must ultimately answer for themselves.
Highly recommended!
"Have you ever thought about mirrors?"
". . . There really is no way to know whether your mirror shows you what others see or what is really there."
ELIZABETH is a novel that I found startlingly unsettling to say the least. Narrated in the voice of fourteen year old Elizabeth, what was most noticeable was that her "tone" didn't deviate or show any kind of an emotional reaction, no matter what the topic. Elizabeth could go through the sounds of birds singing, to a sexual affair with a relative in the same manner--each topic was essentially the same in her mind.
". . . He had never understood that I only have one mood."
While the sexual innuendoes--never explicit, only blandly stated as matter-of-fact--may seem uncomfortable to some readers coming from a fourteen year old, to Elizabeth, this was simply the way things were. Her sexuality was a "power", and she wouldn't hesitate to use it to her advantage.
". . . As far as I could understand it, love was . . . certainly of less practical value than what I had learned from Frances. Yet those who would scoff . . . would do the most foolish things in the name of love."
After the death of her parents, Elizabeth goes to live with her Grandmother, Uncle James (her Father's brother), Aunt Katherine, and their son, Keith. They were quite content to keep to themselves, and although the dynamics of other families were usually very different from theirs, Elizabeth saw it as perfectly normal in every way.
". . . We were much as any other family. We saw the need to conceal the truth of our feelings."
During the time that Elizabeth believes Frances is teaching her to wield an unnatural power, a tutor--Miss Barton, also a relation--arrives to school her on different subjects. Although resentful at this intrusion, the teenager appears as stoic as usual on the outside. In truth, even her internal feelings have a way of reasoning things through into a sense of logic that she can accept as fitting into her own, personal, agenda.
"I think imaginative people create most of the world's problems, but I saw no reason to warn them of that . . ."
The unflappable, pragmatic view that we get from Elizabeth is possibly the most important aspect of setting the atmosphere in this novel. We are led along, believing that even the most horrific and tragic situations are merely commonplace, and not worthy of more than a cursory study. In my own opinion, this is a great achievement for an author--to not only "tell" a story, but to have the reader virtually "living" in the world they've created.
". . . morality is only simple when you're judging someone else's actions . . . "
In this story, I was completely transported into Elizabeth's mindset--believing in the things that she, herself, believed were happening. Is Frances a real supernatural force, or merely a product of Elizabeth's cultivated and calculating imagination?
". . . The powerless always think power is evil . . . "
That is the question that each reader must ultimately answer for themselves.
Highly recommended!
February 1, 2023
Elizabeth by Ken Greenhall (Hell Hound, Childgrave)
Release Date: Originally 1976. Reprint 2017 Valancourt Books
General Genre: Supernatural, Occult, Suspense, Murder Mystery, Adult Horror
Subgenre/Themes: Cunning folk, supernatural gifts, dysfunctional family, murder mystery, coming-of-age, sexual and psychological manipulation
Writing Style: wickedly sharp, precise, suspenseful, lean & mean
What You Need to Know: Fourteen-year-old, Elizabeth Cuttner is peculiar, calculating, an agent of chaos really. She relishes any opportunity to disrupt the lives of all the adults in her life. She uses her beguiling charm to manipulate everyone for her own pleasure.
One day her image in the mirror reflects back to her a woman she comes to know as Frances who strengthens and emboldens Elizabeth on her path to wield her power more fully.
My Reading Experience: I have never read a book quite like this one and Elizabeth Cuttner is probably one of the most disturbing child protagonists I've ever encountered in horror. She's fourteen, a child, but being inside her head for the duration of this novella is a very disturbing, uncomfortable place to be. Ken Greenhall's prose cuts like a knife. The way Elizabeth views the world and the people around her is to truly look through the eyes of a natural-born sociopath. There's no empathy, no warmth, nothing but calculating manipulations and gratuitous, impulsive pleasure for her own amusement or gain. And the most terrifying aspect of all is the truth bombs Elizabeth drops on the reader. It's startling and unsettling because the last place you want to get your pearls of wisdom is from a severely unhealthy, disturbingly unnatural young girl.
But alas, you will find she is extremely insightful, practical, and an impeccable judge of character.
