W. B. (William Babington) Maxwell

Born in Richmond, Surrey, in 1866, William Babington Maxwell wrote under the name W. B. Maxwell. He was the son of novelist Mary Elizabeth Braddon and publisher John Maxwell, and he grew up around writers, artists, and actors from an early age.

Maxwell published his first novel relatively late, at about 35, but went on to become a remarkably productive author, writing dozens of novels as well as plays. His work was widely read in the early 20th century, and readers often remember him for polished, engaging stories shaped by social life, personal loyalty, and emotional conflict.

His life also reached beyond the literary world: during the First World War, he served as a lieutenant in the Royal Fusiliers, despite being nearly 50 when the war began. He died in 1938, leaving behind a substantial body of popular fiction and a place in the long line of British commercial novelists.