Arthur Morrison

Arthur Morrison Biography

Arthur George Morrison (November 1, 1863 – December 4, 1945) was an English writer and journalist best known for his realistic depictions of working-class life in London's East End and for his detective stories featuring Martin Hewitt. Born in Poplar, London, Morrison experienced the challenges of the East End firsthand, which profoundly influenced his writing.

Morrison began his career as a clerk at the Beaumont Trust, which managed the People's Palace, an institution aimed at bringing culture to the East End. This role provided him with insights into the lives of the local residents. He later transitioned to journalism, contributing to publications such as the Globe and the National Observer, where his stories about East End life gained attention.

His first major work, Tales of Mean Streets (1894), is a collection of short stories that portray the harsh realities of slum life. This was followed by A Child of the Jago (1896), a novel that delves deeper into the struggles of the impoverished in a fictionalized version of the Old Nichol slum. These works established Morrison as a leading figure in the literary realism movement.

In addition to his realist fiction, Morrison wrote detective stories featuring Martin Hewitt, a character introduced as a rival to Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. These stories were well-received and contributed to the popularity of detective fiction in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Beyond writing, Morrison was an avid collector of Japanese art and published works on the subject. Much of his collection was later acquired by the British Museum. He passed away on December 4, 1945, in Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, leaving behind a legacy of literature that provides a vivid window into the lives of London's working class during the Victorian era.

Trivia About Arthur Morrison

• Morrison's novel A Child of the Jago was based on the Old Nichol slum in East London, one of the most notorious slums of the Victorian era.
• He was a self-taught expert in Japanese art and became a notable collector, with parts of his collection now housed in the British Museum.
• Morrison's detective character, Martin Hewitt, was created as a deliberate contrast to Sherlock Holmes, being more approachable and less eccentric.
• Despite his focus on the grim realities of slum life, Morrison also wrote supernatural tales, such as those in his collection The Shadows Around Us (1891).

Famous Quotes by Arthur Morrison

• "The Jago had its day, and that day was a long nightmare."
• "There is no crime so great as daring to excel."

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who was Arthur Morrison?

Arthur Morrison was an English writer and journalist known for his realistic novels and stories depicting the lives of the working class in London's East End during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

What are some of Arthur Morrison's notable works?

Some of his notable works include Tales of Mean Streets (1894), A Child of the Jago (1896), and the Martin Hewitt detective stories.

How did Arthur Morrison contribute to detective fiction?

Morrison created the detective character Martin Hewitt, who was featured in a series of stories that provided a more down-to-earth alternative to the more flamboyant detectives of the time, such as Sherlock Holmes.

Related Literary Movements

Arthur Morrison was associated with the literary realism movement, focusing on the accurate representation of everyday life, particularly the struggles of the urban poor. His works provide a counter-narrative to the more romanticized views of Victorian England, highlighting social issues and the need for reform.

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