Author: Compton Reade
Author: Compton Reade (1834–1909)
Biography: The Rev. Comton Reade was born in 1834 in London, the son of Compton Reade of Orsett Hall and Jane Walker. He came from a prominent Oxfordshire family which included his uncles novelist Charles Reade and civil servant Edward Anderdon Reade of Indian Mutiny fame. He attended Pembroke College then Magdalen College, Oxford, and entered holy orders in 1857. Thereafter, he held a number of positions in the Church of England including curate of Burford, chaplain of Magdalen College, rector of Elton, vicar of Timsbury, and rector of Kenchester. In 1867, he married his second cousin Emma Scott-Waring and the couple had two sons. Both husband and wife (as Mrs. Compton Reade) turned to literature, the former publishing several volumes of poetry, family history, and novels. In addition, Reade contributed to periodicals and wrote a memoir about Charles Reade. Late in life, he successfully applied to the Royal Literary Fund. He died in 1909 at Kenchester.
Author Tags:
References: British Census (1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901); Burke; Jackson's Oxford Journal (7 December 1867); RLF (case number 2471); Times (10 November 1909)
Fiction Titles:
- Take Care Whom You Trust. 1 vol. London: Smith, Elder, 1872.
- Who Was Then the Gentleman?: A Novel. 3 vol. London: John Maxwell, 1885.
- Broken Threads. 1 vol. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1897.
- The Aftertaste. 1 vol. London: Greening and Co., 1900.