Harriet Prescott Spofford was famous during her lifetime for her pioneering female characters and intense, fantastical gothic style. This is a collection of her finest short stories including 'In a Cellar', the story which first brought her fame in America, a story which when handed to the editor of a popular journal was almost turned down as the editor refused to believe Spofford had written it. We are republishing these stories together with a new introductory biography of the author.