J. D. Beresford
John Davys Beresford, born in 1873 in Castor, England, was an influential writer primarily recognized for his contributions to science fiction. Despite facing physical challenges due to childhood polio, Beresford pursued a diverse education, which included an apprenticeship in architecture before transitioning to writing. His literary career began with drama, but he found greater acclaim in science fiction, particularly with his notable work, *The Hampdenshire Wonder*, published in 1911, which explores the life of a child endowed with supernatural abilities.
Beresford's writing often featured strong female characters, distinguishing him from many of his contemporaries. His novel *Goslings*, also known as *A World of Women*, was particularly groundbreaking for its portrayal of a society composed entirely of women. In addition to science fiction, he explored fantasy and horror, showcasing a range of literary styles throughout his career. Collaborating with Esme Wynn-Tyson in the later years of his life, Beresford produced works that delved into themes of alternate dimensions. Despite facing criticism regarding the artistic integrity of his later works, Beresford's legacy endures as a satirical and innovative voice in early 20th-century literature. He passed away in 1947, leaving behind a family that included children, one of whom, Elizabeth, also became a children's writer.
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J. D. Beresford
Author
- Born: March 7, 1873
- Birthplace: Castor, Northamptonshire, England
- Died: February 2, 1947
- Place of death: Bath, England
Biography
Left partially disabled by a childhood contraction of polio, John Davys Beresford was raised in Castor, England, where he was born in 1873. Although principally educated through his own reading, Beresford attended Peterborough King’s School until the age of sixteen. At this time, he started apprenticing in architecture, working his way up until he was a draftsman for the architect Edwin T. Hall, a position he held from 1895 to 1903. It was in 1903 that he married his first wife, Linda Lawrence. After a costly divorce, Beresford focused his attention increasingly on writing as a means for making money.
Initially interested in drama, J. D. Beresford wrote several plays before discovering the world of science fiction. His first novel, The Early History of Jacob Stahl, the first part of what would become a trilogy, was highly acclaimed as a riveting psychological story of a man who overcame physical disadvantages and virtually no education to start a business career. However, Beresford is best remembered for his science-fiction novel The Hampdenshire Wonder, published in 1911, about a child with supernatural powers.
Mainly a science-fiction writer whose Goslings was favorably compared to H. G. Wells’s War of the Worlds. Beresford also ventured into the genres of fantasy and horror. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he wrote about women, sometimes even to the exclusion of male characters. Goslings was in fact also known as A World of Women. It was highly praised for being one of the first novels to envision a world of only women.
In 1944, J. D. Beresford collaborated with Esme Wynn-Tyson to produce The Riddle of the Tower, a novel about alternate dimensions. Beresford’s final novel was another collaboration with Wynn-Tyson, and was released in 1947, the year of his death. His body of work, which has been criticized for losing artistic merits in favor of commercial ones over time, is characterized by his biting satire of humanity. From his second marriage he left behind three sons and a daughter, Elizabeth, who later became a children’s writer.