At first sight it may appear strange that a volume of Progress in Pediatric Surgery should be devoted to the history of our specialty. One assumes that progress is concerned primarily with recent developments whilst history deals with matters of the past. However, in the past there has also been considerable progress in the development of our understand ing of paediatric surgical problems, otherwise we would not have pro gressed to our present achievements. The editors, therefore, do not apologize for compiling this volume but, on the contrary, feel that the publication of this volume is most timely. Modern paediatric surgery has now been practised for three genera tions. The handful of pioneers who were the founders of our specialty worked mainly before the last world war. A few dozen of the inter mediary generation started work immediately after the war, while the new generation who are now dominating our specialty must be counted in thousands. Two factors have radically altered paediatric surgery as practised by the intermediary and the present generation of surgeons."

"The hurricane was howling, the hailstones beating against windows, the hoarse croaking of the raven bidding adieu to autumn, and the weather-cock's dismal creaking joined with the mournful dirge of the solitary owl..."

"The Necromancer" consists of a series of interconnected stories, all centering on the enigmatic figure of Volkert the Necromancer. Filled with murder, ghosts, and dark magic, and featuring a delirious and dizzying plot that almost defies comprehension, "The Necromancer" is one of the strangest horror novels ever written.

One of the earliest Gothic bestsellers, "The Necromancer" was first published in 1794, and after more than two centuries still retains the power to thrill and fascinate readers. This edition includes a new preface which reveals for the first time ever the true identity of "The Necromancer"'s author, as well as an original critical essay by Jeffrey Cass, analysing the novel from a modern queer theory standpoint. The complete text of three contemporary reviews and helpful annotations are also included to further enhance this edition.