If Winter Comes: The Bestseller of 1922

Arthur Stuart-Menteth Hutchinson was born on 2nd June 1879 in India, where his father was stationed at the time.

More frequently known by his initials A. S. M., Hutchinson became the editor of the London illustrated newspaper, The Daily Graphic.

As a writer his initial forays were published, but with only moderate success. With a number of years between releases it took him some time to find an audience for his romance and family novels.

In 1922 he published ‘If Winter Comes’, in many respects it was ahead of its time, taking on such difficult issues as an unhappy marriage, eventual divorce, and an unwed mother who commits suicide. But it found a huge audience and became the best-selling book of 1922.

A.S.M. was never afraid to invite controversy and that same year his novel ‘This Freedom’ was seen by many in the women's rights movement as an anti-feminist novel. He was widely criticised and widely defended. It also became one of the best-sellers of 1923 and 1924.

He continued to write and garner sales. In 1930 his wife gave birth to a boy, Simon. A.S.M. was so delighted that he wrote a book all about it ‘The Book of Simon’.

A.S.M. Hutchinson died on March 14th, 1971, at age 91 in Uckfield, Sussex, England.