About the Author

Hugh Stowell Scott (1862 - 1903) was a prominent English novelist who used the pseudonym Henry Seton Merriman. His most successful novel was The Sowers (1896), which went through thirty UK editions. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he became an underwriter at Lloyd's of London, but then devoted himself to travel and to writing novels, many of which had great popularity. Scott visited India as a tourist in 1877-78 and set his novel Flotsam (1896) there. He was an enthusiastic traveler, many of his journeys being undertaken with his friend and fellow author Stanley J. Weyman. His first novel, Young Mistley was published anonymously in 1888. His other novels include The Phantom Future, The Slave of the Lamp, From One Generation to Another, The Sowers, In Kedar's Tents, Roden's Corner, Suspense, Dross, Slave of the Lamp, With Edged Tools, Grey Lady, Isle of Unrest, The Velvet Glove, The Vultures, Queen, Barlasch of the Guard and The Last Hope. He worked with great care and his best books held a high place in Victorian fiction.