NOVELIST'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 16

NOVELIST'S DEATH

MR. W, B. MAXWELL AN INHERITED TALENT (Received August 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 4 The death is announced of Mr. W. B. [Maxwell, novelist?, who was formerly .chairman of the.Society of Authors and ,of the National Book Council. William Babington Maxwell inherited his literary gift from his mother who, born in 1837, became one of the moat popular novelists of the 19th century under her maiden name of Miss M. L. Braddon. His father was Mr. John .Maxwell, publisher. Brought up in a ciido or people famous in tho arts, politics dnu society, Mr. W. B. Maxwell knew early in life most of the celebrities of the day. Ample money being at his disposal, he had no need to think of a career for his livelihood. For a while he - showed some inclination to become an artist, but' devoted much less time to art. studies than to hunting and leading the life of a young inan-aTiouf-Jtown. Wearying-eventually of the social round, Air. .Maxwell began to write articles and short stories. Some of these attracted the attention of Mr. Grant Richards, publisher. Inviting Mr. Maxwell to. lunch, Mr. Richards urged him to try lnore important work, declaring thaf ne had all tho makings of a novelist. Mr. Maxwell protested' that tho Tvriting of a story to lill a volume was beyond his capacity, but Mr. Richards persisted a:nd before the talk ended Mr. Maxwell had signed a contract to supply a novel. Setting to work at once, ho wrote "Tho Countess of Maybury," which had such an excellent reception when published- in 1901, that Mr. Maxwell was convinced that Mr. Richards' judgment was sound. In the next 12 years he wrote 12 more novels. Then came the Great War, in which he served as a captain of the Royal Fusiliers and gained mention in despatches. Resuming author,ship in 1918, Mr. Maxwell published novels annually for many years. Among his works aro "The Ragged Messenger," "Tho Guarded Flame," "The Rest Cure," "General Mallock's Shadow," "Spinster of the Parish," "Children of the Night," "Tho Emotional Journey" and "Jacob's Ladder." In January, 1938, he published a very interesting volume of rominscences entitled "Time Gathered."