Three Inquisitive People - The Beginning
Posted: Sun 13 Apr, 2008 12:46:13
In the early 1930?s DW was suffering the severe effects of 'The Slump'. He was doing his best to prevent bankruptcy.
It was his second wife Joan who came to the rescue. DW had shown her some of the short stories he had written years before, just for fun. One day she said: 'Why don't you write a book? I'm sure you could'
He decided that having a shot at it would at least take his mind of his worries; so he bought some paper and sat down to write a thriller.
It was DW's feeling that Louis' (Joan?s father) meanness and influence over DW's mother which stopped her giving him at least some financial help led DW to portray him as murdering her for her money by drowning her in a bath in a Curzon Street flat.
The night of this murder brought together the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, Rex van Ryn and Richard Eaton for the very first time.
Joan typed the book and by mid July 1932 it was finished.
On the 23rd August DW learned that Messrs Hutchinson had accepted his book for publication.
Towards the end of 1932 the writing bug had well and truly got to DW and he wrote several short stories and another thriller. The second book was called The Forbidden Territory.
Both DW and Hutchinson agreed that the second book was better than the first and so it was decided that it should be published as his first book.
Three Inquisitive people didn?t appear in print until 12th December 1939 as one of four stories contained within the first omnibus edition of Wheatley?s work.
"Nothing would have induced me to publish it as a separate volume at my normal new novel rate of eight and sixpence, because I do not consider it up to the standard of my other books. But since the three already published books alone form an omnibus of normal length, I thought 'Three Inquisitive People' might just as well go into print for the sole reason that it does tell how the four friends originally met, which may interest people who have already read one or more of the other books and I gladly give it to you for nothing."'From Me to You', DW Introduction to 'Those Modern Musketeers' 1939
Arrow paperbacks however didn't give it to the public for nothing. It was released by them in 1960 for 2 shillings and sixpence.
This is the first novel written by Dennis Wheatley. It is where the 'Fab Four' (His Grace The Duke de Richleau, Simon Nathaniel Aron , Rex Mackintosh van Ryn and Richard Elmsdale Eaton) meet.
It certainly isn't DW's greatest work but I certainly don' think its as bad as it's sometimes made out to be. I didn't at any time become disinterested, (as I did occasionally when reading the two non-fiction books, Old Rowley & Red Eagle) and it does have a number of interesting details within the storyline.
I also feel it has a very strange feel to it; almost surreal, which I must admit to liking.
In fact the settings remind me of my early childhood in London and I can really relate to the images that DW instils.
The story is based in London and concerns the sudden death of Lady Elinor Shoesmith - formerly Elinor Eaton (Richard Eaton?s mother) in a flat opposite the Dukes in Curzon Street, Mayfair.
Rex Van Ryn has been given a letter of introduction from his father who is currently the President of the Chesaspeake Banking and Trust Corporation in America .
He wants Rex to meet people of influence. Rex reluctantly keeps the appointment.
When they first meet, Rex studies the Duke closely. He notes that he is a slim delicate looking man, somewhat above middle height, an aquiline nose and greying hair, a thin delicate face that seemed as if it should have ended in a beard. (I always visualise the Duke with a beard. Perhaps he grows one later or perhaps it is the dust jacket illustrations from DW's books or more likely the film of 'The Devil Rides Out' in which Christopher Lee portrays the Duke as he should be -with a beard!!!).
'Beneath grey 'devils' eyebrows were grey eyes flecked with yellow, of an almost piercing brilliance. It needed only the cordon of some distinguished order across the white shirt front of his almost too perfect evening dress to imagine him the accredited representative of some great foreign power in the days before the war'.
Rex and the Duke both get on extremely well from the beginning and after a few drinks at the Mausoleum Club and a quick visit to the Duke's flat, Rex is just about to leave when the door of the flat opposite is flung open and a frightened maid screams that her mistress is dead.
Richard Eaton becomes the prime suspect even though matricide is very rare. Simon Aron (his friend) is also suspected for a while.
