Arthur Percival Fendall 1850-1917

Known as Percy Fendall

ISFDB Author Record # 204085

Percy Fendall's birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1850 in Marylebone, London. His Baptism took place on the 6 Feb 1851 at St Mary Hammond, Richmond upon Thames to Thomas Halcott Fendall and Augusta Isabella Bayly. Please note that Biographical information on him being born in France is incorrect. His father Thomas was listed as the Queens messenger in the 1851 census.

Percy is reported to be on the Belgian coast at Blankenbcrghe, where he was reported to show an act heroism. "A most alarming accident has occurred to Miss Frere-Kennedy, the only daughter of Lord Nigel Kennedy. Whilst walking on the new pier at Blankenbcrghe, on the Belgian coast, her foot slipped, and she fell through the railing into the sea. The tide being high and the sea rough, she was carried under the pier, when Mr Percy Fendall, who was of the party, in the most gallant manner immediately jumped into the sea after her, and with some difficulty succeeded in bringing her to tho shore. She was in a state of insensibility, in which she remained for some time. Medical assistance was obtained, and in the evening she was enabled to be removed to Bruges." "The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893) Thursday 28 July 1870 p 3 Article". Similar articles appeared in British Newspapers in 1870.

Percy is in England for the 1871 census staying at the Exeter Hotel in Holdenhurst Hampshire. staying there with his brother Cecil who wrote is occupation as an officer in the Militia. Percy listed his occupation as a Musician.

Australian shipping records show Percy entering in on the 17 Nov 1871 in Melbourne on the Ship:
"True Briton". The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946) Sat 18 Nov 1871 Page 13 Reports his arrival.

In the 1881 census Percy was living at 25 Motcombe St, Belgrave Chelsea. Occupation states he was living on shares.

By 1882 Percy is reported in the "The Era 2 September 1882 headed Theatricals in York. page 5." "Theatre Royal - Lesse and Manager. Mr W A Waddington - On Monday last Mr Victor Stevens took possession of these boards for a week, putting up Ascot, a farcical comedy by Percy Fendall" "Ascot ran in the theatres from Sept 1882.

Percy's next play hit the reviews in the newspaper 'The Earl and the Actress," by Mr. Percy Fendall published

"9 January 1884 - Derby Mercury - Derby, Derbyshire, England " No further information was found on a  newspaper search for that year about this play.

By 1 Feb 1886 Percy released "Spiders and Flies" 3 volumes into the libraries. This was advertised in the " St James's Gazette 1 February 1886, page 16"

Percy published a new story, “ Sex to the Last in 3 vols" which was advertised on 17 February 1887 "St James's Gazette - London, London, England, page 14 "

Sometime from 1887 into 1891 Percy's career took off with multiple newspaper articles. It also appears during this time that he partners up with author Francis Charles PHILIPS (1849-1921) who wrote "As in a Looking-glass"

By 25 January 1890 - London Evening Standard was advertising Percy's new novel. "Ready at all Booksellers and Bookstalls Is, The Celebrated Janet Homfrey. A Story- By PERCY FENDALL." and on 18 February 1890 - London Evening Standard was also advertising the co-written novel by C. PHILIPS and PERCY FENDALL " Margaret Byng" to be a special series to be printed in their newspaper. "A Daughter’s Sacrifice.” By F. C. Philips and Percy Fendall. New Y’ork: Frank F. Lovell Co. [International Series.] was advertised on 7 July 1890 - Boston Post - Boston, Massachusetts, United States Of America but started appearing in British newspapers in April.

