Best novelist in PMG's 1885 '10 Greatest Living Englishmen' poll throws up more surprises, for a paper of the London clubland. Wilkie Collins on top (346), only just ahead of William Black, & Walter Besant. Hardy a distant 9th (a mere 20 votes), Meredith (9). 5 in desperation for the dead Trollope.
At least Trollope was recently deceased. You'd think that Thackeray voter would have wondered why no new WMT novels had come out since 1863.
Jan 31, 2026 14:54😊I guess we have to assume that not everyone read the rubric - I mean if we are thinking about oddball answers to the 'greatest living Englishman' novelist, how about Mark Twain or Victor Hugo?