As the Duke and Rex were involved from the outset they attempt to unravel the mystery of the murdered woman in the bath (with a little help from Superintendent Marrowfat and Inspector Gartside from New Scotland Yard!!).
By virtue of some 'super sleuthing' by the new friends together with the legal assistance of Simon's solicitor Mr Granville Schatz they prepare to unravel the mystery of whodunnit!!
Page 10 - (Arrow Paperback) The Duke tells Rex that he is perhaps '..a little more than twice his age'. The Duke at this stage is 56 years old.
I note that the Duke's name is spelt 'De Richleau' (1932).
In the next book 'The Forbidden Territory' (1933) he changes to 'De Reichleau').
In 'The Devil Rides Out' (1934) he reverts to De Richleau.
The usual observation amongst DW readers is that DW changed away from the De Reichleau name in order to distance himself from the Third Reich (Third Empire) connections which was prevalent during the years of Hitler's dictatorship after 1933.
However, the war was still 5 years away when he wrote 'TDRO'.
Why change back in 1934?
Page 13 - Rex's fated wife to be 'Lady Felicity Standish' receives a first mention.
Page 44 - Rex says to the Duke, 'Can you beat it? Talk about 'The Frozen Mitt'
Now, this is a totally new one on me. I did some digging on the net and apparently this term means to receive a 'chilly reception'.
Page 66 - This next comment from Lady Felicity to Rex surprised me.
'Lets go to the Hungaria 'the music's such fun. We can dance if we want to, or just sit and watch the queers'.
(The Hungaria Restaurant was a real restaurant situated in Lower Regent Street. DW visited it 'countless times'.)
On page 127 the Duke say's to Simon- 'No, he is what you term a queer, he took the flat because it was at the top of the building and he wanted a studio'.
(I began to wonder if the term meant something different to what it does now but I'm not so sure it does.)
Page 76 - Describes why Sir Gideon Shoesmith tried to encourage his wife from selling one of her properties in order to help Richard Eaton with his severe financial difficulties. As mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is a reference to Louis who gave DW the idea for Sir Gideon?s character.
Page 86 - Simon Aron is aged 26 as of 23rd November 1931.
Page 123 - This is the first mention of the famous 'Hoyo de Monterray' cigars. The Duke informs us that the Anillo d'Oro's are the best.
Page 138 ? The Duke tells Simon the story of his enforced exile from France for supporting the Duke de Guise in the hopes of restoring the monarchy. The Duke de Richleau was deeply implicated in a political conspiracy to bring about a 'coup d'etat'.
Page 174-177 - Superintendant Marrofat's dislike of Homosexuals becomes apparent when talking to Cedric Carrington Smythe of his meeting with the suspected murderer.
Page 177 'A reference to another defunct Underground station 'Down Street'
The disused 'Mark Lane' underground station was mentioned in DW's previously published book 'The Scarlet Imposter'.
Page 179 'DW (in the guise of Richard Eaton) gives details of two stories that he very much appreciates.
The Field of Mustard' A.E Coppard & The Giaconda Smile 'Aldous Huxley.
They are two of the finest murder stories that he had ever read., both so true to life, so devastatingly possible and in both these stories the wrong man got hanged.
Page 183 - Richard is imprisoned for a short while - his biggest complaint is that he as unable to smoke whilst there.
'Absolute torture' he states.
' A scandal agree's the Duke'
'Better get busy with one or two of your MP's' suggest Rex.
Page 207 - A quite unbelievable 'chance meeting' when the Duke and Simon were visiting Winifred Eaton in her cottage near Liphook on the Hampsire/West Sussex border. Approx 50 miles away from central London.
Rex and Felicity being tempted by the sunshine decided to take a drive out into the country and just happened to have a fatal car crash just walking distance from Winifreds house!!!!!!
Page 220 - Rex Marries Lady Felicity.
Page 223 - Lady Felicity dies.
