Originally published in Great Britain in 1940, THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE was H. R. Wakefield's first collection of original supernatural fiction since 1929's OLD MAN'S BEARD, and was to be the last book the author had published in Britain during his lifetime. Originally consisting of fourteen stories, the book contained some of Wakefield's most memorable supernatural tales, such as 'Lucky's Hrove', 'From Outer Darkness', 'The First Sheaf', and 'Farewell Performance'.
The volume had only limited success in its original incarnation; but in 1946 it was reprinted by America's legendary Arkham House, in an edition which contained a further four stories and a fascinating introduction by the author, 'Why I Write Ghost Stories'. 'There is, I believe, something there,' said Wakefield about the possibility of ghosts, 'but I shall never know what; and, rest assured, neither will you.'
The Ash-Tree Press edition of THE CLOCK STRIKES TWELVE contains all eighteen stories from the two original editions, plus the author's own introduction. It also contains a further three stories which have never been collected with Wakefield's weird fiction, making this an essential volume for any lover of the classic supernatural tale.
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