Digital Victorian Periodical Poetry

Prolific novelist, writer of fiction and non-fiction for boys, and poet. Born in London. Father was a butler. Mostly self-educated, especially in languages. Went to Battersea Training College for Teachers from 1851 to 1854, and after that worked as a school teacher at Alford, Lincolnshire, before his literary career took off in 1864. Married Susannah Leak on 24 May 1855. Bought a small printing press and began a magazine in verse, Modern Metre (May-October 1862). Drama critic for The Echo. Became editor of Cassell’s Magazine in 1870, and proprietor of Once a Week from 1873. Biographical information: ODNB. (AC)