# George Reynolds

## Biography

George William MacArthur Reynolds was a prolific Victorian writer and journalist, born in Sandwich, Kent, in 1814. Losing both wealthy parents by his teenage years, he left England for France, where he worked in a Paris bookstore and penned his first novel, *The Youthful Imposter* (1835). Returning to England, Reynolds faced persistent financial struggles, declaring bankruptcy multiple times. Despite this, he became an exceptionally popular author, arguably more widely read than Dickens or Thackeray during his lifetime, particularly among the lower and middle classes.

Reynolds was known for his serialized novels, including the immensely successful *The Mysteries of London* (1844-1856) and the gothic tale *Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf* (1846-1847). His extensive oeuvre often featured historical and gothic fiction, adventure, and sensational elements like violence. He was also a significant figure in the Chartist movement, founding radical publications such as *Reynolds's Miscellany* and *Reynolds's Weekly Newspaper*, which advocated for social and political reforms. Reynolds married fellow writer Susannah Pierson and continued to write and edit until his retirement around 1860. He died in 1879.

## Books

- [The Mysteries of London, v. 2/4](https://samolit.com/books/96499)