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.

Here are a list of George W. M. Reynolds' collective works

• A Legend of Grandier.
• Agnes; or, beauty and pleasure.
• Alfred; or the adventures of a French gentleman.
• The Baronet.
• The Bronze Statue, or, the virgin's kiss.
• Canonbury House; or, the queen's prophecy. A historical tale.
• The Coral Island; or, the hereditary curse.
• The Days of Hogarth; or, the mysteries of old London.
• The Drunkard's Progress. A tale in two periods.
• The Duchess of Cavalcanti.
• Ellen Percy; or, the memoirs of an actress.
• The Empress Eugenie's Boudoir.
• The Engraver.
• The Family Conspiracy.
• The Fatal Glove.
• Faust: a romance of the secret tribunals.
• Joseph Wilmot; or, the memoirs of a man-servant.
• Kenneth: a romance of the Highlands.
• Leila, or, the star of Mingrelia.
• The Loves of the Harem; a tale of Constantinople.
• The Man with the Iron Mask.
• Margaret; or, the discarded queen.
• Mary Price; or, the memoirs of a servant-maid.
• Mary Stuart, queen of Scots
• The Massacre of Glencoe.
• Master Timothy's book-case; or the magic lanthorn of the world
• Master Timothy.
• May Middleton; or, the history of a fortune.
• The Mysteries of London.
• The Mysteries of London. Second series.
• The Mysteries of the Court of London.
• The Mysteries of the Court of London. First series.
• The Mysteries of the Court of London. Second series.
• The Mysteries of the Court of London. Third series.
• The Mysteries of the Inquisition.
• The Necromancer.
• Omar: a tale of the war.
• The Parricide; or, the youth's career of crime.
• Pickwick Abroad; or, the tour in France.
• Pope Joan; or, the female pontiff.
• Rosa Lambert: or, the memoirs of an unfortunate woman.
• The Rye House Plot; or, Ruth, the conspirator's daughter.
• The Seamstress; or, the white slave of England.
• The Soldier's Wife.
• Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf. A romance.
• The Young Duchess; or, memoirs of a lady of quality. A sequel to "Ellen Percy."
• The Three Friends.
• The Two Sisters.

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