David Whitelaw

Born in Holloway, Islington, David Whitelaw was an English writer, editor, and illustrator whose career stretched across journalism, fiction, and publishing. After losing both parents in infancy, he was raised by his grandparents, and in the 1890s spent short periods in New York City and Paris before returning to London.

Back in Britain, he worked for Fleet Street newspapers as an illustrator and journalist, later becoming editor of The London Magazine and The Premier Magazine. His first novel, M'Stodger's Affinity, appeared in 1896, and it was followed by a long run of popular fiction. More than 50 novels were published during his lifetime, including adventure stories, romantic thrillers, and mysteries, and many of his works were serialized in magazines.

Whitelaw's career reached beyond books alone. He wrote plays, was active in London's Savage Club, and in 1932 invented the spelling card game Lexicon, which became widely popular and even found its way into his 1944 novel The Lexicon Murders. That mix of storytelling, editorial work, and playful invention makes him an especially interesting figure from the age of popular magazine fiction.