The New International Encyclopædia/Herman, Henry

HER'MAN, Henry (1832-94). An English dramatist and novelist, born in Alsace. He was educated at a military college, emigrated to America, and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, losing an eye as a result of a wound received in action. Afterwards he removed to London, and began to write for the stage. His first play, Jeanne Dubarry, was produced at the Charing Cross Theatre in May, 1875, and was followed the next year by Slight Mistakes, a farce. In November, 1882, was produced his first great success, The Silver King, written in collaboration with Henry Arthur Jones, with whom he also wrote Breaking a Butterfly (1884) (Ibsen's Doll's House) and Chatterton (1884). He then wrote Claudian with William Gorman Wills (1884), and The Golden Band (1887) with Freeman Wills. He also wrote: For Old Virginia (1891); Eagle Joe (1892); and Fay o' Fire (1885), a romantic opera, for which Edward Jones composed the music. Between 1887 and 1891 he wrote several novels in collaboration with David Christie Murray, such as: One Traveler Returns (1887); A Dangerous Catspaw (1889); The Bishop's Bible (1890); He Fell Among Thieves (1890); and Paul Jones's Alias (1891). He also wrote alone a large number of novels.