He trained to be a solicitor (as his father was) and became an articled clerk in London in 1888. But he became interested in writing and, in 1893, he became sub-editor of the magazine Woman. He soon became its editor. It is said that he was so dissatisfied with the standard of the stories he often had to publish in the magazine, that he started writing his own.

In 1903 he moved to Paris and, in 1907, married Marguerite Soulie with whom he returned to England in 1912. They separated in 1921.

He had a daughter by the companion of his later years, Dorothy Cheston.

His works were very varied, both in subject and in depth, and the general assessment of him seems to vary from being 'a very good writer' to 'a writer of considerable talent and insightfulness'. It depends upon which of his books you wish to measure him by.

He died on 27th March 1931 aged 62.

Some of his (best-known) works are:
1904   Anna of the Five Towns
1908   The Old Wives' Tale
1910   Clayhanger
1911   The Card
1916   Hilda Lessways
1923   Riceyman Steps