Edmond Hoyle

Edmond Hoyle (1672 – August 29, 1769) was a writer best known for his works on the rules and play of card games. The phrase "according to Hoyle" came into the language as a reflection of his generally-perceived authority on the subject; since that time, use of the phrase has expanded into general use in situations in which a speaker wishes to indicate an appeal to a putative authority.

Little is known about Hoyle's life; he is destined to be known through his books. Much of what is written about him is untrue or exaggerated.

By 1741, Hoyle began to tutor members of high society at the game of whist, selling his students a copy of his manuscript notes.Hoyle expanded the manuscript and published A Short Treatise on the Game of Whist in 1742, selling it for the high price of one guinea.When the book quickly sold out, rather than publish a new edition, Hoyle sold the rights to Whist to bookseller Francis Cogan for 100 guineas, an enormous sum for a small pamphlet.Before Cogan was able to publish a second edition, two printers pirated the work, giving the author as "A Gentleman" rather...
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