author
Sir W. Robertson (William Robertson) Nicoll
1851–1923
A Scottish minister turned influential editor, he helped shape late Victorian and early 20th-century religious and literary culture through the pages of major journals. His writing blends wide reading, strong opinions, and a lively interest in books, ideas, and public life.
1 Audiobook
The Problem of 'Edwin Drood': A Study in the Methods of Dickens
by Sir W. Robertson (William Robertson) Nicoll
About the author
Born in Aberdeenshire in 1851, William Robertson Nicoll studied at the University of Aberdeen and entered the Free Church ministry. Ill health cut short his time as a parish minister, but it opened the way to the work that made him widely known: editing, publishing, and writing for a large readership.
Nicoll became one of the most important religious journalists of his day. He founded and edited The British Weekly, edited The Expositor, and later guided The Bookman, helping introduce readers to contemporary authors and debates. He was known as a remarkably well-connected literary figure who could bring together respected scholars, preachers, and writers for a broad educated audience.
He also published many books of his own, including literary studies, essays, and devotional works. Knighted in 1909 and appointed a Companion of Honour later in life, Nicoll remained a major presence in British intellectual and publishing circles until his death in 1923.