I must warn you, Elizabeth is sexually active and uses her body to influence the adults around her; primarily her Uncle James who is married and has a child. The sex acts are not the center of the story and they're not explicit or graphic but they are frequent. The fact that Elizabeth sees herself as sexually mature and views her sexuality as a power to wield is pretty sick. Once Elizabeth discovers she has access to an enhanced supernatural ability through the entity in her mirror, Frances, the story takes an even darker turn. Elizabeth is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Final Recommendation: Recommended to fans of disturbing, unnatural characters, supernatural suspense, murder mysteries, creepy kids, dysfunctional families, and the occult.
Comps: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (if it was supernatural), the movie, The Crush with Alicia Silverstone, Lolita (kind of)
*Triggers pedophilia, incest, sexual relationship between a minor and an adult, a funky scene in a pet store involving an androgynous individual-the observations of this character felt inappropriate but I don't know why
Release Date: Originally 1976. Reprint 2017 Valancourt Books
General Genre: Supernatural, Occult, Suspense, Murder Mystery, Adult Horror
Subgenre/Themes: Cunning folk, supernatural gifts, dysfunctional family, murder mystery, coming-of-age, sexual and psychological manipulation
Writing Style: wickedly sharp, precise, suspenseful, lean & mean
What You Need to Know: Fourteen-year-old, Elizabeth Cuttner is peculiar, calculating, an agent of chaos really. She relishes any opportunity to disrupt the lives of all the adults in her life. She uses her beguiling charm to manipulate everyone for her own pleasure.
One day her image in the mirror reflects back to her a woman she comes to know as Frances who strengthens and emboldens Elizabeth on her path to wield her power more fully.
My Reading Experience: I have never read a book quite like this one and Elizabeth Cuttner is probably one of the most disturbing child protagonists I've ever encountered in horror. She's fourteen, a child, but being inside her head for the duration of this novella is a very disturbing, uncomfortable place to be. Ken Greenhall's prose cuts like a knife. The way Elizabeth views the world and the people around her is to truly look through the eyes of a natural-born sociopath. There's no empathy, no warmth, nothing but calculating manipulations and gratuitous, impulsive pleasure for her own amusement or gain. And the most terrifying aspect of all is the truth bombs Elizabeth drops on the reader. It's startling and unsettling because the last place you want to get your pearls of wisdom is from a severely unhealthy, disturbingly unnatural young girl.
But alas, you will find she is extremely insightful, practical, and an impeccable judge of character.
I must warn you, Elizabeth is sexually active and uses her body to influence the adults around her; primarily her Uncle James who is married and has a child. The sex acts are not the center of the story and they're not explicit or graphic but they are frequent. The fact that Elizabeth sees herself as sexually mature and views her sexuality as a power to wield is pretty sick. Once Elizabeth discovers she has access to an enhanced supernatural ability through the entity in her mirror, Frances, the story takes an even darker turn. Elizabeth is truly a force to be reckoned with.
Final Recommendation: Recommended to fans of disturbing, unnatural characters, supernatural suspense, murder mysteries, creepy kids, dysfunctional families, and the occult.
Comps: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (if it was supernatural), the movie, The Crush with Alicia Silverstone, Lolita (kind of)
*Triggers pedophilia, incest, sexual relationship between a minor and an adult, a funky scene in a pet store involving an androgynous individual-the observations of this character felt inappropriate but I don't know why
March 24, 2023
Elizabeth is a totally mesmerizing little book, the first by Greenhall, who wrote a few other little masterpieces like Hell Hound. What makes this stand out is the uneasy, unsettling feeling provoked by the narration of the tale by 14 yo Elizabeth. The brief prologue, ends for example, with this:
The 'matter of fact' style prose and the calm depictions of the events that led first to her parent's death serves to unnerve the reader (at least me!) from the first page to the last. There are a few levels in the tale as well; is Elizabeth a witch from a long line of witches, or is she simply delusional after having been repeatedly sexually abused by her stepfather. Greenhall leaves the book open so to speak.
Elizabeth has a way of sizing someone up almost instantly-- they are 'weak', 'insecure', etc.-- that cuts to the marrow. At times she seems to be a sociopath, but other times some feelings for others emerge, but primarily for 'Frances', her distant witch relative from the 16th century who see sees and converses with in mirrors. I would not call Elizabeth scary but disturbing, and Greenhall tosses in some existential musing as well. Don't let the fact that the story is narrated by a 14 year old put you off-- this is not another insipid YA horror novel. 4.5 stars, rounding up for the creep factor!
