S. Fowler Wright
Sydney Fowler Wright was an English writer born on January 6, 1874, in Birmingham. He was raised in a devout Protestant family but later distanced himself from organized religion, instead developing his own beliefs. Wright worked as an accountant while supporting two families after marrying twice, first to Nellie Ashbury and then to Truda Hancock, with whom he had several children. His literary journey began with poetry and editing, notably founding the Empire Poetry League in Birmingham.
Wright ventured into science fiction in the 1920s with works that often contained social commentary, similar to that of H.G. Wells. His first novel, *The Amphibians: A Romance of 500,000 Years Hence*, was published in 1925, but it was his 1927 work *Deluge: A Romance* that brought him significant acclaim, depicting a post-apocalyptic England. Though he published numerous novels across genres, including mysteries and historical fiction, Wright's career did not achieve the same level of fame as some contemporaries. He continued to write until his death in 1965, which went largely unremarked in the press, despite a legacy of critical and financial success in his lifetime.
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S. Fowler Wright
Author
- Born: January 6, 1874
- Birthplace: Birmingham, England
- Died: February 25, 1965
Biography
Sydney Fowler Wright was born in Birmingham, England, on January 6, 1874. He spent most of his childhood in Birmingham and was educated at King Edward’s School, although he left school early to educate himself. He was born into a devout Protestant family, and his father was a lay minister in the Baptist church and one of his sisters was a missionary. Wright later rejected organized religion, preferring to develop his own personal theistic beliefs. He did not believe in birth control, automobiles, and children, including his own, reading the Bible. In 1895, he married Nellie Ashbury and the couple had three sons and three daughters. Nellie died in 1916, and two years later Wright married Truda Hancock, with whom he had four children. Wright worked as an accountant for many years in order to support his two families.
He began his literary career as a poet and a translator of poetry. In 1917, he helped found the Empire Poetry League in Birmingham. He later became the editor of Merton Press, the league’s book division, and of Poetry, the league’s journal. In addition, he edited several volumes of regional British poetry during the 1920’s. After the failure of Merton Press, he started his own publishing company, Fowler Wright Books.
Wright began writing science fiction in the 1920’s. His first novel, The Amphibians: A Romance of 500,000 Years Hence, was published by his own company in 1925. This book and another novel, The World Below, were intended to be part of a trilogy, although Wright never wrote the third book. Both novels contain social commentary leveled at British society and humankind in general, and in some ways the novels are similar to the writing of H.G. Wells.
Wright achieved his first critical and commercial success with the publication of Deluge: A Romance, published in 1927. The book depicts an England which is completely flooded, and the survivors must establish a new society. Wright was praised for his handling of the characters’ emotions and for his depiction of a new and unknown world. The book was highly successful in England and became a best-seller in the United States. The success of Deluge launched Wright’s full-time writing career.
He continued to write science fiction throughout his life but also wrote in other genres. In 1930, he published the mystery novel, The King Against Anne Bickerton, under the name Sydney Fowler, and a historical novel, Elfwin. Throughout World War II, Wright continued to publish novels, mostly mysteries, at a steady rate. However, some critics noted that his rapid pace diminished the quality of his work.
Wright continued to publish novels and short stories in the 1950’s. His death in 1965 was largely unnoticed in the British press. Although Wright never achieved the fame of other science-fiction writers of his time, he did experience some critical and financial success.