Grant Allen
This was the top-prize-winning novel from 20,000 entries in one of the richest literary awards ever offered in Britain. Its convoluted and colorful plot turns on questions of heredity and atavism: the ancestry of the Waring twin brothers and of Elma Clifford. Elma comes on her mother's side from a line of gypsy snake dancers, and she displays a periodic urge to dance wildly with a feather boa in her bedroom. A murderous judge, multiple mistaken
...In an era where "knowledge workers" with often-nebulous skill sets have come to make up a significant portion of the workforce, it can be refreshing to read about the more clearly defined trades of past eras. This engaging collection of brief biographies from Canadian author Grant Allen explores a number of skilled trades such as stonemason, painter, and shoemaker, as well as the day-to-day lives of the men who filled these roles.
This amusing science-fiction-tinged satire centers on an anthropologist sent from the future to make a study of British society in the late nineteenth century. Bertram Ingledew comprehensively documents and describes the savage rituals and beliefs he observes—and even converts one member of the "tribe" to his way of thinking.
South African businessman Sir Charles Vandrift rose to the pinnacle of his field through his keen instincts and superb acumen—but the roguish swindler Colonel Clay (Vandrift's longtime nemesis) is just smart enough to stay one step ahead. In this linked story cycle, the dashing Clay endeavors to relieve Vandrift of his money and property in a variety of amusing vignettes.
Canadian writer Grant Allen gained prominence as an ardent defender of Darwin's theory of evolution. In this volume, a select group of Allen's writings on the topic of evolution are presented. They range in tone from serious to lighthearted and take the form of essays, poems, and vignettes.
Canadian-born author Grant Allen held progressive views about women and their role in society. In order to bring more awareness to the issue, he penned numerous novels featuring strong female protagonists. Hilda Wade: A Woman with Tenacity of Purpose is an engrossing look at the life of a skilled and highly respected nurse who often puts her formidable intellect to work solving mysteries.
7) Philistia
Philistia was Grant Allen's first novel, and according to the author's memoirs, he poured his heart and soul into its creation and believed it be his finest work. This classic coming-of-age story follows three brothers as they leave home and stake their claim amidst the hustle and bustle of London, experiencing political, educational, and social epiphanies and hardships along the way.
Canadian scholar and writer Grant Allen held many progressive views, and he saw himself as a proponent of women's rights. He penned the novel The Woman Who Did as a means of shedding light on the many social strictures and constraints facing women in the late nineteenth century. The story follows a middle-class young woman who deliberately flouts convention and eventually bears a child out of wedlock. Met with a firestorm of criticism in
...12) Recalled to Life
Una Callingham suffered a terrible trauma that wiped out her entire past and irrevocably altered the course of her future. When she begins to emerge from the fog of her injury, Una starts to piece together the tragedy that changed her life. She sets her sights on revenge—but will she ever remember enough about the event to set her plan in motion?
Canadian author Allen Grant was a voracious thinker and writer who published on a remarkable array of topics, ranging from scholarly science papers to popular fiction. This essay collection offers a glimpse into Allen's beliefs and views on subjects ranging from language to education.
14) The Great Taboo
Canadian-born Grant Allen was a highly prolific and multi-talented writer who achieved literary acclaim in a number of genres, spanning nonfiction and fiction alike. The Great Taboo is a high seas adventure that will appeal to fans of H. Rider Haggard, Patrick O'Brian, and Jules Verne.
15) Michael's Crag
Unemployed and down on his luck, Eustace Le Neve's fortunes take a sharp turn for the better when he meets a charming young lady named Cleer Trevannick. Immediately smitten, he wants to marry Cleer, but he has no prospects—and Cleer's eccentric father poses another obstacle. Will these two lovebirds be able to make it work?
16) Charles Darwin
After a career in the academy, Canadian-born Grant Allen struck out on his own to make his name as a writer. His early focus was on scientific topics, though he later expanded into fiction, as well. Allen was an early proponent of Darwin's theory of evolution and helped to popularize the idea through his writing. His biography Charles Darwin is an engaging and comprehensive look at the scientist's life and work.
17) Strange Stories
A scientist and scholar by trade, Grant Allen was a prodigious writer who dabbled in many different genres over the course of his career, playing a significant role in the development of both detective fiction and science fiction. This collection of short stories runs the gamut in terms of theme and subject matter, but all of the tales highlight Allen's fascination with the weird, mysterious and uncanny.
Canadian author Grant Allen dabbled in a vast number of literary genres over the course of his career, and of all of his published work, perhaps none more accurately depicts his unique talents than Science in Arcady. This delightful essay collection touches on a number of topics, but many of the pieces are tied together with themes of travel and science.
Though he got his start in the field of higher education, Grant Allen later found his niche as a writer of popular fiction and nonfiction. Allen's series of history texts presents the highlights of important periods, along with key aspects of social, political and economic context, in an engaging narrative style that will keep readers hooked.
