The Speculations of John Steele (Esprios Classics) : Illustrated By F. R. Gruger

Robert Barr (16 September 1849 - 21 October 1912) was a Scottish-Canadian short story writer and novelist who also worked as a newspaper and magazine editor.

Barr was born in Glasgow, Scotland to Robert Barr and Jane Watson.

In 1854, he emigrated with his parents to Upper Canada.

His family settled on a farm near the village of Muirkirk.

Barr assisted his father with his work as a carpenter and builder and was a teacher in Kent County, then in 1873 entered the Toronto Normal School.

Barr's short stories usually feature a witty narrator and an ironic twist.

His novels tend to be episodic, the chapters often linked only by the central character.

His work featured a wide range of protagonists, but his characters are often stereotyped.

His narration often includes moral and other asides.