Many readers owe an exciting childhood to the English writer Thomas Mein Reed, who throughout his life wrote many interesting works, mainly in the adventure novel genre. In many ways, he drew inspiration from his travels, subsequently transferring his impressions to paper, and the writer’s feelings were reflected in the events unfolding on the pages that came out of his pen.
Strictly speaking, the writer was not an Englishman, but a Scot – his parents were from this mountainous country. He signed his early works with the pseudonym “Captain Mine Reed.” At 22, the future writer went from Great Britain to the USA. There he managed to work as a trader, reporter and teacher. In the United States, inquisitive Mine Reed talked a lot with thoroughbred Indians, including famous Indian leaders. During the war between the USA and Mexico, he participated as a volunteer. By the time the peace agreement was signed, he was already a captain.
After these events, Main Reed wrote his first novel, “The Free Arrows”, and the basis of the book lay his own military experience. His first publication brought him fame. One of the most famous works of Mine Reed is the Headless Horseman. It has repeatedly been filmed. At 33, the writer married a 15-year-old representative of the aristocratic family of Elizabeth Hyde. At one time, Meid Reed was on friendly terms with Edgar Allan Poe, but later they parted ways. He never finished school, in his youth he left for America in search of adventure.
In the war, Main Reed was noted for his personal courage displayed on the battlefield – he inspired by example the soldiers who had trembled under the attack of the enemy. In one battle, he was wounded, found dead and left on the battlefield. Later he was accidentally discovered and taken to hospital. After the war, the writer returned to England, and after marrying, he moved back to the United States, where he opened his journal. However, the public accepted him coolly, and his wife did not like America, so that in the end he returned to England, now forever. The latest works of Mine Reed, including the famous Transvaal Immigrants, were published after his death. In the 20th century in Russia and the USSR it was more popular than in the USA. There interest in his work broke out only at the end of the last century.
