Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930) published a dozen volumes of short stories and twelve novels over her career, mostly centered on New England life. Born on Halloween, it’s no surprise that some of her tales would include horror, supernaturalism, and magical realism, including the first psychic vampire story. A feminist, Mary’s female characters did not follow common tropes of being weak and in need of help, and she challenged contemporary ideas about women’s roles, values, and relationships in society. In 1926, Mary became the first recipient of the William Dean Howells Medal for Distinction in Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Hemelein Publications works:
- Mothers of Horror (2025)
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