Herbert Hayens

Born in 1861, Herbert Hayens—whose full name was William James Herbert Hayens—was an English novelist and editor. He lived much of his life in Glasgow and became especially well known for juvenile fiction and books written for schools.

Hayens was a prolific writer, with many of his stories aimed at younger readers who liked adventure, history, and competition. Titles now available through Project Gutenberg include At the Point of the Sword, My Sword's My Fortune, The Red, White, and Green, and The Gayton Scholarship, which gives a good sense of the mix of historical action and school life found in his work.

He died on January 22, 1944. Although he is less widely remembered today than some of his contemporaries, his books still offer a clear window into the style of popular boys' fiction and educational reading from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.