Frank Howel Evans

"Howel Evans" redirects here. For the disease, see Howel–Evans syndrome.

Francis (Frank) Howel Evans (1867–1931) was a Welsh^[1] author who wrote for many British story papers such as Chums, The Boy's Own Paper, and The Boys' Friend during the first few decades of the 20th century.^[2] He also wrote under the pen names Atherley Daunt and Crutchley Payne. Many of his stories take place in the theatre.^[3]

Evans is probably best remembered for his "Old Pawray" stories featuring the retired French detective Monsieur Jules Poiret, likely an inspiration for Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot.^[4] He also wrote six Sexton Blake stories for The Union Jack^[5] and The Penny Popular.^[6] One of his stories was filmed as In the Shadow of Big Ben (1914), directed by Frank Wilson and starring Tom Powers, Alma Taylor, and Jack Raymond.^[7]

References

1. "Penralley Papers" (PDF). The National Library of Wales. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
2. "Evans, Frank Howel". British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
3. Lofts, W. O. G.; Adley, D. J. (1970). The Men Behind Boys' Fiction. Howard Baker. p. 132. SBN 09-3047703.
4. Ashley, Mike (2006). The Age of the Storytellers: British Popular Fiction Magazines, 1880–1950. British Library. p. 138. ISBN 0-7123-0698-6.
5. Hodder, Mark. "Sexton Blake Bibliography: 1905". Blakiana. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
6. Hodder, Mark. "Sexton Blake Bibliography: 1913". Blakiana. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
7. "In the Shadow of Big Ben (1914)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2020.