I've included some comments below which were written by Alan on the book (See The Library's 'General Topics' section ' Wheatleys Darkest work') .
A very well written and apt description of the style of writing in this novel.
The dialogue, the depth of character (in Simon in particular), the walk-on characters (including a truly revolting portrait of a gay, and some nasty homophobia), and the general atmosphere suggest more decadent Noel Coward than the normal upbeat adventure-story writings typical of Wheatley. The final "last straw" was Rex's marriage, to a paralyzed bride, with the two of them being allowed a few precious hours in bed together by the others, all of whom (including the girl herself) knowing that she's living out her final hours. Truly heavy stuff!
My last observation is regarding the title of the book.
The title 'Three Inquisitive People' does not appear in the index of Dennis Wheatley?s Autobiography. This doesn't mean to say it isn't mentioned in the body of the books as old indexes weren't totally foolproof prior to computerisation and I haven't read the Autobiography from over '..yet!!
DW refers to it as his first novel but doesn't seem to name it. Was he so unimpressed with it that he didn't give it a name or was the name delayed due to the fact that it wasn't published straight away?
Perhaps it wasn't named until it appeared in the omnibus edition?
If anyone can shed any light on this I'd be grateful.
It was his second wife Joan who came to the rescue. DW had shown her some of the short stories he had written years before, just for fun. One day she said: 'Why don't you write a book? I'm sure you could'
He decided that having a shot at it would at least take his mind of his worries; so he bought some paper and sat down to write a thriller.
It was DW's feeling that Louis' (Joan?s father) meanness and influence over DW's mother which stopped her giving him at least some financial help led DW to portray him as murdering her for her money by drowning her in a bath in a Curzon Street flat.
The night of this murder brought together the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, Rex van Ryn and Richard Eaton for the very first time.
Joan typed the book and by mid July 1932 it was finished.
On the 23rd August DW learned that Messrs Hutchinson had accepted his book for publication.
Towards the end of 1932 the writing bug had well and truly got to DW and he wrote several short stories and another thriller. The second book was called The Forbidden Territory.
Both DW and Hutchinson agreed that the second book was better than the first and so it was decided that it should be published as his first book.
Three Inquisitive people didn?t appear in print until 12th December 1939 as one of four stories contained within the first omnibus edition of Wheatley?s work.
"Nothing would have induced me to publish it as a separate volume at my normal new novel rate of eight and sixpence, because I do not consider it up to the standard of my other books. But since the three already published books alone form an omnibus of normal length, I thought 'Three Inquisitive People' might just as well go into print for the sole reason that it does tell how the four friends originally met, which may interest people who have already read one or more of the other books and I gladly give it to you for nothing."'From Me to You', DW Introduction to 'Those Modern Musketeers' 1939
Arrow paperbacks however didn't give it to the public for nothing. It was released by them in 1960 for 2 shillings and sixpence.
This is the first novel written by Dennis Wheatley. It is where the 'Fab Four' (His Grace The Duke de Richleau, Simon Nathaniel Aron , Rex Mackintosh van Ryn and Richard Elmsdale Eaton) meet.
It certainly isn't DW's greatest work but I certainly don' think its as bad as it's sometimes made out to be. I didn't at any time become disinterested, (as I did occasionally when reading the two non-fiction books, Old Rowley & Red Eagle) and it does have a number of interesting details within the storyline.
I also feel it has a very strange feel to it; almost surreal, which I must admit to liking.
In fact the settings remind me of my early childhood in London and I can really relate to the images that DW instils.
The story is based in London and concerns the sudden death of Lady Elinor Shoesmith - formerly Elinor Eaton (Richard Eaton?s mother) in a flat opposite the Dukes in Curzon Street, Mayfair.
Rex Van Ryn has been given a letter of introduction from his father who is currently the President of the Chesaspeake Banking and Trust Corporation in America .
He wants Rex to meet people of influence. Rex reluctantly keeps the appointment.
