Welcome to the official HarGen Publications page. To buy a book, please either click 'shop now' or visit our website www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
HarGen was established in the UK in 2012 to print and publish family histories and biographies of individuals whose lives are of particular interest. All the following books are available from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
In 2013 a biography of Leonard Bernard Harrop entitled 'Reluctant Romance' was printed and published and is now available for purchase at £9.99 + p.& p. Our second book, '
Enigmatic Émigré', a biography of Elsie Susanna Preston was published in early 2014 and is available for purchase at £10.99 + p. & p. Next came 'Lancashire Lass', a biography/glimpse into the life, work and journey of Sarah Ann Broadbent, published in October 2014 and available for purchase at £8.99 + p. & p. Then there was 'Leading Lady', a biography of Mabel Frances Barlow published in early June 2015 and available for purchase at £9.99 + p. & p. Next came 'Ardent Actor', a biography of John F Preston, actor, manager and ladies man, published in June 2016. It is available for purchase at £12.99 + p. & p.
2017 brought 'Intriguing Ingénue', a biography of the actress Grace Susanna Brown published in June 2017. It is available for purchase at £9.99 + p. & p.
2018, saw a biography of the Victorian/Edwardian actress Georgina Fleming aka Georgie Walton entitled 'Abandoned Artiste'. A contemporary of both Mabel Barlow and Grace Brown, she was another actress who became involved with the notorious womaniser, John F Preston, the well known actor-manager and playwright.
2018, also saw a biography of the Edwardian actor Sidney George Goodchild entitled 'Transgressing Thespian'. He was married to the actress Mabel Barlow, the subject of our book 'Leading Lady'.
2018, also saw the publication of our first family history book, 'Their Song Not Forgotten', about M**h Morgan Jones : his UK life and ancestry by Kerris Harrop. Published in 2019, 'Mysterious Murder', is a biography of the actor Thomas Weldon Anderson, stage name Weldon Atherstone. He was brutally murdered in 1910, a murder which remains unsolved to this day. As well as full details of his life, the book includes previously unpublished information about his four children, three of whom who spent the majority of their lives overseas and his six siblings. Published in 2020, 'Dublin Darling', is a biography of Monica Kelly, an Irish actress who became a favourite at the Queen's Royal Theatre, Dublin. She was married to Thomas Weldon Anderson, the subject of our 2019 book, 'Mysterious Murder'. Also published in 2020 is 'Melodrama Master', a biography of James William Whitbread, actor, playwright, theatre manager and lessee who transformed the fortunes of the Queen's Royal Theatre, Dublin between 1884 and 1906, making it the 'Home of Irish Drama'. He also wrote more than 20 plays.
2021 saw 'Stage Struck' published, a biography of Annie Maria Hylton. She was an actress who became a favourite at the Queen's Royal Theatre, Dublin and elsewhere playing for the Kennedy Miller company.
17/11/2023
Out now, our latest book 'Dancing Duo' about the lives of two sisters dancing in the early 1900s. Both became very well known on the West End stage, being featured regularly in the newspapers.
Sadly one died at the age of eighteen after a disastrous marriage bringing what could have been an even more glittering career to a sad early end.
The other sister later moved into variety and cabaret shows before retiring after WW2.
Copies of the book can be ordered from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
20/05/2023
Our latest book has been published today entitled ‘Melodrama Manager’. A biography of Ellen Silver, stage name Marie Dagmar, she was one of the UK’s leading actress/managers in the late 1800s/early 1900s on the provincial touring circuits. She was incredibly popular and also one of the first women in the UK to own and drive a car. She toured the USA at the age of twenty, where her first husband would later find fame and fortune. Her career, spanning more than thirty years, was sadly cut short following the death of her second husband.
Copies of the book can be ordered from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
17/06/2022
Published today is 'Playhouse Performer' about the life of the actress Minnie Ethel Davis, aka Ethel Vinroy. Available to buy from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
Born into a family of thirteen siblings and half siblings, life was never going to be easy for Minnie. Opportunities were limited for her in her home town of Cleethorpes and she wanted more than it could offer.
