Daphne du Maurier (1907--1989), a novelist, playwright, biographer, and short-story writer, was born into an artistic family in London. She began writing short stories and articles in 1928 and in 1931 her first novel, "The Loving Spirit," was published. Many of her works were adapted into films, including "Rebecca,"" ""The Birds," and "Don't Look Now." In June 1969, du Maurier was named a Dame of the British Empire. Patrick McGrath was born in London in 1950. His works include "Blood and Water and Other Tales," "The Grotesque," "Spider," "Dr. Haggard's Disease," "Asylum" (which was short-l...