author
John Pollock
1878–1963
A lively English man of letters, he moved easily between history, journalism, translation, and the theater. His books often turned dramatic episodes from the past into clear, readable stories for general audiences.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born on December 26, 1878, Sir Frederick John Pollock, 4th Baronet, was an English historian, journalist, and translator. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, and built a varied literary career that ranged from historical writing to drama and translation.
Pollock wrote books on figures and events from British and European history, including The Popish Plot, and he also translated works from French. During the First World War years, he worked in Poland and Russia as chief commissioner of the Great Britain to Poland and Galicia Fund under the Russian Red Cross, an experience that added an international dimension to a career otherwise centered on writing and public life.
He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1937 and died on July 22, 1963. Remembered today as a versatile author rather than a single-book celebrity, he left behind the kind of bibliography that reflects broad curiosity and a gift for making history approachable.