Charles Gilson

Born in Dedham, Essex, in 1878, Charles James Louis Gilson was a British Army officer who became a prolific writer of children's and young adult fiction. He published under several bylines, including Captain Charles Gilson, Major Charles Gilson, and Barbara Gilson.

He was especially known for adventure stories, science fiction, and historical fiction aimed at younger readers. His books were widely popular in the early 20th century, and his work often reflected the energetic, serial-style storytelling of the magazines and publishers of his day.

Gilson died in 1943. While some of his fiction clearly carries the attitudes of its era, he remains a notable figure in popular British juvenile literature for the sheer range of his output and his talent for fast-moving, imaginative plots.