Louis Stone (21 October 1871—23 September 1935) was an Australian novelist and playwright.[1][2]
Stone was born in Leicester, England, baptized as William Lewis, son of William Stone, a basketmaker, and his wife Emma, née Tewkes.[1]
Stone qualified as a primary school teacher in 1895 and had temporary teaching positions until he obtained a regular teaching job at Cootamundra. In 1901 Stone was transferred to South Wagga Wagga where he met Thomas Blamey who was influenced by Stone.[1]
Around 1908 Stone married Abigail Allen and also began to write a novel Jonah, published in London in 1911.[1] Stone published his second novel Betty Wayside published in 1915.[1]
In 1933, Stone's Jonah was republished by Percy Stephensen; it was also published in the United States of America as Larrikin. Jonah was adapted for a television series by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1982; it also provided the basis for the Sydney Theatre Company musical, Jonah Jones, in 1985.[1]