Maurice Hewlett

Born in Weybridge, Surrey, in 1861, Maurice Hewlett trained in law and was called to the bar before turning fully to literature. He also worked in the public record office system, succeeding his father as Keeper of the Land Revenue Records, but his writing career soon took center stage.

Hewlett became well known for historical fiction written with rich atmosphere and a strong romantic imagination. His first major success, The Forest Lovers (1898), was followed by popular works including The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay and The Queen's Quair. Alongside novels, he wrote poetry, essays, and travel writing.

He died in 1923. Though not as widely read now as some of his contemporaries, Hewlett remains an interesting figure for readers who enjoy lyrical prose, historical settings, and stories shaped by legend, chivalry, and adventure.