Guy Boothby

Guy Boothby Biography

Guy Newell Boothby (1867-1905) was an Australian novelist, best known for his adventure and thriller novels. He was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on October 13, 1867, to a wealthy family. His father was a lawyer and a member of the South Australian Parliament.

Boothby was educated at private schools in Adelaide and England. After finishing school, he worked briefly as a clerk in his father's law firm before embarking on a literary career. His first novel, "On the Wallaby," was published in 1891 and was well received.

However, it was his second novel, "A Bid for Fortune," published in 1895, that brought him widespread success. The book was a thriller set in South Africa during the gold rush and featured a swashbuckling hero, Richard Hatteras. It was a bestseller and made Boothby a household name.

Boothby went on to write more than 50 books, including adventure and mystery novels, as well as works of non-fiction. He often used exotic locations and colorful characters in his stories, and his work was popular with readers who enjoyed escapism and excitement.

Boothby's most famous creation, however, was Dr. Nikola, a villainous genius who appeared in several of his novels. The character was inspired by the real-life figure of Aleister Crowley, whom Boothby had met and befriended.

Boothby died of pneumonia in London in 1905, at the age of 37. His work remains popular among fans of adventure and thriller fiction.

15 Guy Boothby books available to download for free for iPhone, iPad, Nook, Android, and Kindle in PDF and all popular eBook reader formats (AZW3, EPUB, MOBI).