Walter Besant began to publish novels in the early 1870s and by the 1880s had established himself as one of the most popular and prolific novelists in England. He was also known for the short fiction he published in literary journals and collected in several widely read books. By the time of World War I, however, his fiction was nearly forgotten: this decline in reputation is one of the most precipitous in the history of British fiction. During his lifetime Besant was also celebrated for his involvement in various social issues, including the legal rights of authors, and for his ambitious survey of London, which remained unfinished at his death. Today he is remembered chiefly for his efforts in social reform rather than for his fiction; however, his novels and short stories remain of considerable interest as "popular" if not "serious" literature of their time and deserve more...