Author: William Place
Author: William Place (1845–1883)
Alternate Name(s): Rupert Winn (pseudonym)
Biography: William Place was born in 1845 in Richmond, Yorkshire. By profession, he was an accountant who lived in Darlington, Durham. According to newspaper articles at his death, Place "was possessed of considerable literary ability, and was the author of several novels." However, only one novel can be currently ascribed to him: Buried in Secret (1881) written under the pseudonym "Rupert Winn" and published at the author's expense. Though it got mixed reviews, the novel was a financial failure. Place had several brushes with the law over the years for embezzlement (1874), assulting his wife (1878), and misappropriating funds (1883). He died of natural causes in Durham gaol while awaiting trial on 4 December 1883. He left a wife and two sons. Note: authorship established through the copyright records in the National Archives.
Author Tags:
References: British Census (1881); Durham County Advertiser (7 December 1883); Northern Echo (5 December 1883); pers inf (Ken Lee)
Fiction Titles:
- Buried in Secret: or, The Poor Refugee. 1 vol. London: Tyne Publishing Company, 1881.