William Black (novelist)
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William Black (13 November 1841 – 10 December 1898) was a novelist born in
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, Scotland. During his lifetime, Black's novels were immensely popular and compared favourably with those of
Anthony Trollope Anthony Trollope (; 24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882) was an English novelist and civil servant of the Victorian era. Among his best-known works is a series of novels collectively known as the '' Chronicles of Barsetshire'', which revolves ar ...
. However, his fame and popularity did not survive long into the 20th century.


Biography

William was born to James Black and his second wife Caroline Conning. He was educated to be a landscape painter, a training that influenced his literary life. As a writer, he became known for his detailed, atmospheric descriptions of landscapes and seascapes in novels such as ''White Wings: A Yachting Romance'' (1880). At the age of 23 he went to London, having had some experience with Glasgow journalism. He joined the staff of the '' Morning Star'' and later the '' Daily News'', of which he became assistant-editor. He wrote a weekly serial in ''
The Graphic ''The Graphic'' was a British weekly illustrated newspaper, first published on 4 December 1869 by William Luson Thomas's company Illustrated Newspapers Ltd. Thomas's brother Lewis Samuel Thomas was a co-founder. The premature death of the latt ...
''. During the Austro-Prussian War, he acted as a war correspondent. Black's first novel, ''James Merle'', appeared in 1864, and had little success. Black later disowned it and reputedly bought copies to destroy them. Two further early novels ''Love or Marriage'' (1868) and ''The Monarch of Mincing Lane'' (1871) did little to advance his career, and all three were omitted from the collected edition of Black's works issued by the publisher Sampson Low from 1892. The publication of '' A Daughter of Heth'' in 1871 at once established his popularity. It tells of a young girl brought up in Catholic France, who comes to live with her more austere Protestant relatives in southern Scotland, and ends with personal tragedy. The travel story ''The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton'' followed in 1872. In 1874 ''
A Princess of Thule A, or a, is the first Letter (alphabet), letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name ...
'' was another big success, later adapted into a
musical play Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...
, ''
The Maid of Arran ''The Maid of Arran, An Idyllic Irish Drama Written for the People, Irrespective of Caste or Nationality'' is an 1882 musical play by L. Frank Baum, writing and performing under the pseudonym, "Louis F. Baum", based on the novel '' A Princess ...
'', by a young
L. Frank Baum Lyman Frank Baum (; May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author best known for his children's books, particularly ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' and its sequels. He wrote 14 novels in the ''Oz'' series, plus 41 other novels (not includ ...
. From the following year Black devoted himself wholly to fiction. Several collections of short stories and a further 22 novels followed; the last – ''Wild Eelin'' – in 1898, just before his death on 10 December of that year. During his lifetime, Black's novels were immensely popular and were compared favourably with those of
Anthony Trollope Anthony Trollope (; 24 April 1815 – 6 December 1882) was an English novelist and civil servant of the Victorian era. Among his best-known works is a series of novels collectively known as the '' Chronicles of Barsetshire'', which revolves ar ...
, though some critics complained that they put too much emphasis on hunting and fishing. However, his fame and popularity did not survive long into the 20th century. His works were bootlegged in the United States, not being protected by copyright laws. He teamed with such well-known authors as
Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...
,
Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Word ...
and
Walter Besant Sir Walter Besant (14 August 1836 – 9 June 1901) was an English novelist and historian. William Henry Besant was his brother, and another brother, Frank, was the husband of Annie Besant. Early life and education The son of wine merchant Will ...
to combat this procedure, resulting in the passing of new laws in 1891, but unlike the others, he held no grudge against those who sold unauthorised copies of his books while it was legal to do so, which made relations easier and friendlier between him and his American publishers. Baum's play was written without regard to copyright courtesy when such was legal: it is uncertain if Black was even aware of its existence, as Reid does not mention it in his biography. (He did not receive credit in the play's advertising or programs, although reviewers often mentioned him.) His later novels included two further "tragic" tales: ''Madcap Violet'' (1876) and ''Macleod of Dare'' (1879); ''Sunrise'' (1881) a novel of international political intrigue; ''Shandon Bells'' (1883) largely set in Ireland; ''Yolande'' (1883). in part dealing with drug addiction; ''Judith Shakespeare'' (1884) a historical novel featuring the playwright's daughter; and ''The New Prince Fortunatus'' (1890) a novel of London theatrical life. Friendship with the actor Mary Anderson resulted in him acting on stage twice, in mute roles known as "thinkers" (in ''
Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
'' and ''
The Winter's Tale ''The Winter's Tale'' is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some criti ...
''), but his nervousness interrupted the performance. Black also produced the volume ''Goldsmith'' (1878) for Morley's ''English Men of Letters'' series. Black is remembered by a lighthouse built in the form of a Gothic tower "on a spot that he knew and loved, by his friends and admirers from all over the world," as recorded on a carved plaque over the door. The building was erected in 1901 and is still in use as a lighthouse. It stands a mile or so south of Duart Castle, at the eastern extremity of the Isle of Mull. A collection of sketch-stories, including portions of the suppressed ''James Merle'' were published posthumously as ''With the Eyes of Youth, and Other Sketches'' (1903).


