In his heyday he was one of the bestselling novelists in the world, his swashbuckling romances devoured by millions of readers. Today his name has faded — but Jeffery Farnol made his home in Eastbourne for much of his hugely successful career, and it was in the town that he died in 1952.
A publishing phenomenon
John Jeffery Farnol was born in Birmingham in 1878 and trained as an artist before turning to fiction. After a spell in America working as a theatre scene painter, he wrote the book that would make his name: The Broad Highway, a romantic tale of adventure on the open road. Published in 1910, it became a runaway success — reportedly the best-selling novel of 1911 — and turned Farnol into a literary star almost overnight.
He followed it with The Amateur Gentleman (1913) and a torrent of further titles, producing more than forty novels over his career, most of them dashing romances and swashbucklers set in the Georgian and Regency periods. He even created a Georgian detective, the Bow Street Runner Jasper Shrig. Farnol is now credited, alongside Georgette Heyer, with helping to found the whole genre of Regency romance — and several of his books were adapted for the cinema.
An Eastbourne life
Farnol returned from America to England around 1910 and, in time, made his home in Eastbourne. In his later years he lived at a fine Victorian house called “Littledene”, at 14 Denton Road in Meads, with his second wife Phyllis. From this comfortable seaside base he continued to write prolifically, turning out close to a book a year for decades — a familiar and successful literary figure in the town.
A Sussex farewell
Farnol died at his Eastbourne home on 9 August 1952, aged 74, after a long struggle with illness. He left a touching final wish that speaks to his deep love of the Sussex landscape: that his ashes be scattered over the Long Man of Wilmington, the great ancient hill figure carved into the Downs not far from Eastbourne. His last novel, left unfinished, was completed by Phyllis and published a few years after his death.
Did you know? Farnol was a trained artist as well as a writer, and illustrated some of his own books — a reminder of the years he spent as a scene painter before fiction made his fortune.
A faded fame
It’s easy to forget just how popular Farnol once was. In the first half of the 20th century his rollicking, escapist adventures were read by millions and treasured in countless homes — one reader recalled his grandparents feeling that Farnol’s books captured their world exactly. As tastes changed and two world wars made his sunny romances feel old-fashioned, his star gradually dimmed. Yet his novels still have devoted admirers, and a Jeffery Farnol Appreciation Society has kept his memory alive — a nice reminder that Eastbourne was home to a genuine bestselling author.
Remembered in Eastbourne
Farnol’s long association with the town is marked by a blue plaque at 14 Denton Road, Meads, honouring him as an “Eminent Author”. Like the town’s other literary plaques, it’s on a private home, so it’s one to view respectfully from the street as you explore this leafy corner of Eastbourne beneath the Downs.
Jeffery Farnol: FAQs
Who was Jeffery Farnol?
A British novelist (1878–1952) hugely popular in the early 20th century for his historical romances and swashbucklers. His breakthrough, The Broad Highway, was reportedly the best-selling novel of 1911, and he is credited with helping to found the Regency romance genre.
What was Jeffery Farnol’s connection to Eastbourne?
He made his home in Eastbourne, living for years at 14 Denton Road in Meads, where he wrote many of his novels. He died in the town in 1952, and asked for his ashes to be scattered over the nearby Long Man of Wilmington.
Where is the Jeffery Farnol blue plaque?
At 14 Denton Road in the Meads area of Eastbourne, marking his former home. It’s a private house, so please view the plaque respectfully from the street.
Read more: explore leafy Meads, discover all the famous people of Eastbourne, or follow the town’s blue plaque trail.