Marjorie Bowen (pseudonym of Mrs Gabrielle Margaret Vere Long née Campbell) born November 1885 died December 23, 1952, was a British author of some 150 novels who wrote historical romances, supernatural horror stories, popular history and biography. The bulk of her work was under the 'Bowen' pseudonym, but she also wrote under the names Joseph Shearing, George R. Preedy, John Winch, Robert Paye and Margaret Campbell. As Joseph Shearing, she wrote several sinister gothic romances full of terror and mystery. Her books are much sought after today by aficionados of gothic horror and received praise from critics. The Golden Violet is painstakingly researched, with historical details (it is set in the 19th century) by a master storyteller and a master of gothic horror. Well-worth a read, you may very well be a follower of her work after this book.