E. R. (Ernest Robertson) Punshon

Born in East Dulwich, London, on June 25, 1872, Ernest Robertson Punshon became an English novelist and literary critic whose career stretched across the early and mid-20th century. He wrote widely, but his reputation now rests mainly on detective fiction, and he also published under the pseudonyms Robertson Halkett and Robertson Halket.

Punshon enjoyed particular success in the 1930s and 1940s. Readers of classic crime fiction remember him above all as the creator of Bobby Owen, the Scotland Yard detective who appeared in a long-running series from 1933 until Punshon’s death. His books are often noted for their careful plotting, atmosphere, and memorable settings.

He died in Streatham, London, on October 23, 1956. A suitable verified portrait image could not be confidently confirmed from the sources I checked, so no profile image is included here.