author
Ernest Rhys
1859–1946
Best remembered as the founding editor of Everyman’s Library, he helped bring classic books within reach of ordinary readers while building a varied literary career of his own. He wrote poetry, essays, fiction, and plays, and spent decades shaping what people read.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in London on July 17, 1859, and raised in Carmarthen and Newcastle, Ernest Rhys began adult life far from the literary world, working as a mining engineer before moving to London to become a writer. That change of course led him into journalism, editing, and a long career among books and authors.
He is most closely associated with Everyman’s Library, the hugely influential series of affordable classics launched in the early 20th century. As its founding editor, Rhys helped choose and introduce works from across literature, making important writing available to a broad public rather than a small, elite audience.
Rhys also wrote extensively himself, producing poetry, essays, stories, novels, and plays. He died in London on May 25, 1946, leaving behind both his own books and a larger legacy as a champion of accessible reading.