I first came to live with Grandmother about a year ago, after I killed my parents. I don't mean to be callous. Let me explain.
The 'matter of fact' style prose and the calm depictions of the events that led first to her parent's death serves to unnerve the reader (at least me!) from the first page to the last. There are a few levels in the tale as well; is Elizabeth a witch from a long line of witches, or is she simply delusional after having been repeatedly sexually abused by her stepfather. Greenhall leaves the book open so to speak.
Elizabeth has a way of sizing someone up almost instantly-- they are 'weak', 'insecure', etc.-- that cuts to the marrow. At times she seems to be a sociopath, but other times some feelings for others emerge, but primarily for 'Frances', her distant witch relative from the 16th century who see sees and converses with in mirrors. I would not call Elizabeth scary but disturbing, and Greenhall tosses in some existential musing as well. Don't let the fact that the story is narrated by a 14 year old put you off-- this is not another insipid YA horror novel. 4.5 stars, rounding up for the creep factor!
July 19, 2017
**received the audio book of Elizabeth for a honest review. **
wow!! I had to go back and check when this was first published. 1976. and Elizabeth is 14. this book is all kinds of fucked up. I won't go in to details as to why but just read the first page or listen to the first 30 minutes or so. there is so much "not ok" stuff happening here. with all that said, I loved the story. it's very 1970 witches and that's ok, that's a good thing!
Becca Grabowski did a fantastic job reading. everything was great, I found no flaws in the quality of the audiobook. I would definitely listen to more Valancourt books.
wow!! I had to go back and check when this was first published. 1976. and Elizabeth is 14. this book is all kinds of fucked up. I won't go in to details as to why but just read the first page or listen to the first 30 minutes or so. there is so much "not ok" stuff happening here. with all that said, I loved the story. it's very 1970 witches and that's ok, that's a good thing!
Becca Grabowski did a fantastic job reading. everything was great, I found no flaws in the quality of the audiobook. I would definitely listen to more Valancourt books.
September 15, 2019
Unnerving clarity. Deranged foresight. Yet clouded with shadowed and unknown intent. Throughout this mesmerizing story, I felt that I somehow understood all there was to know about Elizabeth, while at the same time blind to her disturbing conscience. The calm delivery of the amazing events laid out for all to see (and not see) will wrap you up and not allow you to put it down. Unnatural!
February 12, 2018
4 stars--I really liked it. Warnings for... well, everything.
This is 70s gothic/horror at its "finest" (if that's the word). It's lurid and purposefully shocking, but I'm a sucker for the tropes of the genre (the manor, the family secrets, the hints of the supernatural). The main character, Elizabeth, is only 14, but instead of going to school, she's seducing adults and plotting with her long-dead witch ancestor. I loved it!
What sets this book above most others in this genre is the writing. Greenhall can really turn a phrase; I was absolutely enthralled by Elizabeth's first-person voice, and would have happily read a series or much longer book.
This is 70s gothic/horror at its "finest" (if that's the word). It's lurid and purposefully shocking, but I'm a sucker for the tropes of the genre (the manor, the family secrets, the hints of the supernatural). The main character, Elizabeth, is only 14, but instead of going to school, she's seducing adults and plotting with her long-dead witch ancestor. I loved it!
What sets this book above most others in this genre is the writing. Greenhall can really turn a phrase; I was absolutely enthralled by Elizabeth's first-person voice, and would have happily read a series or much longer book.
September 16, 2017
ELIZABETH: A Novel of the Unnatural, by Ken Greenhall, was first released in 1976. This new version from VALANCOURT BOOKS includes an insightful introduction by Jonathan Janz. The story centers upon a young Elizabeth Cuttner, who believes that she sees an image of a woman named Frances, reflected in her mirror one day. Frances, she believes, is a witch that died centuries ago.
"Have you ever thought about mirrors?"
". . . There really is no way to know whether your mirror shows you what others see or what is really there."
