Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-08-31
MILLIONS OF WORDS.
AUTHORS WHOSE PENS HAVE TRAv-
ELLED HUNDREDS OF MILES.
The Colossal Record Made ny an English
Writer-Jules Verne Who Has Written
More Books Than the Years He Has Lived
Some Other Instances Of Prolific Writing.


More Books Than the Years He Has Lived
Some other Instances Of Prolific Writing.
Among the hundreds of busy writer's
whose pens minister to our delight, IL
is difficult to say who is the most pro-
life, and still more difficult to give an
accurate estimate of the quantity OF
work he has produced.
Among English writers of today the
palm of fecundity would probably go
to Mr.. G.. A. Henty, the veteran jour
nalist and novelist. Mr.. Henty has
been an Industrious writer since the
early fifties, when he acted as special
correspondent to the Standard. Apart
from his press work, which must be n
mountain in itself. he has produced
dozen novels and books of travel, and
more than half hundred delightful
books for boys
A careful estimate of his output of
books alone places his record at about
12,OO0,000 words, and his total pen
work probably exceeds 20,000,0O0
words. 1t helps us to form an esti-
mate of this colossal record when we
consider that to read all that Mr.. Hen
ty has published, reading diligently
for six hours day and for six days a
week, 1t would take forty weeks to
exhaust his last column or page.
If we We're to undertake the task Of
simply copying this mountain of mat
ter, we would have to devote six years
to our task-working, as before, thirty
six hours week, and allowing our
selves no time for holidays. And yet,
StupendouS as the task may seem, the
total area of the sheets of paper which
Mr.. Henty has covered in nearly fifty
years of hard writing would be only
five siXths of an acre, or less than the
area of thousands of suburban gar
dens.
If written In single line-linked
fiction long drawn out-and beginning
at Charing Cross, the last word of the
line would be found in Middlesbor-
ough, nearly 240 miles from the first
At an average of payment of one
guinea a thousand words, which Is, Of
course, very much under the rate re-
ceived, Mr.. Henty must have made
100000 with his pen. Probably $780,
600 is an underestimate of his actual
receipts.
The modern writer who most nearly
approaches Mr.. Henty's record Is NJ.
Jules Verne, another name as dear to
boys as well as adults. Jules Verne
claims to have written more books
than the years he has lived, which are
seventy, and II will be safe 70 place his
literary output at quite 1200O,000
words, making due allowance for the
fact that his books are shorter than
Mr.. Henty's. His journalistic work Is
an unknown quantity; but, no doubt,
it would add materially to his record.
Still, in spite of such lifelong and long
life industry, a line of less than two
hundred miles seems to be a disap-
pointing result. The financial return
is doubtless more satisfactory, for M.
Verne is credited with having made
100000 with his pen.
Miss Braddon probably ranks third
among long distance writers" of our
day. Since she made her first timid
venture in 1860 with the Trail of the
Serpent" she has produced novels at
the rate of one in every nine months
approximately; and her output in fic-
ton alone may be placed at 10500.O00
words, or nearly half an acre of man.
uscript.
Marion Crawford, among our young
er writer's, has been markedly prolific.
Since "Mr. Isaacs" captured the read
ing world, some years ago, he has
written on an average two long novels
every year, with a total of about g.
100000 words, or quarter Of an acre
of manuscript
Sir Walter Besant's record is diff
cult to estimate, besides, In addition to
his many novels, he has done large
and unascertainable amount of work
in journalism. 1t will be well within
the mark, however, to estimate his out
put ut from ten to twelve millions of
words, n record which was probably
exceeded by the late James Payn, one
of the most industrious Of all our
scribes.
In books alone Mr.. George Meredith
has written about 100000 words, a
record which Mr.. Black has probably
exceeded.
Mr.. Rider Haggards output may be
placed at about 4,500,000; Nj. Grant
Aliens at tritle more. taking into ac-
count his large contributions TO jour
nails; while Mr.. Anthony Hope has
probably not exceeded two and half
million words, or line thirty miles
long.
Mr.. Barring Gould, who, although
placed last, is In the very first rank of
prolific writers, has written with his
busy pen qulte12, 900, 900 words, and is
entitled to be classed with Mr.. Henty
and NJ. Jules Verne.