Wednesday, April 8, 2015

A-Z: G is for Penny Bloods Author, George W. M. Reynolds

The A-Z Challenge is back with the letter G.  I had an incredibly difficult time searching for a penny dreadful title that had the letter G.  It took some time, but I decided to feature author, George W. M. Reynolds.  And what a treasure trove of information I found on our penny blood author.  I'm glad I decided to feature him because he was like an icon in his day.

"Penny Bloods Author, George W. M. Reynolds"


George W. M. Reynolds and his works were so popular during his time it's a wonder why we don't hear more about him today.  It's been said that more people read Reynolds than Dickens during his time.  Can you imagine that?  Yes, well that one is true.  Some of his best known penny dreadfuls were The Mysteries of London, which according to Wikipedia sold over 40,000 copies of penny reads weekly.  His other wildly popular novel Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf, was a gothic novel about a man who makes a deal with Satan in exchange for money and youth.  It sounds great but there's always a catch with Satan. He ends up turning him into a werewolf.  Now doesn't that sound like a great book?  Anyway, more to come on these penny dreadfuls and more throughout the A-Z challenge.




This list of George W. M. Reynolds complete penny dreadfuls was provided by Penny One Penny. A Database of Cheap Literature, 1837-1860.  


Tomorrow I'll feature the Calendar of Hours and Friday I'll be featuring Ned Kelly, the Ironclad Australian Bushranger and the Spring-Heeled Jack.

Have a great Wednesday!

Mina Burrows

4 comments:

S. L. Hennessy said...

I've read at least a few of these, and I think I studied The Mysteries of the Court of London in college. Awesome G choice!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Wow, that's a lot. And 40,000 a week? I'd be happy with that in a year.

Sharon Himsl said...

And so prolific too. Incredible. I read somewhere that some of Dickens work was published as Penny Dreadfuls too.
Hi, visiting from the A-Z and new follower here. I look forward to reading more.
Come check out Inventions by Women A-Z
http://shells-tales-sails.blogspot.com/

djinnia said...

holy penny dreadfuls, batman! he was a prolific writer. the wagneer the wehr-wolf made me grin a little.