Edward Bulwer-Lytton Collected editions

Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803 – 1873) was an English novelist, playwright, and politician whose works spanned romance, historical fiction, and early science fiction. Though often remembered for the much-parodied opening line “It was a dark and stormy night,” he was a popular and versatile storyteller in his day.

His novel The Coming Race imagined a technologically advanced subterranean civilization, influencing later science fiction writers. Bulwer-Lytton also penned The Last Days of Pompeii, Zanoni, and numerous plays, reflecting a flair for drama and atmosphere.

Through his prolific output and imaginative range, Edward Bulwer-Lytton made a lasting, if sometimes controversial, mark on Victorian literature.