Mr Punch in Society

Illustrator and novelist George du Maurier was born on March 6, 1834 in Paris. He studied art in France and Germany before moving to London where he established himself as an illustrator. He lost vision in his left eye and soon became a staff member of the satirical magazine Punch in 1865. He was drawing two cartoons a week. His most common targets were the manners of Victorian Society. His work also appeared in the Cornhill Magazine and the Illustrated Times. Due to his deteriorating eyesight he reduced his involvement with Punch in 1891 and decided to write three novels. His first was Peter Ibbetson which a modest success. His second was Trilby published in 1894. It fit into gothic horror genre which was popular at the time. His third was The Martian which was largely autobiographical. He died on October 8, 1896 in London.

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