Leonard Merrick: A Forgotten Novelist's Novelist

This study is the first comprehensive, full-length account of the works of the Anglo-Jewish author Leonard William Merrick [formerly Miller], (1864-1939). Drawing on unpublished materials, it covers Merrick's twelve novels, his several volumes of short stories, eight plays, and contributions to motion pictures. A former actor, Merrick often wrote about actors; George Orwell regards Merrick's fiction about the theater as the best of its time, especially ""The Passion of Peggy Harper"" (1911). H. G. Wells applauded Merrick's depiction of racism in ""The Quaint Companions"" (1903). Anti-Semitism is shown in ""Violet Moses"" (1891). ""Mr. Bazalgette's Agent"" (1888) is the first novel in English to star a lady detective whose story is told through her diary. Many of Merrick's works also focus upon a 'New Woman' The pioneering meta-fictional aspects of Merrick's works deserve attention. William Baker is Distinguished Research Professor, Professor of English and Professor, University Libraries at Northern Illinois University. Jeanette Roberts Shumaker is a professor of English at San Diego State University.