George Allan England
George Allan England was an American author born in 1877 in Fort McPherson, Nebraska. He studied at Harvard University, earning his master's degree in 1903, and subsequently worked as a journalist for various publications. England gained recognition for his contributions to science fiction, particularly with his notable trilogy, "Darkness and Dawn," which includes the novels "The Vacant World," "Beyond the Great Oblivion," and "The Afterglow," published between 1912 and 1913. Despite being one of the more popular science-fiction writers in the early twentieth century, England's work has become less known in contemporary times. After his death in 1936, additional volumes in his trilogy were published, further extending his literary legacy. Today, his works are in the public domain and can be accessed through various online platforms. England's contributions to the genre reflect the early development of science fiction and its themes, making his writings significant for enthusiasts and scholars alike.
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George Allan England
- Born: February 9, 1877
- Birthplace: Fort McPherson, Nebraska
- Died: June 26, 1936
- Place of death: Concord, New Hampshire
Biography
George Allan England was born in Fort McPherson, Nebraska, in 1877. He studied at Harvard University, where he received his master’s degree in 1903. He then worked as a journalist, writing for several publications. While he was writing for small- circulation journals, a rumor spread that England wanted to quit writing and engage in a more profitable endeavor, like farming chickens; this false rumor reportedly encouraged some editors of larger publications to hire him.
In 1912, England published The Vacant World, the first installment of the science- fiction trilogy Darkness and Dawn. The following year, he published the second and third installments, Beyond the Great Oblivion (1913) and The Afterglow (1913). The three novels are England’s most famous and recognized works. After his death, two additional volumes in the series were released, The People of the Abyss (1966) and Out of the Abyss (1967), and The Darkness and Dawn Omnibus was published in 2004.
While England and his novels are relatively unknown today, he was considered to be one of the most popular science-fiction writers during the first half of the twentieth century. He published many more science-fiction novels, as well as poetry and nonfiction books, before his death in 1936. Today his works are in the public domain and have been reprinted on the World Wide Web.