Essential chronology of Mason's life

1865

Alfred Edward Woodley Mason is born on 7th May in Camberwell, the third son of Elizabeth and William Woodley Mason.

1878

Mason enters Dulwich College.

1880 or 1881

He spends his first holiday in the Alps.

1884

Mason enters Trinity College, Oxford. T.

1888

He takes his BA from Oxford and becomes an actor in the Compton Comedy Company.

1894

Mason goes to London with the intention of becoming a playwright.

1895

His first novel A Romance of Wastdale is published by Elkin Mathews.

1898

He meets J.M. Barrie.

1902

Mason’s most famous work, The Four Feathers, is published in October by Smith, Elders & Co.

1906

He is elected MP for the Liberals.

1907

Mason publishes Running Water with Hodder and Stoughton.

1910

The first of the Inspector Hanaud’s detective stories, At the Villa Rose, is published by Hodder & Stoughton

1914

He enlists in the Manchester Regiment of Infantry and is made Captain.

1915-1918

He serves as agent for the newly constituted Secret Service Department.

1935

Mason writes Sir George Alexander and the St. James’ Theatre.

1937

He is offered a knighthood but refuses.

1938

The film The Drum, produced by Alexander Korda and written and adapted for the screen by Mason, is premiered in April.

1941

Mason publishes Sir Francis Drake, a biography of the great Elizabethan seaman.

1948

Mason dies in his house in London on the 22nd November at the age of 83.