ELIZABETH is a novel that I found startlingly unsettling to say the least. Narrated in the voice of fourteen year old Elizabeth, what was most noticeable was that her "tone" didn't deviate or show any kind of an emotional reaction, no matter what the topic. Elizabeth could go through the sounds of birds singing, to a sexual affair with a relative in the same manner--each topic was essentially the same in her mind.
". . . He had never understood that I only have one mood."
While the sexual innuendoes--never explicit, only blandly stated as matter-of-fact--may seem uncomfortable to some readers coming from a fourteen year old, to Elizabeth, this was simply the way things were. Her sexuality was a "power, and she wouldn't hesitate to use it to her advantage.
". . . As far as I could understand it, love was . . . certainly of less practical value than what I had learned from Frances. Yet those who would scoff . . . would do the most foolish things in the name of love.
After the death of her parents, Elizabeth goes to live with her Grandmother, Uncle James (her Father's brother), Aunt Katherine, and their son, Keith. They were quite content to keep to themselves, and although the dynamics of other families were usually very different from theirs, Elizabeth saw it as perfectly normal in every way.
". . . We were much as any other family. We saw the need to conceal the truth of our feelings."
During the time that Elizabeth believes Frances is teaching her to wield an unnatural power, a tutor--Miss Barton, also a relation--arrives to school her on different subjects. Although resentful at this intrusion, the teenager appears as stoic as usual on the outside. In truth, even her internal feelings have a way of reasoning things through into a sense of logic that she can accept as fitting into her own, personal, agenda.
"I think imaginative people create most of the world's problems, but I saw no reason to warn them of that . . ."
The unflappable, pragmatic view that we get from Elizabeth is possibly the most important aspect of setting the atmosphere in this novel. We are led along, believing that even the most horrific and tragic situations are merely commonplace, and not worthy of more than a cursory study. In my own opinion, this is a great achievement for an author--to not only "tell" a story, but to have the reader virtually "living" in the world they've created.
". . . morality is only simple when you're judging someone else's actions . . . "
In this story, I was completely transported into Elizabeth's mindset--believing in the things that she, herself, believed were happening. Is Frances a real supernatural force, or merely a product of Elizabeth's cultivated and calculating imagination?
". . . The powerless always think power is evil . . . "
That is the question that each reader must ultimately answer for themselves.
Highly recommended!
"Have you ever thought about mirrors?"
". . . There really is no way to know whether your mirror shows you what others see or what is really there."
ELIZABETH is a novel that I found startlingly unsettling to say the least. Narrated in the voice of fourteen year old Elizabeth, what was most noticeable was that her "tone" didn't deviate or show any kind of an emotional reaction, no matter what the topic. Elizabeth could go through the sounds of birds singing, to a sexual affair with a relative in the same manner--each topic was essentially the same in her mind.
". . . He had never understood that I only have one mood."
While the sexual innuendoes--never explicit, only blandly stated as matter-of-fact--may seem uncomfortable to some readers coming from a fourteen year old, to Elizabeth, this was simply the way things were. Her sexuality was a "power, and she wouldn't hesitate to use it to her advantage.
". . . As far as I could understand it, love was . . . certainly of less practical value than what I had learned from Frances. Yet those who would scoff . . . would do the most foolish things in the name of love.
After the death of her parents, Elizabeth goes to live with her Grandmother, Uncle James (her Father's brother), Aunt Katherine, and their son, Keith. They were quite content to keep to themselves, and although the dynamics of other families were usually very different from theirs, Elizabeth saw it as perfectly normal in every way.
". . . We were much as any other family. We saw the need to conceal the truth of our feelings."
During the time that Elizabeth believes Frances is teaching her to wield an unnatural power, a tutor--Miss Barton, also a relation--arrives to school her on different subjects. Although resentful at this intrusion, the teenager appears as stoic as usual on the outside. In truth, even her internal feelings have a way of reasoning things through into a sense of logic that she can accept as fitting into her own, personal, agenda.
"I think imaginative people create most of the world's problems, but I saw no reason to warn them of that . . ."
The unflappable, pragmatic view that we get from Elizabeth is possibly the most important aspect of setting the atmosphere in this novel. We are led along, believing that even the most horrific and tragic situations are merely commonplace, and not worthy of more than a cursory study. In my own opinion, this is a great achievement for an author--to not only "tell" a story, but to have the reader virtually "living" in the world they've created.
