Grant Allen
1848 -1899
Grant Allen Biography
Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen (February 24, 1848 – October 25, 1899) was a Canadian-born science writer, novelist, and ardent proponent of evolutionary theory. Born on Wolfe Island near Kingston, Canada West (now Ontario), he was the second son of the Rev. Joseph Antisell Allen, an Irish Protestant minister, and Catharine Ann Grant, daughter of the fifth Baron de Longueuil.
Allen's early education was conducted at home until age 13, after which his family relocated to the United States, then France, and finally settled in the United Kingdom. He attended King Edward's School in Birmingham and later Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1871. Despite his religious upbringing, Allen became an atheist and socialist, views that influenced his later writings.
In the early 1870s, Allen served as a professor at Queen's College in Jamaica, a position that broadened his perspectives on education and colonialism. Returning to England in 1876, he transitioned to writing full-time, producing works that spanned scientific essays, novels, and travel literature. His scientific writings, such as Physiological Aesthetics (1877) and The Colour Sense (1879), drew upon evolutionary theory and garnered attention from contemporaries like Herbert Spencer.
Allen was a prolific author, penning over 30 novels and numerous articles. Notable works include The Woman Who Did (1895), a controversial novel advocating for women's rights, and The British Barbarians (1895), a satirical critique of Victorian society. He also made significant contributions to early science fiction and detective genres.
Allen's personal life saw him married twice: first to Caroline Ann Bootheway in 1868, who passed away in 1872, and then to Ellen Jerrard in 1873, with whom he had a son, Jerrard Grant Allen. He spent his later years in Hindhead, Haslemere, England, where he continued to write until his death from liver disease on October 25, 1899.
Trivia About Grant Allen
- Allen wrote under several pseudonyms, including Cecil Power and Olive Pratt Rayner.
- He was a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who completed Allen's unfinished novel Hilda Wade after his death.
- Allen's novel The Woman Who Did was considered scandalous at the time for its portrayal of a woman choosing to have a child out of wedlock.
- He is credited with creating one of the earliest female detectives in his character Lois Cayley.
Famous Quotes by Grant Allen
- "What a misfortune it is that we should thus be compelled to let our boys' schooling interfere with their education!"
- "The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who was Grant Allen?
Grant Allen was a Canadian-born writer and scientist known for his works on evolutionary theory, as well as his novels and essays that often challenged Victorian societal norms.
What is 'The Woman Who Did' about?
The Woman Who Did is a novel by Grant Allen that tells the story of a woman who defies societal conventions by choosing to become a mother without marrying, advocating for women's independence and rights.
What were Grant Allen's contributions to science fiction?
Allen's works, such as The British Barbarians, are considered early examples of science fiction, incorporating speculative ideas and social commentary that prefigured later developments in the genre.
Related Literary Movements
Grant Allen was associated with the late Victorian New Woman movement, which advocated for women's independence and challenged traditional gender roles. His works also align with early science fiction and detective fiction genres, contributing to their development in English literature.
Grant Allen books
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