John Finnemore

Born in Birmingham in 1863, John Finnemore worked as a schoolmaster before becoming a prolific author. He later lived in Suffolk and then in Wales, where records show him teaching in Blaenpennal and writing at the same time.

Finnemore wrote fiction, history, and geography, mainly for younger readers. He contributed to magazines such as The Boy's Own Paper and Boys' Realm, and he is especially remembered for his stories about Teddy Lester and the boys at the fictional school of Slapton. He also wrote early Boy Scout fiction and a few novels for adults.

What makes his work appealing is its energy: sport, school life, adventure, and a strong sense of place run through much of it. He died in 1915, leaving behind a large body of writing from the late Victorian and Edwardian years.