William Fryer Harvey (1885 - 1937) was an English short story writer who left his mark in the horror and mystery genres. He hailed from a wealthy Quaker family, studied medicine at Oxford and was a doctor by training. During World War I he served in the Friends' Ambulance Unit, later became a surgeon-lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He suffered lung damage during a rescue mission and was plagued with poor health the rest of his life. He devoted himself to writing macabre tales of gothic fiction. His first book of short stories was Midnight House (1910).
Harvey is best remembered for two of his best stories, considered "minor masterpieces": August Heat (1910) and The Beast with Five Fingers (1919).
Harvey is featured in our Mystery Stories collection and Gothic Literature Study Guide. Enjoy reading his works and many other spooky tales in our Gothic, Ghost, Horror & Weird Library and Halloween Stories.
