Arthur Wright (writer)

Arthur Wright (1870 – 19 December 1932) was an Australian writer best known for his novels set against a background of the sporting world, particularly horseracing, which meant he was often compared during his lifetime to Nat Gould. In his lifetime he was called "Australia's most prolific novelist".

Wright was born in the small town of Green Swamp near Bathurst. His family lived in Bathurst, then Cow Flat before moving to Sydney.

Wright was educated at Paddington Public School, worked for a sewing machine firm, then went bush for a few years, doing various odd jobs in places like the mines, shearing sheds and railways. He returned to Sydney and worked for the Water and Sewerage Board for eight years.

While at the Water Board, Wright began to write in his spare time, and his short stories started appearing in magazines such as The Bulletin.

His first novel, Keane of Kalgoorlie was a big success, launching his career as a novelist. He wrote mainly for the Bookstall series of the NSW Bookstall Company, which published Australian paperback novels aimed at the mass market and available for around one shilling a book. By 1914 it was estimated Wright had sold 60,000 copies of his books, but he continued to work as a wharfinger in the Sydney suburb of Manly up until his death. He would work six days a week on the wharf for the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company, and write his novels on Sundays.

Towards the end of his life Wright began to publish his work in London. His most popular novels were Keane of Kalgoorlie, Gambler's Gold and Rogue's Luck.

Wright died in a private hospital in Manly. He was survived by his a wife Elizabeth and seven children. He remained as an employee of the Port Jackson Ferry Company at the time of his death, and flags were flown at half mast on Manly ferry as a sign of respect.

Several of Wright's novels were filmed and he also wrote screenplays. In 1931 he wrote a piece on the Australian film industry:

To those who seek a market overseas for their product, I would say this: Apart from the Great War, it is sport which has placed Australia on the map. Australia is noted for its cricketers, its footballers, scullers, swimmers, and athletes generally, to say nothing of its horses and horsemen. Our native country is world-famous from a sporting viewpoint; then give the world pictures of the things in which we excel: show them our racecourses, our playing fields, our surfing beaches, and our racing craft on Sydney Harbour. Then the world will sit up and take notice.

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