Fedall and Phillips new play "Husband and Wife" opened at the Criterion in April and was advertised in the "Morning Post 27 April 1891 that the curtains open at 3 pm". They followed up with a novel called "My face is my fortune" which was releases around April 1891. It was advertised in the "The Scotsman 27 April 1891" and is the first written review I could find on their work. (see images for copy of article)

By the newspaper articles in May, Percy was a well known novelist. Reviews from the time are good and bad. A quote from 1 May 1891 in St James's Gazette - London, "is true, frequently proved fruitful themes for the pen of novelist and playwright alike; but Mr. F. C. Philips and Mr. Percy Fendall have contrived to invest their comedy with an air of novelty which redeems it from any charge of mere imitation of accepted" and form the Birmingham Daily Post -1 May 1891 -"There is plenty of fun in the farcical comedy of "Husband and Wife," by Messrs. F. C. Phillips and Percy Fendall, produced this afternoon at the Criterion Theatre; but the main theme is so threadbare that I scarcely think the play will "

Husband and Wife was still playing in the theatres in 1905 along with "Margaret Byng" so it can't of been that bad of a production. Percy's next novel was released mid October 1891 " The Gambler's Secret" It was released in 2 vol's and was advertised to be available in libraries "St James's Gazette 10 November 1891" Similar advertisements' appeared in other newspapers from October onwards.

The Vaudeville was to open with Phillips and Fendall's latest play "Fireworks" on24 June 1893. It was advertised in the "The Era - page 12" Its review appeared in the "London Evening Standard on 30 June 1893, page 6" Quote - "No temptation to be needless hard on the farcical comedy in three acts produced yesterday afternoon before a small but friendly crowd. The principal fault to be found with Fireworks - is that it rubs on well known lines and is essentially common place from first to last"

A Comeditta By Percy Fendall, entitled : “FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. was being performed on stage this was advertised in 27 April 1901 - "Totnes Weekly Times - Totnes, Devon, England, page 4"

American shipping records show Percy arriving in New York on the ship "Oceanic" on the 23 Dec 1903

The novel Lady Ermyntrude & The Plumber was released early 1912. Its review stated “... narrating the nurse's betrothal is a tedious addendum. The modern tendency towards social democracy is well burlesqued Mr. Percy Fendall in 44 Lady Ermyntrude and the Plumber (Stephen Swift and Co. (Limited), 65.), whose imagination has been spurred by a speech ...”

'...Lady de Bathe herself a suffragist of pronounced convictions, is appearing this week Victoria Palace in sketch, written by herself and Mr Percy Fendall, called "Helping the Cause." The of the little play, in which the "non-yielding" section of the suffragists is burlesqued ...”

Ashes,” an emotional one-act play by Percy Fendall, was the premier attraction at the Alhambra in April 1914

Percy died 29 Nov 1917 he was 66 (See newspaper image confirming this)

Dramas

Cuckoos Nest by Percy Fendall and E Norwood

"Helping the Cause" by Percy Fendall and Mrs Lanerty (Lady de Bathe) 1912

By Percy Fendall

Two Act "The farcical comedy, Ascot," 1882

"The Earl and the Actress," 1884

"Fashionable Intelligence" 1894

"Ashes - One Act play" 1914

Broadway productions

Mrs. Deering's Divorce [Play, Original] Written by Percy Fendall Sep 07, 1903 - Oct 1903

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/percy-fendall-8093

Novels

Sex To The Last Volume 1,2,3 : A Novel (1887) Paperback – September 10, 2010 by Percy Fendall (Author) multiple ISBN

Spiders and flies : a novel / (London : Ward and Downey, 1886)

The Gambler's Secret. [a Novel. ISBN:9781240904686

The Celebrated Janet Homfrey. A Story ISBN:9781241173739

Out Of The Darkness. [a Tale.] ISBN:9781241578459 co written 1897

Lady Ermyntrude and the Plumber. By Percy Fendall 1912

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Novels And Plays Co Written with : Philips, F. C. (Francis Charles), 1849-1921

"Margaret Byng" 1890

A daughter's sacrifice 1890

Disciples of Plato 1909 ISBN 10: 1402137931 ⁄ ISBN 13: 9781402137938

A honeymoon- and after 1910

"My face is my fortune,"' 1891

"Husband and wife" 1891

"'Fireworks" 1893

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source http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Fen...