DEATH OF A WELSH NOVELIST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 86

DEATH OF A WELSH NOVELIST.

BOOKS WITH 2,000,000 CIRCULATION.

The death" took place on Juno 21 a* Bronmor, Treathsaith, Cardigan, of Mrs Beynon Puddicombe, better known as " Allen Raine," the Welsh novelist. She had been an invalid for some time. < "Allen Raine" was the author of ninenovels, the last one bejng "Neither Storehouse nor Ba-rii," which was published! reently. Writing with a knowledge of . Wales and its people, its legends end! traditions, and telling her stories in el olear and simple manner, her works gained) a wide popularity, as will be seen from) the following figures of their circulation^ „ supplied by her publishers, Messrs Huichm r , son z — " * No. of Copie* ' Published. "A Welsh Singer" (1897) .., ... 316,000 "Torn Sails" (1898) .. :. ii 246,000, \ "By BerWen Banks" (1895) ft 221,500 " Garthoven " (1900) „'... .', ' 213,000 "A Welsh Witch" (190}) 241,000 "On the Wings of the 'Wind "■ (1903) 234,000 "Hearts of Wales" (1905) .. .. 202,000 " Queen of the Rushes " (1906) . . 164,000 Total 1,837,500 The circulation of "Neither Storehouse nor Barn" is not available, but the total issue of the nine novels cannot be fay, short of two millions. ! , 1 Mrs Puddicombe was born a-t Newcastle Emlyn, and was the daughter oi Mr, Benjamin Evans, solicitor. Her early days, were spent in Wales, and she married Mrs Beynon Pxid^icotabo, of Winohmore Hill', Middlesex, who died in WQq % ir^i-,, _'™\- Hef first liter arY effort ivas J*-£nysoer,Vr a etofy of fisher hie, vrbioh, froft *he prjze' at the National Eisteddfod pjf IBg4 tor the' " best tale of Wejsh jife aifa character:.:- ' Three years later he* first novel. 1111 11' 1 A WeW Singer,'-' was published, and g| >ill W seeS h &« 4 circulation; 7 of • upwards gf „