author
Charles William Heckethorn
Best remembered for exploring secret societies and old London, this Swiss-born British writer brought curiosity and a taste for hidden histories to a wide range of subjects. His books mix scholarship, anecdote, and the lively detail that makes Victorian nonfiction fun to wander through.
1 Audiobook
London Souvenirs
by Charles William Heckethorn
About the author
Born in Switzerland around 1829, Charles William Heckethorn later became a naturalized British author. He is most often associated with The Secret Societies of All Ages and Countries, a wide-ranging study that helped secure his reputation and was later translated into German.
He also wrote on the history of London and on early printing, showing a strong interest in the overlooked corners of cultural history. Among the works linked to him are books on London life and The Printers of Basle in the XV. & XVI. Centuries, which reflects his interest in book history as well as the past.
Heckethorn died on January 13, 1902. Although not a household name today, he remains an appealing figure for readers who enjoy older nonfiction rich in historical detail and unusual subjects.