Alfred John Evans was a multi-faceted English figure who achieved prominence as an amateur cricketer, military aviator, and author. Born in 1889, Evans played first-class cricket before the First World War for Oxford University and Hampshire, and later captained Kent County Cricket Club in 1927, earning a Test cap for England in 1921. His military career during the First World War was marked by extraordinary exploits; serving in the Royal Flying Corps, he was captured twice—first by German forces and later by the Ottoman Turks—and successfully escaped both times, earning the Military Cross with a bar. During the Second World War, he put his escape expertise to use within MI9, assisting other prisoners of war. Later in life, Evans channeled his diverse experiences into a successful writing career, producing both fiction and non-fiction. His literary output was heavily informed by his wartime adventures and his background in intelligence. Beyond his narrative works, Evans was also known as a prominent proponent of the Derbyite theory of Shakespeare authorship, advocating for the theory that William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby, was the true author of Shakespeare's plays. Through his diverse contributions to sports, military intelligence, and literature, Evans remained a remarkably versatile figure of his era.
