Warwick Deeping

Born in Southend-on-Sea in 1877, Warwick Deeping was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied science and medicine. He qualified as a doctor and later served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War before turning fully to writing.

Deeping was extraordinarily prolific, producing dozens of novels as well as many short stories for British and American magazines. He became a household name in the interwar years, with several books reaching bestseller lists, and Sorrell and Son (1925) emerged as his most famous work, bringing him a broad readership at home and abroad.

Although his critical reputation changed over time, his career offers a vivid picture of what large numbers of readers loved in early 20th-century popular fiction: dramatic plots, strong feeling, and sympathy for characters trying to make their way in a difficult world.