Ethel Lina White
Ethel Lina White was a British author born in 1887 in Abergavenny, Wales, known for her significant contributions to gothic and suspense literature. She began her writing journey in childhood, publishing essays and short stories before transitioning to novels. Her early works include three mainstream novels published between 1927 and 1930. White's first foray into crime fiction came with "Put Out the Light" in 1931, which is notable for delaying the murder until late in the narrative, thus building suspense through psychological tension rather than conventional mystery tropes.
One of her most acclaimed works, "The Wheel Spins," was adapted into Alfred Hitchcock's film "The Lady Vanishes," showcasing her ability to craft gripping narratives without the reliance on violence. White's stories often explore themes of class distinction, featuring heroines from various socio-economic backgrounds, reflecting societal norms similar to those depicted in Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre." Her exploration of the intersection between the mundane and the horrific, along with her skill in creating psychological suspense, has cemented her legacy in the genre. Ethel Lina White passed away in London in 1944, leaving behind a lasting impact on gothic literature.
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Subject Terms
Ethel Lina White
Writer
- Born: 1887
- Birthplace: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales
- Died: 1944
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
British author Ethel Lina White was born in 1887 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. For a period of time she worked for the Ministry of Pensions in London. She began writing essays and poems as a child and contributed them to newspapers. She also wrote short stories and, later in life, novels.
White published her first three mainstream novels—The Wish-Bone, ’Twill Soon Be Dark, and The Eternal Journey—between 1927 and 1930. Her first crime novel, Put Out the Light, came out in 1931. Her 1936 suspense novel The Wheel Spins: A Novel was filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1938 as The Lady Vanishes. Her other novels include Wax (1935), Step in the Dark (1938), and They See in Darkness (1944). Her Some Must Watch: A Novel (1933), was adapted to film and directed by Robert Siodmak to become the noir classic, The Spiral Staircase (1946).
White’s novels are classic gothic literature, stemming from the success of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. As such, they include the classic elements of a mix of horror and the mundane, a definition of class lines, romance, and aspects of the supernatural. Her heroines came from “both sides of the tracks,” some being rich and some being poor. The class distinctions play a role in every novel, a classic element, made even more infamous by Jane Eyre.
White’s fourth novel, Put Out the Light is unique because, unlike most murder mysteries, the murder doesn’t happen until page 249 of the novel. White keeps the suspense high as she encourages the reader to figure out who is going to be the murderer before the murder is actually committed. It provides a unique and detailed account of the actions and reactions that can lead to a murder, rather then investigating a murder from the time of the murder backwards to determine what happened. White further enhances the story by including the local detective angle and his sister, the psychic who has foreseen the murder.
Many believe White’s novel The Wheel Spins to be her masterpiece. It is a story that has been reproduced in many forms with much success over the years. It takes place on a train full of people. When one of them disappears, many doubt that she even existed, and that it is only a ruse to get attention. The amazing aspect of this suspense/horror story is that no murder ever takes place and no gore is ever alluded to—the story’s action is all psychological.
White died in London in 1944.