The stage was the draw for her and, in 1894, she embarked on her career as an actress on the provincial touring circuit. Never a big star she could, however, sing and dance, had good comedic skills and encompassed a variety of roles performing in tented seaside shows to major theatres.
Despite being dogged by ill-health, she managed to have a career lasting some twenty-six years. That was quite an achievement for her, particularly as the theatre was in decline towards the end of her time on the stage.
Her private life had its share of troubles with a failed marriage and the death of a son at the age of eight months. Whilst she did find a partner thereafter, the relationship foundered after some twenty years.
The theatre was in Minnie’s blood and was her one great love. In Ventnor, after she had retired professionally, she directed the local Musical Society for a number of years. It gave her great pleasure and she loved working with her ‘boys and girls’ in producing the twice yearly shows.
21/01/2022
Just released our latest book 'Touring Trooper', about the actress Maria Amy Elizabeth Dempster, stage name Amy Ellam. Copies can be obtained from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
15/01/2022
Touring Trouper, our latest book will be available soon. A biography of Maria Dempster, stage name Amy Ellam, she was a touring actress in the late 1800s/early 1900s. From a respectable middle class family, four of her siblings and her husband also worked in the theatre, which was most unusual.
13/08/2021
Published today, our latest book 'Provincial Player' is available to buy from our website www.hargenpublications.weebly.com . It's a biography of Rachel Mussett aka Rubie Maude a provincial touring actress for some 26 years.
06/08/2021
06/08/2021
Our next book, 'Provincial Player' will be ready shortly. It's a biography of Rachel Mussett, stage name Rubie Maude who enjoyed a twenty six year career in the late 1890s/early 1900s. She was not a big star, but typical of the many actresses of the day who toured the country week after week for the love of performing.
A biography of Annie Hylton, a Victorian/Edwardian actress who became a star of Kennedy Miller's company and a huge favourite with audiences, particularly in Dublin, Belfast and Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK.
Married twice to fellow thespians, her long career faded with the advent of the cinema and melodrama's decline.
13/02/2021
Coming soon, our next book about Annie Hylton. Star of Kennedy Miller's company at the Queen's Theatre, Dublin and riotous Irish nights at the Grand Opera House Belfast.
12/01/2021
19/12/2020
Wishing all our customers a very happy and safe Christmas
20/10/2020
Out now fresh from the printers is our latest book, Melodrama Master, the story of James Whitbread. He was manager of the Queen's Theatre Dublin and responsible for its most prestigious period at the end of the 19th century. He was also Ireland's greatest living playwright at the time when he wrote more than 20 plays, many of them with Irish themes.
Our next book will be out soon, entitled Melodrama Master, a biography of James William Whitbread. Known as JW, he was a theatre manager and playwright who transformed Dublin and Irish theatre in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In writing more than 20 plays he made the Queen’s Royal Theatre the home of ‘Irish’ drama.
10/06/2020
We hope all our customers are staying safe during lockdown. We're here as usual to meet your orders and for anybody wondering if there will be a new book this year then maybe! One is in the pipeline, but it's early days yet, so watch this space for more information. In the meantime, stay safe
09/05/2020
11/01/2020
It's here, hot off the press. 'Dublin Darling', our latest book about Monica Kelly available to order now from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com or via the shop now button.
09/01/2020
Coming soon! Our latest book about the Irish actress Monica Kelly who became a favourite of audiences at the Queen's Royal Theatre in Dublin. Her husband was brutally murdered in 1910, an unsolved case known as the Battersea Flat Murder. More to follow when the book is available to order.
18/12/2019
A very Happy Christmas to all our customers. A new book will be published in 2020 about Monica Kelly, a darling of the Dublin stage in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
28/07/2019
22/06/2019
If you're interested in the infamous 'Battersea Flat Murder' of 1910, then our latest book, 'Mysterious Murder', is for you. The subject, actor Thomas Weldon Anderson, stage name Weldon Atherstone, was the unlucky murdered man! The case remains unsolved to this day.
