Charles Birkin
Charles Birkin was a notable British author of psychological horror stories, born in 1907. The son of a military colonel, he received his education at Eaton College in Berkshire, England. Birkin's military service during World War II saw him rise to the rank of captain and sustain injuries at the Battle of Normandy. He began his literary career in the 1930s with contributions to the Creeps series, becoming an influential figure in the horror genre. After a long hiatus from writing, he re-emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, producing several horror collections, including *The Kiss of Death*, *Spawn of Satan*, and *The Smell of Evil*. His work is credited with revitalizing horror literature in Britain during this period. In collaboration with his editor, Mike Ashley, Birkin started compiling his most celebrated pieces in a collection titled *A Haunting Beauty*, which was ultimately published posthumously in 2000, long after his death in 1985.
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Charles Birkin
Author
- Born: September 24, 1907
- Birthplace: Nottinghamshire, England
- Died: November 9, 1985
Biography
Charles Birkin, a twentieth century master of psychological horror stories, was born in 1907, the son of Colonel Charles Wilfred Birkin and Claire Lloyd Howe. He was educated at Eaton College, Berkshire, England. Birkin fought in World War II, attaining the rank of captain while serving in the One Hundred Twelfth Regiment, Nineteen Sherwood Foresters. He was wounded at the Battle of Normandy.
Birkin published his first horror story in the 1930’s as a part of the famous Creeps series. After a thirty-year lapse, he returned to writing and produced numerous horror story collections including The Kiss of Death, Spawn of Satan, and The Smell of Evil. As an author, Birkin was almost solely responsible for keeping the horror genre alive in Britain during the 1960’s and 1970’s. In the early 1980’s, Birkin and his editor, Mike Ashley, began work on A Haunting Beauty, a showcase collection of Birkin’s most famous works. However, the publication of this collection was curtailed by Birkin’s death in 1985. A Haunting Beauty was published in 2000, fifteen years after its author’s death.