Hall Caine, a Manx Novelist Is Born.

  • January 1, 1

Sir Hall Caine (May 14, 1853 - August 31, 1931) was a British novelist and playwright born Thomas Henry Hall Caine at Runcorn, Cheshire, England and educated in Liverpool. He was trained as an architectural draughtsman but became a journalist instead as well as a writer of novels. He lived with Dante Gabriel Rossetti as secretary and companion for the last year of Rossettis life.

Following the publication of his Recollections of Rossetti in 1882, he began his career as a novelist. His novel The Christian sold over a million copies and was made into a stage play as well as a motion picture. After this success, many of his books were bestsellers in several languages and were also made into plays and films. Hall Caine was the highest paid novelist of his day. In addition to his books, he was the author of more than a dozen plays.

In 1895 he traveled to Canada for the Society of Authors to negotiate for the introduction of copyright protection. Upon his return, he took up permanent residence in the Isle of Man.

King George V made him a KBE in 1918 and a Companion of Honour in 1922. In 1917, he was created an Officer of the Order of Leopold by King Albert I of Belgium.

Caine died in his home at Greeba Castle on the Isle of Man, he is buried in Kirk Maughold churchyard.

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