Arthur Russell Thorndike was a British actor and novelist; he is best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels.
He was a student at the Kings School Rochester and at St George's School, Windsor Castle and a chorister of St George's Chapel, an experience he later recounted in his book Children of the Garter (1937). At his suggestion, both he and his sister Sybil tried acting as a career in 1903. They became students at Ben Greet's Academy and two years later accompanied fellow members of the company on a North American tour, which included New York City.
Around this time he completed his first novel of romantic adventure on Romney Marsh entitled Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh. In 1914 he enlisted. After the war, the stage, a marrage, a few film roles, more tales of Dr. Syn, and a number of other novels keep Thorndike busy.
