Richard Middleton

Born in Staines, Middlesex, on October 28, 1882, Richard Barham Middleton was an English poet, essayist, and short-story writer. He is most often remembered for supernatural and fantastical tales, especially "The Ghost Ship," but his work also ranged into poetry and light, whimsical prose.

Middleton studied in London and later worked as a clerk before turning toward literary life. He became associated with the early-20th-century London literary world, and his writing was admired for its mix of delicacy, imagination, humor, and sadness.

He died in Brussels on December 1, 1911, when he was only 29. Even with such a brief career, he left behind a body of work that continues to attract readers who enjoy ghost stories with a dreamlike, thoughtful edge.