author
Leopold Wagner
b. 1858
Best remembered for lively books on names, old London, and literary curiosities, this late-Victorian author had a knack for turning reference subjects into enjoyable reading. His work ranges from practical advice for young writers to affectionate explorations of inns, taverns, customs, and forgotten lore.
1 Audiobook
Names: and Their Meaning; A Book for the Curious
by Leopold Wagner
About the author
Leopold Wagner was an English-language author and editor born in 1858. Library catalogs and digitized editions link his name to a wide spread of late 19th- and early 20th-century books, including Names: and Their Meaning, How to Publish a Book or Article, and How to Produce a Play, Manners, Customs and Observances, A New Book About London, and London Inns and Taverns.
What stands out about his writing is its range. Some books are practical guides for aspiring authors and speakers, while others gather the odd, historical, and everyday details of language and city life. Names: and Their Meaning in particular shows his interest in etymology and popular reference writing, presenting the history and significance of names for general readers rather than specialists.
Reliable biographical detail beyond his birth year is scarce in the sources I could confirm here, so it seems safest to remember him mainly through his books: a versatile compiler, editor, and nonfiction writer with a clear affection for curious facts and readable learning.