". . . morality is only simple when you're judging someone else's actions . . . "
In this story, I was completely transported into Elizabeth's mindset--believing in the things that she, herself, believed were happening. Is Frances a real supernatural force, or merely a product of Elizabeth's cultivated and calculating imagination?
". . . The powerless always think power is evil . . . "
That is the question that each reader must ultimately answer for themselves.
Highly recommended!
November 23, 2021
If you are looking for a classic gem to read for the Halloween season, you might just enjoy this paperback from hell by Ken Greenhall, writing under the pseudonym of Jessica Hamilton, about a young witch in New York.
Elizabeth is a fascinating character, full of contradictions and cold menace. She exudes sexuality and uses it frequently, but really doesn't care a hoot for love. She is precocious, intelligent, and a good student, but doesn't care for school and doesn't want to finish her education. She can be all smiles while secretly holding nothing but disdain. She feels no empathy, but learns to imitate it.
But what makes her really remarkable is that Elizabeth is a witch. Or thinks she is.
Elizabeth is 14-years-old and already is a full-fledged antisocial personality. She moves in with her grandmother, her uncle and his wife, her cousin, and her live-in tutor after the death of her parents. The motley crew has a maladaptive and incestuous relationship, though somehow a rather functional and happy one. But woe be it for anyone who disrupts the routine of their daily mundane lives, even members of Elizabeth's own family.
Now, I won't say anything more about the plot other to say that the tone of the novel takes an unexpected turn into mystery territory as Elizabeth tries to use her powers to solve a murder. This is one of those novels that has several layers like an onion, and part of the pleasure is peeling away those layers to get at what's underneath.
Those of you who know my taste will remember that I tend to enjoy the writing style of the Edwardian period and jazz age. This period tended to have the best mix of poetic flourishes with straightforward modern narrative styles, easy to understand but with a brisk salting of Victorian archaism. Ken Greenhall writes in this style. In fact, he does this so well that I kept forgetting that this book was far more modern than it seemed. This adds to the overall disorienting feel of this book, as the reader is never really sure when in time this story is taking place. We know events must be happening after 1907 because of something mentioned early on in the book. I suspect, based on some vague mentions of technology, that this is supposed to be taking place in the modern day. Therefore, Greenhall's prose and dialogue does a fantastic job helping to portray how Elizabeth and her family are stuck in another time, another world, out of touch with modern life.
My only complaint, strangely enough, concerns the most fascinating central character of the book. As I said earlier, Elizabeth is a blossoming sociopath, and there also is a touch of autism. Therefore, her deadpan reactions to things, her snarky comments to herself, and her disdain for everything around her begins to grow tedious, especially since the whole story is told from her point of view. She is a great character, but to follow her so closely for the whole book is a bit rough.
This is a problem I have with a lot of modern books and movies that have come out in the last decade, especially in the last five years. You know--the "wooden plank" phenomenon. Too many of our contemporary so-called heroes are portrayed as flat, humorless, bitter, and sarcastic that I find it impossible to identify with such characters. It almost seems that there is some psychological deficiency in younger screenwriters and novelists, a maturational development stunted by social media and petty first-world problems that causes a fundamental void of understanding of the subtleties of human behavior and communication. But Greenhall purposefully designed Elizabeth this way--there is a narrative purpose behind her apparent alien qualities, and as such I was more than willing to be patient with Elizabeth's aspie personality.
Unlike a lot of paperback horrors from the 70s and 80s, "Elizabeth" is not a festival of gore or splatter. This is an intelligent and beautifully written psychological horror that should be read, studied, and discussed more in literary circles. I wish I could talk more about it here myself, but the book is very short and so any further blabbering on my part may inadvertently give too much away.
So check out this classic tale of witchcraft by either getting your hands on an original printing, which goes for a pretty penny these days, or the wonderful Valancourt e-book with an introduction by Jonathan Janz. And for another Ken Greenhall gem with an unusual narrator, check out his ingenious "Hell Hound." What other stories do you recommend with an unreliable narrator or an unusual point of view? Let me know in the comments!
SCORE: Four witch's familiars!
Elizabeth is a fascinating character, full of contradictions and cold menace. She exudes sexuality and uses it frequently, but really doesn't care a hoot for love. She is precocious, intelligent, and a good student, but doesn't care for school and doesn't want to finish her education. She can be all smiles while secretly holding nothing but disdain. She feels no empathy, but learns to imitate it.
