Meeting Fox in Fiction

Six fictional depictions of George Fox (1624-1691) published between 1868 and 2019 are compared and discussed with reference to some relevant surrounding literature. It is argued that Fox is usually presented as a secondary character, with none of the books placing him at the centre of the narrative, and that in most cases the Fox character functions as a way for the author to introduce key Quaker ideas to other characters. The six stories are discussed in the context of their dates of publication and expected readership, with particular attention to age, gender, and religious tradition. It is suggested that the encounters with Fox in these novels function to provide both historical and spiritual education to the reader as well as an opportunity for the authors to lay out theological positions which are recognisably Quaker although not always historical accurate.