author
Francis Prevost
1862–1949
A British writer who moved from military training into journalism, he published poetry, novels, and other work under the name Francis Prevost. He is also remembered for reporting on war and for an interest in psychical research that gave his career an unusual edge.
1 Audiobook
The Plague of the Heart
by Francis Prevost
About the author
Born Harry Francis Prevost Battersby in 1862, he wrote under the name Francis Prevost and was also widely known as H. F. P. Battersby. He was educated at Woolwich and Sandhurst, began in the army, and then turned to journalism and literary work.
His career ranged across poetry, fiction, and reporting. He worked as a journalist and war correspondent, including assignments for the Morning Post, and his writing life seems to have blended literary ambition with a strong interest in public events and travel.
Prevost is also noted as a psychical researcher, which sets him apart from many writers of his time. He died in 1949, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the wide-ranging curiosity of a man who wrote across several fields rather than staying in just one.