British Mystery Classics - Arthur Morrison Edition (Illustrated) (ePub)

Arthur Morrison (1863-1945) was an English writer and journalist known for his realistic stories and novels about London's East End, as well as his detective fiction featuring the character Martin Hewitt. Born in Poplar, London, Morrison started as a clerk, but his interest in writing led him to journalism and ultimately to authorship. His work is characterized by its meticulous depiction of the lives of the working-class denizens of London's slums, leading him to be considered one of the pioneers of the English naturalist movement. His vivid portrayal of the poverty-stricken East End is best exemplified in his novel 'A Child of the Jago' (1896), which brought to light the harsh conditions in which the urban poor lived. Apart from his social novels, Morrison is acclaimed for his contributions to the detective genre. His collection 'British Mystery Classics - Arthur Morrison Edition (Illustrated)' showcases the significant impact he had on mystery fiction, particularly through his creation of Martin Hewitt, investigator, who became one of the classic detectives of the period. Unlike the more famous Sherlock Holmes, Hewitt is characterized as an affable and less flamboyant detective, which appealed to a readership longing for more conceivable and down-to-earth characters. Morrison's literary style is marked by a sharp sense of detail and a relentless focus on the grim realities of life, reflecting the social concerns of his era and securing his place in the annals of British literature.