author
N. B. (Nicholas Belfield) Dennys
1840–1900
A 19th-century British journalist and civil servant in China and Singapore, he turned close observation into lively writing on Chinese folklore, language, and everyday life. His work still offers a vivid window into how the Far East was studied and described in the Victorian era.
1 Audiobook
The folk-lore of China : and its affinities with that of the Aryan and Semitic races
by N. B. (Nicholas Belfield) Dennys
About the author
Born in January 1839, Nicholas Belfield Dennys built a career that moved between government service, journalism, and scholarship. He worked in China and later in Singapore, and was closely involved with public institutions as well as the press, including a period as editor of the China Mail in Hong Kong.
Dennys is best remembered for writing about Chinese culture and language for English-speaking readers. His books include The Folk-Lore of China and a handbook of colloquial Malay, showing the wide range of his interests and his practical knowledge of life in Asia. He also served as a curator and librarian, roles that fit well with his habit of collecting, organizing, and interpreting information.
He died in Hong Kong on December 5, 1900. Today he stands out as one of those Victorian-era writers whose official work, editorial career, and curiosity about local traditions all came together in books that remain useful to historians and general readers alike.