Family

Black's first wife, Augustus Wenzel, died on 14 May 1866 of a fever contracted not long after the birth of their son, Martin. They had only been married since 8 April 1865. Martin then died on 29 March 1871. Black first met his second wife, Eva Simpson, daughter of Wharton Simpson, a fellow journalist and fellow member of Whitefriars Club, in 1869. He saw her again in 1872 and used her as the basis for Bell in ''The Phaeton''. They were married in April 1874 and she was still alive when
Wemyss Reid Sir Thomas Wemyss Reid (29 March 1842 – 26 February 1905) was an English newspaper editor, novelist and biographer. Early life Reid was born at Newcastle upon Tyne in 1842, the son of a Congregational minister Career He became chief reporte ...
, who had offered Black a contributor's role on the ''
Leeds Mercury The ''Leeds Mercury'' was a newspaper published in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was published from 1718 to 1755 and again from 1767. Initially it consisted of 12 pages and cost three halfpennies. In 1794 it had a circulation of about 3,00 ...
'', published his biography. From 1879 until his death, Black lived at 1 Paston Place,
Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
.


Recognition

A memorial to Black, in the form of a small castle, was built at
Duart Point Duart Castle, or ''Caisteal Dhubhairt'' in Scottish Gaelic, is a castle on the Isle of Mull, beside the Sound of Mull off the west coast of Scotland, within the council area of Argyll and Bute. The castle dates back to the 13th century and i ...
designed by Glasgow architect
William Leiper William Leiper Royal Institute of British Architects, FRIBA Royal Scottish Academy, RSA (1839–1916) was a Scotland, Scottish architect known particularly for his domestic architecture in and around the town of Helensburgh.
.


Works

*''James Merle'' (1864) *''Love or Marriage'' (1868) *''In Silk Attire'' (1869) *''Kilmeny'' (1870) *''The Monarch of Mincing Lane'' (1871) *''Mr Pisistratus Brown, M.P., in the Highlands'' (1871) *''A Daughter of Heth'' (1871) *''The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton'' (1872)
''A Princess of Thule''
(1873) *''The Maid of Killeena and other Stories'' (1874) *''Three Feathers'' (1875) *''Madcap Violet'' (1876) *''Lady Silverdale's Sweetheart and Other Stories'' (1876) *''Green Pastures and Piccadilly'' (1877) *''Macleod of Dare'' (1878) *''Goldsmith nglish Men of Letters' (1878) *''White Wings'' (1880) *''The Beautiful Wretch, The Four MacNicols, The Pupil of Aurelius'' (1881) *''Sunrise'' (1881) *''Shandon Bells'' (1883) *''Yolande'' (1883)
''Adventures in Thule''
(1883) *''Judith Shakespeare'' (1884) *''White Heather'' (1885) *''The Wise Women of Inverness and Other Miscellanies'' (1885) *''Sabina Zembra'' (1887) *''In Far Lochaber'' (1888)
''The Strange Adventures of a Houseboat''
(1888) *''The Penance of John Logan and Two Other Tales'' (1889) *''The New Prince Fortunatus'' (1890) *''Stand Fast Craig-Royston!'' (1890) *''Donald Ross of Heimra'' (1891) *''The Magic Ink and Other Tales'' (1892) *''Wolfenberg'' (1892) *''The Handsome Humes'' (1893) *''Highland Cousins'' (1894) *''Briseis'' (1896) *''Wild Eelin'' (1898) *''With the Eyes of Youth, and Other Sketches'' (1903) osthumous


References

Notes Bibliography * *
General Register Office for Scotland The General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) ( gd, Oifis Choitcheann a' Chlàraidh na h-Alba) was a non-ministerial directorate of the Scottish Government that administered the registration of births, deaths, marriages, divorces and adoptio ...
James Black's Death entry GROS: 644/05 0619 * Reid, Thomas Wemyss. ''William Black, Novelist.'' London and New York: Harper and Brothers, 1902


External links

* (plain text and HTML) * *Archival material at {{DEFAULTSORT:Black, William American male journalists Scottish novelists Scottish short story writers Scottish war correspondents 1841 births 1898 deaths British male novelists Scottish journalists Writers from Glasgow 19th-century American journalists 19th-century British novelists 19th-century Scottish writers 19th-century British short story writers 19th-century male writers Victorian novelists