James Harwood Panting Explained

James Harwood Panting (1854^[1] - 1924^[2]) was a British writer who specialised in school stories for boys. He was the editor of Young Folks^[3] and a member of the editorial staff of the South London Press.

Early life

Panting was born in Charlton,^[4] Kent, in 1854.^[1]

Family

Panting married Bertha Emily Alais in 1883^[5] and they had sons Ray and Arnold and daughters Ruth and Phyllis. A son Cyril is recorded in the 1891 census but not in 1911. At the time of the 1891 census the family were living at 67 Ballater Road, Brixton, London.^[6] George B. Hicklenton, a printer's reader, was lodging with them.

By the time of the 1911 census the family were at 47 Beechdale, Brixton Hill, London. All the children were born in Brixton.^[4] Both Arnold and Phyllis became journalists, Phyllis as the noted women's magazine editor Phyllis Digby Morton. The family employed one servant. In 1921, The Literary Year-Book gave an address for Panting of The Shack, Melrose Avenue, Norbury, London SW19.^[7]

Writing

After earlier literary works and two adult novels, Panting specialised in boys school stories. As Claud Heathcote^[8] he contributed stories to The Boys' Friend in 1895^[9] and The Union Jack in 1898.^[10]

Death

Panting died in the Croydon district of Surrey in 1924.^[2]

Selected publications

• The Poetical Works of Leigh Hunt and Thomas Hood. Scott, 1889. (Editor)
• Through the Crucible (a novel). S.W. Partridge, London, 1898.
• The Vicar's Atonement. Horace Marshall, London, 1900.
• The Boys of Blair House. Amalgamated Press, 1904.
• Clive of Clair College. Warne, London, 1905.
• The Hero of Garside School. Warne, London, 1906.
• The Two Runaways. Warne, London, 1907.
• True All Through. Chambers, London & Edinburgh, 1909.

Notes and References

1. England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription. findmypast.co.uk Retrieved 19 November 2014.
2. England & Wales deaths 1837-2007 Transcription. findmypast.co.uk Retrieved 19 November 2014.
3. Kirkpatrick, Robert J. (2000) The Encyclopaedia of Boy's School Stories, Volume 2. Ashgate, p. 249.
4. 1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription. findmypast.co.uk Retrieved 19 November 2014.
5. England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription. findmypast.co.uk Retrieved 19 November 2014.
6. 1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription. findmypast.co.uk Retrieved 19 November 2014.
7. Meredith, Mark. (Ed.) (1921) The Literary Year-Book For The Year 1921. London: George Routledge, p. 265.
8. Book: Room, Adrian.. Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins.. 2010. McFarland. Fifth edition. Jefferson. 978-0-7864-5763-2. 224.
9. http://www.philsp.com/homeville/fmi/t709.htm The FictionMags Index.
10. http://www.mark-hodder.com/Blakiana/year-1898/ BIBLIOGRAPHY 1898.