George Thompson

Born in 1823 and thought to have died around 1873, George Thompson was an American author remembered for sensational fiction set in the rough, crowded life of nineteenth-century cities. His work was part of the lively popular press of the era, and modern editions describe him as one of the most successful and prolific writers in that tradition.

He is especially known for works such as City Crimes and Venus in Boston, stories that mixed scandal, violence, and social observation in ways meant to grab readers quickly. He also wrote under the pseudonym "Greenhorn," a name closely tied to his flashier, streetwise style.

Beyond novels and pamphlets, Thompson was active in periodical publishing and is associated with The Broadway Belle, a sporting paper he edited in the 1850s. Even though details of his life are limited, his writing still offers a vivid look at the appetite for popular fiction in antebellum America.