But what makes her really remarkable is that Elizabeth is a witch. Or thinks she is.
Elizabeth is 14-years-old and already is a full-fledged antisocial personality. She moves in with her grandmother, her uncle and his wife, her cousin, and her live-in tutor after the death of her parents. The motley crew has a maladaptive and incestuous relationship, though somehow a rather functional and happy one. But woe be it for anyone who disrupts the routine of their daily mundane lives, even members of Elizabeth's own family.
Now, I won't say anything more about the plot other to say that the tone of the novel takes an unexpected turn into mystery territory as Elizabeth tries to use her powers to solve a murder. This is one of those novels that has several layers like an onion, and part of the pleasure is peeling away those layers to get at what's underneath.
Those of you who know my taste will remember that I tend to enjoy the writing style of the Edwardian period and jazz age. This period tended to have the best mix of poetic flourishes with straightforward modern narrative styles, easy to understand but with a brisk salting of Victorian archaism. Ken Greenhall writes in this style. In fact, he does this so well that I kept forgetting that this book was far more modern than it seemed. This adds to the overall disorienting feel of this book, as the reader is never really sure when in time this story is taking place. We know events must be happening after 1907 because of something mentioned early on in the book. I suspect, based on some vague mentions of technology, that this is supposed to be taking place in the modern day. Therefore, Greenhall's prose and dialogue does a fantastic job helping to portray how Elizabeth and her family are stuck in another time, another world, out of touch with modern life.
My only complaint, strangely enough, concerns the most fascinating central character of the book. As I said earlier, Elizabeth is a blossoming sociopath, and there also is a touch of autism. Therefore, her deadpan reactions to things, her snarky comments to herself, and her disdain for everything around her begins to grow tedious, especially since the whole story is told from her point of view. She is a great character, but to follow her so closely for the whole book is a bit rough.
This is a problem I have with a lot of modern books and movies that have come out in the last decade, especially in the last five years. You know--the "wooden plank" phenomenon. Too many of our contemporary so-called heroes are portrayed as flat, humorless, bitter, and sarcastic that I find it impossible to identify with such characters. It almost seems that there is some psychological deficiency in younger screenwriters and novelists, a maturational development stunted by social media and petty first-world problems that causes a fundamental void of understanding of the subtleties of human behavior and communication. But Greenhall purposefully designed Elizabeth this way--there is a narrative purpose behind her apparent alien qualities, and as such I was more than willing to be patient with Elizabeth's aspie personality.
Unlike a lot of paperback horrors from the 70s and 80s, "Elizabeth" is not a festival of gore or splatter. This is an intelligent and beautifully written psychological horror that should be read, studied, and discussed more in literary circles. I wish I could talk more about it here myself, but the book is very short and so any further blabbering on my part may inadvertently give too much away.
So check out this classic tale of witchcraft by either getting your hands on an original printing, which goes for a pretty penny these days, or the wonderful Valancourt e-book with an introduction by Jonathan Janz. And for another Ken Greenhall gem with an unusual narrator, check out his ingenious "Hell Hound." What other stories do you recommend with an unreliable narrator or an unusual point of view? Let me know in the comments!
SCORE: Four witch's familiars!
October 25, 2017
A classic witch tale from the 70s! Everytime you'll walk by an old mirror you will think from now on who might be inside getting in contact with you. I really liked the atmosphere in the house, the cast and the depiction of grandmother. Though I didn't like the relationsship between Elizabeth and her uncle James too much the story and the interaction of the characters is quite innovative. The author is writing quite a dry prose with fine phrases. A good gripping tale with a surprise ending!
February 27, 2015
I know a lot of people loved this book and I can't blame them because it is really good. Just something was eerie that turned me off. The protoganist is very darkly written almost like she has no emotion and maybe that was the point. I can't say I really liked any of the characters because frankly there was nothing to like. All seemed very manipulative and secretive, each harboring their own dark desires. I will say that Elizabeth was very wise in her years. She was very cunning and clever and made me think. Definitely wouldn't want to be her friend. Anyway, the main plot focuses on finding her grandmother because she has simply vanished. There is a woman in the mirror whom Elizabeth adores that is beyond creepy and there is a weird sexual vibe throughout. I may have to give it a reread because it was just that clever. If this catches your eye give it a try....you won't be sorry, well maybe you will:) The ending kicks you in the stomach!
