author
d. 1907
A colorful late-19th-century American figure, he moved through public life as a soldier, diplomat, promoter, and novelist. His best-known book, Mr. Oseba's Last Discovery (1904), blends speculative ideas with travel writing and political satire.

by George W. (George William) Bell
George W. Bell, usually listed as George William Bell, was an American writer who died in 1907. Reliable references connected with his books identify him as the author of Mr. Oseba's Last Discovery and describe a life that also included military claims, real-estate work, and diplomatic service.
He is especially linked with Australia and New Zealand. Reference works note that he served as the United States consul in Sydney in the 1890s, and that Mr. Oseba's Last Discovery, published in 1904, was written after his visit to New Zealand. The novel is often remembered as an unusual mix of speculative fiction, social commentary, and promotional enthusiasm for the region.
Because clear biographical information is limited and scattered, many personal details remain uncertain in easily confirmed sources. What stands out most is the range of roles he occupied and the curious afterlife of his fiction, which still circulates through public-domain editions and genre reference sites.