Algernon Blackwood was one of the greatest writers of supernatural fiction of the 20th century. He published over 200 stories and a dozen novels, all designed to awaken our consciousness to the wonder, mystery and power of the world. He said all his stories - however strange and exotic - were based on personal experiences or those of close friends.

An adventurous traveller, an undercover agent during World War I, and Searcher for the Red Cross, he originated the Starlight Express, was a member of the magical order of the Golden Dawn, and knew most of the literary and artistic establishment of his day from Hilaire Belloc to Arthur Machen, from Sinclair Lewis to H G Wells, and from Gracie Fields to Sir Edward Elgar.

From an aristocratic and deeply evangelical family, Blackwood rebelled and became a Buddhist. He tried many careers, ending up as a down-and-out sleeping in New York's central park, before returning home, the prodigal son. Then his life really began, investigating haunted houses and helping people with psychic afflictions; he found love, and fame as a writer, and Britain's first television story-teller.