07/05/2019
Our latest book, Mysterious Murder, has been published today and copies can be ordered from the website at www.hargenpublications.weebly.com. It is a biography of the actor Thomas Weldon Anderson, stage name Weldon Atherstone, who was brutally murdered in 1910, a crime which remains unsolved to this day. The book also includes previously unpublished information about his four children, three of whom spent the majority of their lives overseas as well his six siblings.
23/04/2019
Our next book, a biography of Thomas Weldon Anderson, aka Weldon Atherstone, should be available in 3/4 weeks. Read about his career, marriage, children, lover, jealousy and his unsolved brutal murder. More details to follow on publication.
03/04/2019
Our next book should be ready in about a month. It is a biography of the actor Thomas Anderson, stage name, Weldon Atherstone. He was brutally murdered in 1910, a crime which remains unsolved to this day. More news to follow when the book is published.
17/12/2018
Here's wishing all our readers and customers a very Happy Christmas.
A new theatrical biography will be published in the New Year, this one involving a famous unsolved murder. More details to come next year.
In the meantime we have just published a family history book entitled 'Their Song Not Forgotten' - about M**h Morgan Jones : His UK life and ancestry by Kerris Harrop.
06/08/2018
Our latest book, Transgressing Thespian, a biography of the actor Sidney George Goodchild, has been published today. Copies can be ordered from our website at www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
26/07/2018
Our next book entitled 'Transgressing Thespian' is still on track to be published in August. It is a biography of Sidney George Goodchild, actor, soldier, criminal and much more. Here's a sneak preview of the cover. More details will follow nearer the publication date.
06/07/2018
Our next book entitled 'Transgressing Thespian' should be ready for publication in August. It is a biography of Sidney George Goodchild, actor, soldier, criminal and much more. He was married for a time to Mabel Barlow, the subject of our 2015 book 'Leading Lady'. More details will follow nearer the publication date.
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Our Story
HarGen was established in the UK in 2012 to print and publish family histories and biographies of individuals whose lives are of particular interest.
In 2013 a biography of Leonard Bernard Harrop entitled ‘Reluctant Romance’ was printed and published and is now available for purchase at £9.99 + p.& p., from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
Our second book, ‘Enigmatic Émigré’, a biography of Elsie Susanna Preston was published in early 2014 and is available for purchase at £10.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
Next came ‘Lancashire Lass’, a biography/glimpse into the life, work and journey of Sarah Ann Broadbent, published in October 2014 and available for purchase at £8.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
Then there was ‘Leading Lady’, a biography of Mabel Frances Barlow published in early June 2015 and available for purchase at £9.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
Next came Ardent Actor, a biography of John F Preston, actor, manager and ladies man, published in June 2016. It is available for purchase at £12.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
‘Intriguing Ingénue’, a biography of the actress Grace Susanna Brown was published in June 2017. It is available for purchase at £9.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
‘Abandoned Artiste’, a biography of the actress Georgina Fleming aka Georgie Walton was published in early 2018. It is available for purchase at £5.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
‘Transgressing Thespian’ was published in 2018 and is a biography of the actor Sidney George Goodchild and the husband of Mabel Barlow, the subject of our book, Leading Lady . It is available for purchase at £7.50 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
In December 2018 we published a family history book entitled 'Their Song Not Forgotten' - about M**h Morgan Jones : His UK life and ancestry by Kerris Harrop. It is available for purchase at £8.99 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
In May 2019 ‘Mysterious Murder’ was published. It is a biography of the actor Thomas Weldon Anderson, stage name Weldon Atherstone, who was brutally murdered in 1910, a crime that remains unsolved to this day. It also includes previously unpublished information about his four children, three of whom spent the majority of their lives overseas, as well as his six siblings. It is available for purchase at £7.50 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
2020 saw the publication of ‘Dublin Darling’, a biography of the actress Monica Kelly. She became a favourite of audiences at the Queen’s Royal Theatre, Dublin and was married to Thomas Weldon Anderson, the subject of our 2019 book ‘Mysterious Murder’. It is available for purchase at £7.50 + p. & p. from www.hargenpublications.weebly.com
