Black, William (1841-1898)

Scottish novelist. He achieved popularity with A Daughter of Heth (1871). He wrote vivid descriptions of Scottish scenery and outdoor life, but his work became repetitive.

Black was born in Glasgow. He became a journalist for the Morning Star, acting as war correspondent during the Austro-Prussian war of 1866; he then joined the staff of the Daily News.

His first novels made no mark, but In Silk Attire (1869) and Kilmeny (1870) were more successful. Others include The Strange Adventures of a Phaeton (1872), A Princess of Thule (1874), Macleod of Dare (1878), White Wings (1880), In Far Lochaber (1888), and Wild Eelin (1898).