April 9, 2020
One of the most disturbing and surprisingly fun books that i have ever read. A novel of the unnatural indeed, with a mystery hidden in its heart and good doses of ambiguity.
November 15, 2020
3.5 stars. A most curious book.
Greenhall narrates a remarkably over the top, Gothic sort of story complete with murder, adultery, incest, "witchcraft", and pretty much every other sin you can imagine, but all in the most composed, rather dry tone, voiced by a clearly sociopathic teenage girl. Is our narrator a witch or just delusional? Does it matter? This is a compelling read by a writer clearly in perfect control of his material but, all that being said, I'm not sure I found the book as convincing as I expected. A very cool, very sedate, very well-organized but not especially visceral horror tale.
Greenhall narrates a remarkably over the top, Gothic sort of story complete with murder, adultery, incest, "witchcraft", and pretty much every other sin you can imagine, but all in the most composed, rather dry tone, voiced by a clearly sociopathic teenage girl. Is our narrator a witch or just delusional? Does it matter? This is a compelling read by a writer clearly in perfect control of his material but, all that being said, I'm not sure I found the book as convincing as I expected. A very cool, very sedate, very well-organized but not especially visceral horror tale.
November 29, 2017
These young girls who are so secure in their seductiveness, so detached, self-confident and clear-minded, seem to be very popular with male authors. These writers have clearly never been a teenage girl.
When your main character is an unrealistic cliché, the whole book inevitably suffers.
When your main character is an unrealistic cliché, the whole book inevitably suffers.
October 22, 2020
Elizabeth is an uncomfortable book. Which makes sense considering Elizabeth herself is a disturbing character. At fourteen years of age, she enthusiastically engages in an incestuous relationship with her uncle, delights in manipulating the adults around her, and indulges in witchcraft to commit murder. Or is it all in the head of a deeply disturbed child. The magic of the book is that it straddles this line, keeping the readers guessing, all the while making them complicit in her actions. The subject matter is sure to turn some off, but this is absolutely a horror classic and a must read for any lover of the genre.
March 25, 2013
I've been seeing this novel appear on various blogs I follow and finally have gotten a chance to read it. It's a short and very disturbing story from the POV of fourteen year old Elizabeth. Is she possessed? a witch? a murderer? a manipulative "bad seed"?, a victim of abuse? Or just someone far, far older than her years? Best for the reader to discover Elizabeth's story for themselves. Very much worth reading if you find a copy.
August 16, 2014
Probably not fair since I stopped in the middle, but this was pretty yawn-worthy for me. Under normal circumstances, I'd read a book like this in a few hours, but it lost momentum for me in the middle....... .. .... picked up a little at the end but not enough to finish strong.
January 16, 2018
Elizabeth Cuttner is the narrator in this somewhat disturbing and twisted tale of a 14 year old who has a story to tell. Through a mirror in her room she is influenced by Frances a long dead relative and participant in the medieval practice of witchcraft. This unhealthy partnership unveils a side of Elizabeth that is totally at odds with the quietly spoken and articulate young lady presented to the reader. As the novel unfolds we learn of the tragic death of her parents, the disappearance of her grandmother, and the somewhat unhealthy relationship she enjoys with her uncle James. What is so striking about the author's narrative is the way he is able to capture and portray Elizabeth who although appears innocent is often controlling and manipulative in a very precise and distasteful way.
The writing of Ken Greenhall is sublime; this is horror that is quietly spoken leaving acts of unpleasantness to the creative mind of the reader...."We pretended that our appetites could be satisfied with toast and cereal."......"He was the only person I knew who didn't bathe very often. I admired him."....."Her hands glittered with oil, and she was carefully lining up the little headless bodies on dark bread. She raised a finger to her mouth and slowly licked it."...."I think it was his discomfort with me that first made me aware of the power that comes with womanhood."...."what did he think when I walked at this side and took his arm so that I could brush it against my breast.".....
The works of Ken Greenhall have been brought alive once again under the guidance of the wonderful Valancourt books who are helping us rediscover rare, neglected and out of print fiction. Many thanks to them for sending me this gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written. At times both shocking and eloquent Elizabeth is a wonderful and entertaining novel.
