The Library

Alas, at least we now know that another relic of the Wheatley years is now no longer with us for those of us trying to retrace his steps. I used to think that this kind of destruction was a mostly American phenomenon. (Out of several houses in which Edgar Allan Poe lived during his years in Philade...

Thanks for the review, Garry. If I can add a few comments of my own .... I'd rate this one higher than The Satanist (for remarks on which see my piece under that heading) but not quite in the league of The Devil Rides Out or Strange Conflict . Like TS , it features a brother of the Left Hand Path wh...

While we're on the subject of significant dates (this posting is hardly worth a whole new thread): happy Saint Walburga's Eve, everyone! Just don't forget to bar and double-lock your doors tonight ....

Thanks for the clarification, Stevie P. I suddenly remembered a day or two ago that Major Ronge was there right at the end, trying to arrest the Duke. (Moral: don't crit a book you haven't got a copy of!!) But it reinforces my point that DW sometimes strayed unnecessarily from historical truth.

I've been intending for some time now to do a lengthy post that would examine the historical accuracy of DW's novels and other works. Unfortunately, events keep getting in the way! But I think I should strike while the iron's hot as far TSS is concerned. While the big-picture information is correct,...

I thought as much ..... I've just done some checking, and found that that absurd synopsis given by Amazon is the one for the 1976 film which happens to share its title with DW's book. (It would be overstating matters to say that it's based, even loosely, on the novel, even though Imdb credits DW amo...

Good score, Garry, with those Crime Dossiers! Never seen any of those anywhere, including Hay-on-Wye. Did they have the sealed bit (with the solution inside) intact?

That's interesting about the Austrian count trying to find Cambyses' treasure by aerial search. I wonder if that's what inspired Captain W E Johns to write "Biggles Flies South", published at much the same time as TQOJD, and also concerned with a bunch of good guys battling a gang of crook...

Page 17 - GS states "Praise Allah" A strange thing for a British spy to say. Probably not so strange back then. Islam wasn't perceived as any kind of threat to anyone in those pre-Israel times, and the Arabs, thanks to T E Lawrence, were mostly on our side. Page 37 - GS smokes Sullivan ci...

I've just started looking at the YouTube clips - many thanks, Alan, for drawing our attention to them. Over 40 years since I saw the movie for what proved to be the only time, but I found I still remember a surprising amount about it. Eliphas Levi must be pleased to see at least one of his drawings ...

Now, now Charles – you should know the correct way to complete your reunion is as follows: 1. Lug out the four little bronze bowls with legs shaped like portions of the male anatomy. 2. Fill one with earth, one with water, one with brandy (or something else inflammable, which you then ignite), lea...

Chris Lees DRO film was marketed under The Devils Bride in the US in 1968. (In case they thought it was a western under the DRO title) What a wonderful thought - a DW Black Magic Western!! :rofl (My slightly bizarre sense of humour is working overtime). Starring Duke Wayne? ;) With, of course, [Vam...

Yes: DW’s lead characters are nearly all either of independent means, or at the very least their own boss, or as good as (like Simon Aron). If for any reason they don’t start like that, they soon become so through some stroke of luck. Linda Lee in particular comes to mind here, and (unless my memory’s at fault) Adam Gordon of Unholy Crusade. No real prolonged hardscrabble for either of those, at least once the story begins.

And there were of course several others who are impoverished but who nevertheless have wealth or privilege or “good connectionsâ€￾ somewhere in the family background. Think of Barney Sullivan in The Satanist, who turns out to be an Irish peer; or Swithin Destime in The Eunuch of Stamboul.

The ones who genuinely do slog their way up from nothing by their own unaided effort are usually either secondary characters (as Alan remarks) or out-and-out villains like Hinkman in Such Power Is Dangerous.

As for Jack Ford, the character who kicked this whole discussion off: I too remember fondly When The Boat Comes In, not least for its having been my first exposure to the ever-fascinating Geordie accent (my wife detests it, but there aren’t many regional British accents she does like!!). Also greatly enjoyed the theme song by Alex Glasgow, though that’s sung in Northumbrian dialect rather than Newcastle.

I’m inclined to agree with Alan in saying that JF wasn’t really a DW-type lead character. Although I do remember his adopting some pretty non-working-class habits, that was in the third series, when, frankly, the whole thing started to become detached from reality anyway. JF eventually developed into a figure of such total omnipotence and invincibility as to become completely implausible.

... Or even just a Dennis Wheatley burger, with lots of meat and assorted capers!

Better rethink that one, Alan - DW hated capers! (As well as butter, and several other foodstuffs he itemised in The Young Man Said.)

Alan wrote: And for Gregory Sallust's place, we have an actual address... Has anyone from here ever actually looked it up?

I've a vague memory of having tried this in the late 60s or early 70s, only to find that the real Gloucester Road isn't in fact long enough for the numbers to go up to 272.