Richard Ellis Roberts (1879-1953) was a journalist, novelist, writer of hymns, and (what he was best known for) ghost or horror stories, several of which are anthologised. He was briefly the literary editor of New Statesman, and the only writer whose work Kingsley Martin could not abide: ‘I could not stomach [his writing]. I found [his work] intolerable.’ (This damning verdict appears in Father Figures. Clifford Sharp, who appointed him to replace Desmond MacCarthy, couldn’t stand him either!)
Among his writings were a translation of Peer Gynt and a study of Ibsen, although his most available book is a study of Samuel Rogers, the early nineteenth/late eitghteenth century poet.
Roberts was born in London, and died in California.
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