The Hampdenshire Wonder

John Davys Beresford (1873-1947) was an English writer, now remembered for his early science fiction and some short stories in the horror story and ghost story genres. His Hampdenshire Wonder (1911) was a major influence on Olaf Stapledon. He was educated at Oundle. After training to become an architect, he became a professional writer, first as a dramatist, and journalist. He combined a prominent place in Edwardian literary London with time spent in the provinces, in particular Cornwall where D. H. Lawrence had an extended stay in his Porthcothan cottage. Among Beresford's famous works are: The House in Demetrius Road (1914), The Invisible Event (1915), H. G. Wells (1915), These Lynnekers (1916), House Mates (1917), Nineteen Impressions (1918), God's Counterpoint (1918), The Jervaise Comedy (1919), An Imperfect Mother (1920), and Revolution (1921).