Occupation Novelist Role Novelist Name Stanley Weyman | Signature Nationality English Movies Under the Red Robe | |
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Born 7 August 1855
Ludlow, Shropshire ( 1855-08-07 ) Died April 10, 1928, Ruthin, United Kingdom Education Christ Church, Oxford, Shrewsbury School Books Under the Red Robe, A GENTLEMAN OF FRAN, Count Hannibal, Historical romances, The Red Cockade Similar People Alan Crosland, Victor Sjostrom, Philip Lindsay, Lajos Biro | ||
The Fowl in the Pot by Stanley J Weyman Full AudioBook
Stanley John Weyman (7 August 1855 – 10 April 1928) was an English novelist sometimes referred to as the "Prince of Romance". He travelled widely with another bestselling novelist, Henry Seton Merriman.
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Biography
Weyman (pronounced "why-man") was born at Ludlow, 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 traveller, sometimes in company with his fellow bestselling novelist Henry Seton Merriman.
While for years his historical romances enchanted thousands of readers – Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde were among the enthusiasts – but today his books are largely neglected.
Graham Greene was a great admirer of Weyman, whom he mentions several times in his Collected Essays. In a BBC interview in 1970, Greene 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."