Stanley J. Weyman
Encyclopedia
Stanley John Weyman was an English novelist sometimes referred to as the "Prince of Romance".
, Shropshire
. The second son of a solicitor
, he was educated at Shrewsbury School
, and at Christ Church, Oxford
. He took his degree in modern history in 1877, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
in 1881, joining the Oxford circuit.
He practised as a barrister
for eight years until, in 1889, he wrote his first novel entitled The House of the Wolf. This was followed over the following two decades by the novels which were to make his reputation, among them historical romances set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. (His entire output is discussed in the annotated bibliography included in the external links below.) He became a great traveler, sometimes in company with his fellow bestselling novelist Henry Seton Merriman
.
While for years his best-selling historical romances enchanted thousands of readers — Robert Louis Stevenson
and Oscar Wilde
were among his enthusiastic readers — today his books are mostly neglected.
Graham Greene
was a great admirer of Weyman. He mentions him several times in his Collected Essays. In a BBC interview in 1970, he said: "I made a collection once of what I called the key books in my life, which included Anthony Hope
, Rider Haggard, Captain Gilson,... and I do occasionally re-read them. Stanley Weyman in particular."
Biography
Weyman was born at LudlowLudlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. The second son of a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, he was educated at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
, and at Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. He took his degree in modern history in 1877, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1881, joining the Oxford circuit.
He practised as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
for eight years until, in 1889, he wrote his first novel entitled The House of the Wolf. This was followed over the following two decades by the novels which were to make his reputation, among them historical romances set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. (His entire output is discussed in the annotated bibliography included in the external links below.) He became a great traveler, sometimes in company with his fellow bestselling novelist Henry Seton Merriman
Hugh Stowell Scott
Hugh Stowell Scott was an English novelist .-Life:Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he became an underwriter at Lloyd's of London, but then devoted himself to travel and to writing novels, many of which had great popularity...
.
While for years his best-selling historical romances enchanted thousands of readers — Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
and Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
were among his enthusiastic readers — today his books are mostly neglected.
Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
was a great admirer of Weyman. He mentions him several times in his Collected Essays. In a BBC interview in 1970, he said: "I made a collection once of what I called the key books in my life, which included Anthony Hope
Anthony Hope
Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known as Anthony Hope , was an English novelist and playwright. Although he was a prolific writer, especially of adventure novels, he is remembered best for only two books: The Prisoner of Zenda and its sequel Rupert of Hentzau...
, Rider Haggard, Captain Gilson,... and I do occasionally re-read them. Stanley Weyman in particular."