At the Circulating Library

Author: Edgar J. Pickering

Author: Edgar J. Pickering (1847–1930)

Biography: Edgar John Pickering was born in 1847 in Thanet, the son of master tailor William Druce Pickering, two-time mayor of Margate. Pickering successfully carried on his father's business. He later turned his hand to fiction writing historical adventure novels for boys and detective fiction. Notably, James Payn encouraged his early efforts and Pickering would win a $10,000 Chicago newspaper prize for the best detective serial. In 1872, he married Emma Louisa Lord and the couple had several children. He died on 25 July 1930 at Upton-on-Severn where he lived in retirement.

References: British Census (1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911); Isle of Thanet Gazette (2 August 1930); Northern Whig (12 June 1915)

Fiction Titles:

1. At the Eleventh Hour.  1 vol.  London: Ward and Downey, 1889.
2. Silas Verney: Being the Story of his Adventures in the Days of King Charles the Second. A Tale for Boys.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1892.
3. An Old-Time Yarn.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1893.
4. In Press-Gang Days.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1894.
5. After Sedgemoor: Being the History and Adventures of Clement Noel in the Days of King James the Second.  1 vol.  London: Hutchinson, 1895.
6. Two Gallant Rebels: A Story of the Great Struggle in La Vendée.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1895.
7. King for a Summer: A Story of Corsican Life and Adventure.  1 vol.  London: Hutchinson, 1896.
8. A Stout English Bowman: Being a Story of Chivalry in the Days of Henry III.  1 vol.  London: Blackie, 1898.
9. The Dogs of War: A Romance of the Great Civil War.  1 vol.  London: Frederick Warne, 1900.
10. The Fortunes of Claude: A Story of Adventure for Boys.  1 vol.  London: Frederick Warne, 1900.