John Davys Beresford - Signs & Wonders

John Davys Beresford was born on the 17th March 1873.

His early life was blighted by infantile paralysis which left him with lasting physical challenges.

After being educated at Oundle School he trained to become an architect. This gave way to his literary ambitions, first as a dramatist and then into journalism.

His father, a clergyman, was disappointed that his son moved to become, as he put it; 'a determined but defensive' agnostic, though in later years his views would change again and he would declare himself a Theosophist and a pacifist.

Beresford contributed book reviews to The Manchester Guardian, as well as writing for the New Statesman, The Spectator, Westminster Gazette, and The Aryan Path, the Theosophist magazine.

Although offered the editorship of the latter he declined thinking he did not have the necessary qualifications.

Beresford wrote a large body of work across many genres and is now noted for his early science fiction work as well as his horror and ghost short stories.

John Davys Beresford died on 2nd February 1947 at the age of 73.