Henry Frith facts for kids

Henry Frith (born May 2, 1840 – died October 12, 1917) was an amazing Irish engineer and writer. He translated many books by famous authors like Jules Verne. He also wrote nearly 200 of his own books! These included exciting novels and helpful guides.

Early Life and Career

Henry Frith was born in Dublin, Ireland, on May 2, 1840. His father worked for the government in Dublin. Henry went to Cheltenham College and then Trinity College Dublin. He studied to become a Civil Engineer.

After his studies, Henry got a job at the War Office in London. He worked there until 1875. Then, he retired with a pension. This allowed him to start his career as a writer.

Family Life

Henry Frith married Mary Lowndes on May 25, 1869. They got married in Hove, England. Mary came from a wealthy family. Her family owned a lot of land in London.

Henry and Mary had six children:

• Ida Mary Frith (1870–1963)
• William Frederick Lowndes Frith (1871–1956)
• Ernest Henry Frith (1874–1926)
• Lilian Adela Frith (1880–1962)
• Roland Girdlestone Frith (1884–1947)
• Percival Lowndes Frith (1886–1954)

Henry Frith's Many Works

Henry Frith was a very busy writer! He wrote almost 200 books. His books included translations, novels, and helpful guides. He often wrote for young readers.

He described his job in different ways over the years. He started as an engineer and civil servant. Later, he called himself an author, editor, and even a "retired author."

Translations of Famous Books

Henry Frith was well-known for translating books from French into English. His first translated book was The Adventures of Johnny Ironsides in 1875.

He translated several books by the famous French author Jules Verne. These included:

• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1876)
• Adventures of Three Englishmen and Three Russians in Southern Africa (1877)
• Round the World in Eighty Days (1878)
• The Fur Country (1879)
• Kéraban the Inflexible (1884)

Experts say Frith's translation of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea was very good. He understood the science in Verne's stories. This made his translations some of the best at the time.

He also translated works by other French authors like Alphonse Daudet and Alexandre Dumas.

Exciting Novels for Young Readers

Most of Henry Frith's own novels were adventure stories for boys. Here are a few examples:

• Aboard the Atlanta: The Story of a Truant
• The Captain of Cadets
• In the Yellow Sea: a tale of the Japanese war
• The Lost Trader

Fun Non-Fiction Books

Frith also wrote many non-fiction books. These were often for younger readers and were very entertaining. Some titles include:

• The Romance of Engineering
• The Romance of Navigation
• Ascents and Adventures (about mountaineering)
• Haunted Ancestral Homes: True Ghost Stories

Helpful Guides

Henry Frith wrote practical guides too. Some of these books were still used long after he passed away. They taught people useful skills. Examples include:

• Speeches and Toasts: how to make and propose them
• The Chairman's Guide and Secretary's Companion
• The Complete Letter-Writer for Ladies and Gentlemen
• Chiromancy: or the science of palmistry (about palm reading)

Later Life and Death

Henry Frith passed away on October 12, 1917, at the age of 78. He was living in Amersham, England. His wife, Mary, survived him. She passed away 11 years later, in 1928.