The Forgotten Literary Celebrity

Everyone knew who Hall Caine was when he was alive. No one does now

If you walked down the street today you would be more likely to find someone who knows a talking dog than the name Hall Caine. But one hundred years ago, Hall Caine was the world’s best-known living writer.

He met with leaders of nations, journeyed across the globe, was acquainted with leading writers and creatives, had his works translated into multiple languages, and converted into successful plays and movies, changed aspects of the publishing industry, sold millions of copies of his novels during his lifetime, was knighted, had a foot in politics, helped draft the first Covenant of the League of Nations, produced controversial art, lived in a castle, wrote on socially poignant issues and effectively became the greatest literary celebrity of his time. This is the story of Hall Caine and his buried legacy.

A humble background

Hall Caine was born in Cheshire England in 1853 to a working-class family. His father was a blacksmith and his mother a seamstress.

Descending from Manx lineage, Caine grew up in Liverpool but spent significant time visiting his grandmother and uncle on the Isle of Man. A setting that would inspire many of Caine’s works. The Manx are the Isle of Man’s native people.

After completing his schooling Caine was briefly apprenticed as a surveyor and managed to meet then Prime Minister…