Here's what I can tell you about George Manville Fenn:
Prolific Writer: Fenn was a highly productive author, churning out a massive number of works. Estimates suggest he wrote over 763 books [Goodreads].
Focus on Young Adults: Many of his novels were geared towards young adults, filled with adventure and excitement. This made him a popular choice for readers in his time [Wikipedia].
Early Life and Education: Born in 1831, Fenn's background was humble. Despite being the son of a butler, he displayed a thirst for knowledge and became largely self-educated, even mastering multiple languages [Wikipedia].
From Teacher to Writer: Fenn initially embarked on a career in education, serving as a schoolmaster. However, his writing talent eventually led him down a different path [Wikipedia].
Early Success: He gained recognition in the literary world in the 1860s, catching the eye of Charles Dickens with a piece for "All the Year Round" magazine [Wikipedia].
Broadened Horizons: Fenn wasn't limited to just novels. He also dabbled in journalism, editing, and even educational works [Wikipedia].
Lasting Legacy: Even after his death in 1909, Fenn's impact continued. His final book was a biography of another prominent writer for young people, George Alfred Henty [Wikipedia].
Finding His Works: If you're curious to delve into Fenn's work, some of his books are available online through Project Gutenberg, allowing you to enjoy them for free [Project Gutenberg].