Boris the Bear-Hunter: A Tale of Peter the Great and His Times
A representative children's historical adventure and one of Whishaw's earliest and best-known novels.
Author guide
Frederick Whishaw Books in Order
Frederick James Whishaw (1854–1934) was born in Saint Petersburg and spent part of his youth in Russia before settling in Britain. Writing as Fred Whishaw and Frederick J. Whishaw, he produced more than forty books from the 1870s through 1914, including poetry, travel memoir, historical romances, adventure novels, school stories, and short-story collections. He also translated works by Fyodor Dostoevsky, but those translations are excluded here because Whishaw was not their author.
historical fictionadventure fictionchildren's literatureschool storiesRussian literaturetravel writingmemoirpoetry
Catalog record updated .
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Out of Doors in Tsarland: A Record of the Seeings and Doings of a Wanderer in Russia
The best entry point for Whishaw's firsthand Russian experience and nonfictional prose.
Moscow: A Story of the French Invasion of 1812
A representative mature historical novel and one of his most noted works.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (55)
- A Lost Army: A Tale of the Russians in Central Asia
novel · 1896
- My Terrible Twin
novel · 1896
- The Emperor's Englishman
novel · 1896
- Lost in African Jungles
novel · 1896
- Sons of Freedom; or, The Fugitives from Siberia
novel · 1897
- A Tsar's Gratitude
novel · 1897
- The Adventures of a Stowaway
novel · 1897
- Elsie's Magician
novel · 1897
- The White Witch of the Matabele
novel · 1897
- A Russian Vagabond
novel · 1898
- A Race for Life
novel · 1898
- Clutterbuck's Treasure
novel · 1898
- Bates and His Bicycle
novel · 1898
- The Brothers of the People
novel · 1898
- Called Back to Tsarland: A Novel
novel · 1899
- The Three Scouts: A Story of the Boer War
novel · 1900
- The Lion Cub: A Story of Peter the Great
novel · 1902
- A Secret of Berry Pomeroy
novel · 1902
- Mazeppa
novel · 1902
- The Diamond of Evil
novel · 1902
- Near the Tas, Near Death
novel · 1903
- The Yellow Satchel
novel · 1903
- A Splendid Impostor
novel · 1903
- Lost Sir Brian
novel · 1903
- Lovers at Fault
novel · 1904
- The Tiger of Muscovy
novel · 1904
- Countess Ida
novel · 1904
- A Grand Duke of Russia
novel · 1905
- Moscow: A Story of the French Invasion of 1812
historical_novel · 1905
- The Informer
novel · 1905
- Her Highness
novel · 1906
- King by Combat
novel · 1906
- A Russian Coward
novel · 1906
- The Great Green God
novel · 1906
- The Secret Syndicate
novel · 1907
- The Madness of Gloria
novel · 1907
- The Persecuted
novel · 1907
- A New Cinderella
novel · 1908
- The Revolt of Beatrix
novel · 1908
- A Royal Hoax
novel · 1908
- The Luck of the Czar
novel · 1908
- The Vortex
novel · 1909
- The Degenerate
novel · 1909
- A Village Temptress
novel · 1909
- An Empress in Love
novel · 1910
- The Heart of Noel
novel · 1910
- The Caxborough Scandal
novel · 1910
- Peter the Great: A Novel
historical_novel · 1911
- Nathalia: A Tale
novel · 1913
- A Bespoken Bride
novel · 1914
Nonfiction (1)
- Out of Doors in Tsarland: A Record of the Seeings and Doings of a Wanderer in Russia
travel_memoir · 1893
Short fiction (3)
- The Romance of the Woods
short_story_collection · 1895
- Gubbins Minor and Some Other Fellows: A Story of School Life
short_story_collection · 1897
- Gunpowder Treason and Plot, and Other Stories for Boys
short_story_collection · 1901
Poetry (1)
- Loves of the Flowers
poetry_collection · 1878
Other (2)
- The Boys of Brierley Grange
school_story · 1906
- The Competitors: A Tale of Upton House School
school_story · 1906
Frequently asked questions about Frederick Whishaw
Who was Frederick Whishaw?
Frederick James Whishaw, often published as Fred Whishaw, was an English poet, novelist, translator, historian, musician, and children’s writer. He was especially associated with adventure fiction and stories connected with Russia.
Sources: dvpp.uvic.ca (opens in a new tab)victorianresearch.org (opens in a new tab)
When and where was Frederick Whishaw born and when did he die?
He was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on 14 March 1854, and died on 8 July 1934 at Slapton, Devon, England.
Sources: dvpp.uvic.ca (opens in a new tab)victorianresearch.org (opens in a new tab)
What was Frederick Whishaw best known for?
Whishaw was best known for historical romances, adventure stories, and boys’ fiction, much of it set in or concerned with Russia. He also wrote poetry and historical material.
Sources: victorianresearch.org (opens in a new tab)dvpp.uvic.ca (opens in a new tab)
What influenced Frederick Whishaw’s interest in Russia?
He spent parts of his childhood and working life in Saint Petersburg, including a return there at age sixteen to work in an English-owned business. That firsthand connection helps explain why Russian history, places, and society recur throughout his writing.
Sources: victorianresearch.org (opens in a new tab)dvpp.uvic.ca (opens in a new tab)
Did Frederick Whishaw translate Fyodor Dostoevsky?
Yes. In the 1880s, Whishaw translated Dostoevsky for the publisher Vizetelly, helping introduce the Russian novelist’s work to English readers.
Sources: victorianresearch.org (opens in a new tab)dvpp.uvic.ca (opens in a new tab)