R. A. H. (Robert Arthur Hanson) Goodyear

Born in Barnsley in 1877, Robert Arthur Hanson Goodyear wrote as R. A. H. Goodyear and became known for children’s fiction, especially stories set in boys’ schools. Accounts of his early career say he was published while still a teenager, after sending work to a popular boys’ paper.

Alongside school stories, he wrote Yorkshire rural plays and other fiction, showing a range beyond the boarding-school adventures he is most remembered for today. His books include Forge of Foxenby, and records of his work show a steady stream of titles across the first half of the 20th century.

Goodyear died on November 24, 1948. Although he is now a niche figure, he remains of interest to readers who enjoy classic British school stories and older popular fiction.