Mabel Knowles

Mabel Winifred Knowles who wrote as May Wynne and Lester Lurgan (1 January 1875 – 29 November 1949) was a British popular writer and church worker. She wrote 100s of historic romances and books for children. She wrote a few sci-fi books including the book of the first British Sci Fi film. She gave 25 years to leading a mission in London.

Mabel Knowles
Born1 January 1875 (1875-01)
Streatham, England
Died29 November 1949 (1949-11-30) (aged 74)
London, England
Occupationwriter and mission worker
Genreromance, children's and sci-fi

Life

Knowles was born in Streatham in 1875. Her parents were Emma Letitia (born Paxton) and William Knowles. Her father was a merchant banker and she was home educated.[1] Her first book was titles Life's Object and it gave advice to girl's including that they should not give their attention to athletics or, ironically, "foolish mawkish love stories".

A scene from the 1913 film A Message From Mars

Knowles adopted the nom de plume of Lester Lurgan and under that name she created detective and science fiction stories including "A Message from Mars" in 1912.[1] This book was also creditted to Richard Ganthony[2] as it was based on his successful play of the same name that had been popular in 1899. "A Message from Mars" was made into a film in 1913.[3] The film was Britain's first Sci-Fi film, it starred Charles Hawtrey and its plot was very similar to Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.[4]

The choice of Lester Lurgan as a name gave way to May Wynne who is credited with writing hundreds of books.[4]

Knowles wrote stories for Cassell's Family Magazine, The Lady's Realm and The Pall Mall Magazine while writing a large number of historical romances and books for children.[1]

From about 1924 she led the St Luke's Mission Church while still continuing to write.[1] The Church of the Ascension in London's Victoria Docks had opened a mission house for women workers in 1909. Knowles wrote more than 300 books during her life. She continued leading the mission for 25 years, dying while preparing a mission service for women on 29 November 1949.[1]

List of Works
  • The Great Adventure (Ward, Lock & Co., 1948)
  • Malys Rockell
  • Thirteen For Luck

References
  1. Mitchell, Sally (23 September 2004). "Knowles, Mabel Winifred [pseuds. May Wynne, Lester Lurgan] (1875–1949), popular writer and church worker". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/58982. ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. The Bookseller. Bookseller and Stationery Trades Journal. 1912. p. 812.
  3. "SFE: Lurgan, Lester". sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  4. "First ever British sci-fi feature film released". BFI. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
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