Phillpotts, Eden (1862-1960)

English novelist and playwright. His numerous novels include Lying Prophets 1896, My Devon Year 1903, The American Prisoner 1904, The Secret Woman 1905, Portreeve 1906, Redcliff 1924, and From the Angle of 88 1954. His novels are mostly about Devonian life and characters, and their local atmosphere has been compared with Thomas Hardy's Wessex tales. His most successful play was The Farmer's Wife 1916, which ran for many years.

Phillpotts was born in Mount Abu, India, and educated in Plymouth, England. He became an insurance clerk 1880-90 and then, after studying for the stage in London, adopted writing as a profession.