Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Walker, George (1772-1847)

by James Ramsay MacDonald

WALKER, GEORGE (1772–1847), novelist, was born in Falcon Square, Cripplegate, London, 24 Dec. 1772. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a bookseller named Cuthell in Middle Row, Holborn, and two years afterwards started in the same business for himself with a capital of a few shillings. He remained in this business the whole of his life, and became prosperous. He first transferred his shop to Portland Street, where he added a musical publishing department, and finally, as a music publisher solely, he removed to Golden Square, and took his son George Walker (1803–1879) [q. v.] into partnership with him. He died on 8 Feb. 1847.

He wrote numerous novels after the then popular style of Mrs. Radcliffe:

1. ‘Romance of the Cavern,’ London, 1792, 2 vols.
2. ‘Haunted Castle,’ London, 1794, 2 vols.
3. ‘House of Tynian,’ London, 1795, 4 vols.
4. ‘Theodore Cyphon,’ London, 1796, 3 vols.
5. ‘Cinthelia,’ London, 1797, 4 vols.; French translation, Paris, 1798–9.
6. ‘The Vagabond,’ London, 1799, 2 vols.; French translation, Paris, 1807.
7. ‘The Three Spaniards,’ London, 1800, 3 vols.; French translation, Paris, 1805.
8. ‘Don Raphael,’ London, 1803, 3 vols.
9. ‘Two Girls of Eighteen,’ London, 1806, 2 vols.
10. ‘Adventures of Timothy Thoughtless,’ London, 1813.
11. ‘Travels of Sylvester Tramper,’ London, 1813.
12. ‘The Midnight Bell,’ London, 1824, 3 vols.

He also published a volume of poems, London, 1801, and ‘The Battle of Waterloo: a poem,’ London, 1815.

[London Directory; Biogr. Universelle; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

J. R. M.