Thomas Bertram Costain, a renowned novelist, made his literary debut at the age of fifty-seven with the publication of "For My Great Folly". Prior to this, he had a distinguished career as a newspaper reporter, covering local news in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario. In 1915, he was appointed managing editor for Maclean's magazine, a position he held until 1920 when he became the editor-in-chief of the Saturday Evening Post.
In 1937, Costain took on the role of eastern story editor for Twentieth-Century Fox, and two years later, he became an advisory editor for Doubleday. Despite his editorial responsibilities, he had always harbored a passion for writing novels, but it wasn't until his fifties that he was able to devote sufficient time to this pursuit.
"For My Great Folly" was a resounding success, and this was followed by a string of best-selling novels, including "The Black Rose", which ascended to the top of the New York Times Fiction Book List, and "The Silver Chalice". Costain's novels were celebrated for their meticulous research, swift pacing, engaging dialogue, and intricate plotting. Although he was a household name during his prime, Costain's legacy has somewhat faded into obscurity over time.
