Tom Taylor (7)
Author of Brock's Agent
For other authors named Tom Taylor, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Taylor, a prolific dramatist, was the editor of Punch from 1874 to 1880. He was educated at Glasgow University, where he distinguished himself as a student; later he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and served for two years as a professor of English at University College, London. When Taylor show more settled in London, he worked for both the Morning Chronicle and The Daily News. Despite his journalism, however, he is best remembered as the author of more than 100 plays over a 35-year span. While few survive as outstanding literary achievements, Taylor was immensely successful in his own day, and apparently only one of his plays was an outright failure. In 1871 the playwright was accused by the Atheneum of plagiarizing most of his works---a common practice in the early-nineteenth-century theater but less savory during the later Victorian years. Only one-tenth of his plays were adaptations, he replied; the rest were original. Indeed, some of the most popular plays were adaptations of works by Victor Hugo and Charles Dickens. The most successful plays were the domestic comedies Our American Cousin (1858) and The Ticket-of-Leave Man (1863). Our American Cousin is memorable as the play that was being performed at Ford's Theater in Washington the night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Taylor is also notable for his collaboration with the novelist Charles Reade on a number of historical dramas, the most famous of which is Two Loves and a Life. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Works by Tom Taylor
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Gender
- male
- Education
- York University (BA, History)
- Organizations
- Toronto 7th Artillery
- Places of residence
- Ontario, Canada
- Associated Place (for map)
- Ontario, Canada
Members
Reviews
I don't usually read historical fiction, but after meeting the author at a local event I decided to buy it and give it a try. To my delight, I found it to be a very enjoyable read. So much so that I bought the others in the series and quickly read them all.
The author excels at creating a sense of place and time, and bringing a long-past event to life. Lots of interesting bits and pieces that get glossed over in school lessons and sound-bite popularizations. I particularly enjoyed how Mr. show more Taylor sketched out the social and political background of events, without getting bogged in the minutia and trivia that seems to bedevil most historical fiction.
The characters are decently fleshed out, but tend to be a bit sketchy for my taste (hence the 4 star rating).
All in all, a rousing adventure that is a lot of fun to read. show less
The author excels at creating a sense of place and time, and bringing a long-past event to life. Lots of interesting bits and pieces that get glossed over in school lessons and sound-bite popularizations. I particularly enjoyed how Mr. show more Taylor sketched out the social and political background of events, without getting bogged in the minutia and trivia that seems to bedevil most historical fiction.
The characters are decently fleshed out, but tend to be a bit sketchy for my taste (hence the 4 star rating).
All in all, a rousing adventure that is a lot of fun to read. show less
I just put it down, completed. This is one of my favorite books - in fact, I think that Anne of Green Gables is the only book I have enjoyed more than this one. (I think that The Sound and the Fury would round out my top 3, actually).
It is action-packed from beginning to end. The characters are interesting and likable. I can't wait to buy Brock's Railroad, the sequel which is already out, and Brock's Traitor, to be released in the first half of next year. I was happily surprised to see in show more the historical notes following the book that many memorable parts were actually true stories. The book itself did a great job of adding an exciting fictional layer to this era in North American history.
I would now like to read some Sharpe books, which were inspirational to the author.
Great job, Taylor! show less
It is action-packed from beginning to end. The characters are interesting and likable. I can't wait to buy Brock's Railroad, the sequel which is already out, and Brock's Traitor, to be released in the first half of next year. I was happily surprised to see in show more the historical notes following the book that many memorable parts were actually true stories. The book itself did a great job of adding an exciting fictional layer to this era in North American history.
I would now like to read some Sharpe books, which were inspirational to the author.
Great job, Taylor! show less
Awards
Statistics
- Works
- 4
- Members
- 34
- Popularity
- #413,652
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 2
- ISBNs
- 462
- Languages
- 9