His was a very literary family; his mother wrote nearly 50 novels and books of travel, and the family would have been very poor without the money she earned. He was educated at Harrow, and Winchester. He went into service in the Post Office in 1834. Starting as clerk, he worked his way up to quite a responsible position before he retired in 1867. He is generally credited with the invention of the pillar-box. He made a habit of writing for two and a half hours every day. This produced 47 novels as well as 14 other books. Most of his work appeared in serial form in magazines before being collected together and published as a complete book. He married Rose Heseltine on 11th June 1844. He died in London on 6th December 1882 aged 67.
Some of his works are: The Warden or Barchester Towers or the Main GRoL menu |