The writing of Ken Greenhall is sublime; this is horror that is quietly spoken leaving acts of unpleasantness to the creative mind of the reader...."We pretended that our appetites could be satisfied with toast and cereal."......"He was the only person I knew who didn't bathe very often. I admired him."....."Her hands glittered with oil, and she was carefully lining up the little headless bodies on dark bread. She raised a finger to her mouth and slowly licked it."...."I think it was his discomfort with me that first made me aware of the power that comes with womanhood."...."what did he think when I walked at this side and took his arm so that I could brush it against my breast.".....
The works of Ken Greenhall have been brought alive once again under the guidance of the wonderful Valancourt books who are helping us rediscover rare, neglected and out of print fiction. Many thanks to them for sending me this gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written. At times both shocking and eloquent Elizabeth is a wonderful and entertaining novel.
May 16, 2023
There is much to like and enjoy about this novel. It has Greenhall's deceptively simple, direct prose, an intriguing protagonist who thinks profoundly in uncommon ways, and it's about witches. I've loved witches ever since watching the Disney film Bedknobs and Broomsticks as a 6-year-old.
This novel is a witch story for mature adults, not something I thought could ever truly exist. Since we all know that humans lack supernatural powers, witch tales, I always thought, can only be for the young-at-heart, able to suspend more belief than anyone should be expected to. If such stories could be taken seriously though, this book would be the result.
I wanted to like this novel more. It has all the ingredients of a classic. However, I feel the book didn't achieve the potential of its set-up. Too much was left vague and unanswered for me by the end. Chapter 25 in particular was narrated in such a way that I didn't know how he died, only that he did. In fact, there were other deaths, murders, and conflicts in the novel that were similarly vaguely described and no clear answer regarding who the murderer really was. At some point the narration had to make some things clear, but never did. Not for me at least.
I enjoyed the novel for its many profound insights of human nature laced into the text throughout, for its surprising reveals of Elizabeth's character and approach to life. Ultimately, I leave the novel feeling cheated of a story and having been given mere atmosphere in its stead.
This novel is a witch story for mature adults, not something I thought could ever truly exist. Since we all know that humans lack supernatural powers, witch tales, I always thought, can only be for the young-at-heart, able to suspend more belief than anyone should be expected to. If such stories could be taken seriously though, this book would be the result.
I wanted to like this novel more. It has all the ingredients of a classic. However, I feel the book didn't achieve the potential of its set-up. Too much was left vague and unanswered for me by the end. Chapter 25 in particular was narrated in such a way that I didn't know how he died, only that he did. In fact, there were other deaths, murders, and conflicts in the novel that were similarly vaguely described and no clear answer regarding who the murderer really was. At some point the narration had to make some things clear, but never did. Not for me at least.
I enjoyed the novel for its many profound insights of human nature laced into the text throughout, for its surprising reveals of Elizabeth's character and approach to life. Ultimately, I leave the novel feeling cheated of a story and having been given mere atmosphere in its stead.
October 6, 2021
I’m a little torn in giving this book two stars. The author is a great writer. I can also understand most of what he is trying to rely through his storytelling. However, I think some of this doesn’t translate well In this day and time.
Spoilers!!
The main character is fourteen, and absolutely every single character she considers in a sexually way. Mostly she describes how or why they are unattractive. This includes family members and animals. I mean, there is a scene with a cat I’m still confused about. The main unsettling subject is the fact she is being molested by her uncle. The characters views on being abused are disturbing . I know greenhall had a purpose for this,but it is lost on me. I think this is for fans of Lolita and Anne Rices Mayfair trilogy.
Spoilers!!
The main character is fourteen, and absolutely every single character she considers in a sexually way. Mostly she describes how or why they are unattractive. This includes family members and animals. I mean, there is a scene with a cat I’m still confused about. The main unsettling subject is the fact she is being molested by her uncle. The characters views on being abused are disturbing . I know greenhall had a purpose for this,but it is lost on me. I think this is for fans of Lolita and Anne Rices Mayfair trilogy.
September 22, 2018
Creepy, but good book for all of the reasons already written in its many reviews here. I really enjoy his writing style.
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