When they first meet, Rex studies the Duke closely. He notes that he is a slim delicate looking man, somewhat above middle height, an aquiline nose and greying hair, a thin delicate face that seemed as if it should have ended in a beard. (I always visualise the Duke with a beard. Perhaps he grows one later or perhaps it is the dust jacket illustrations from DW's books or more likely the film of 'The Devil Rides Out' in which Christopher Lee portrays the Duke as he should be -with a beard!!!).
'Beneath grey 'devils' eyebrows were grey eyes flecked with yellow, of an almost piercing brilliance. It needed only the cordon of some distinguished order across the white shirt front of his almost too perfect evening dress to imagine him the accredited representative of some great foreign power in the days before the war'.
Rex and the Duke both get on extremely well from the beginning and after a few drinks at the Mausoleum Club and a quick visit to the Duke's flat, Rex is just about to leave when the door of the flat opposite is flung open and a frightened maid screams that her mistress is dead.
Richard Eaton becomes the prime suspect even though matricide is very rare. Simon Aron (his friend) is also suspected for a while.
As the Duke and Rex were involved from the outset they attempt to unravel the mystery of the murdered woman in the bath (with a little help from Superintendent Marrowfat and Inspector Gartside from New Scotland Yard!!).
By virtue of some 'super sleuthing' by the new friends together with the legal assistance of Simon's solicitor Mr Granville Schatz they prepare to unravel the mystery of whodunnit!!
Page 10 - (Arrow Paperback) The Duke tells Rex that he is perhaps '..a little more than twice his age'. The Duke at this stage is 56 years old.
I note that the Duke's name is spelt 'De Richleau' (1932).
In the next book 'The Forbidden Territory' (1933) he changes to 'De Reichleau').
In 'The Devil Rides Out' (1934) he reverts to De Richleau.
The usual observation amongst DW readers is that DW changed away from the De Reichleau name in order to distance himself from the Third Reich (Third Empire) connections which was prevalent during the years of Hitler's dictatorship after 1933.
However, the war was still 5 years away when he wrote 'TDRO'.
Why change back in 1934?
Page 13 - Rex's fated wife to be 'Lady Felicity Standish' receives a first mention.
Page 44 - Rex says to the Duke, 'Can you beat it? Talk about 'The Frozen Mitt'
Now, this is a totally new one on me. I did some digging on the net and apparently this term means to receive a 'chilly reception'.
Page 66 - This next comment from Lady Felicity to Rex surprised me.
'Lets go to the Hungaria 'the music's such fun. We can dance if we want to, or just sit and watch the queers'.
(The Hungaria Restaurant was a real restaurant situated in Lower Regent Street. DW visited it 'countless times'.)
On page 127 the Duke say's to Simon- 'No, he is what you term a queer, he took the flat because it was at the top of the building and he wanted a studio'.
(I began to wonder if the term meant something different to what it does now but I'm not so sure it does.)
Page 76 - Describes why Sir Gideon Shoesmith tried to encourage his wife from selling one of her properties in order to help Richard Eaton with his severe financial difficulties. As mentioned at the beginning of this review, this is a reference to Louis who gave DW the idea for Sir Gideon?s character.
Page 86 - Simon Aron is aged 26 as of 23rd November 1931.
Page 123 - This is the first mention of the famous 'Hoyo de Monterray' cigars. The Duke informs us that the Anillo d'Oro's are the best.
Page 138 ? The Duke tells Simon the story of his enforced exile from France for supporting the Duke de Guise in the hopes of restoring the monarchy. The Duke de Richleau was deeply implicated in a political conspiracy to bring about a 'coup d'etat'.
Page 174-177 - Superintendant Marrofat's dislike of Homosexuals becomes apparent when talking to Cedric Carrington Smythe of his meeting with the suspected murderer.
Page 177 'A reference to another defunct Underground station 'Down Street'
The disused 'Mark Lane' underground station was mentioned in DW's previously published book 'The Scarlet Imposter'.
Page 179 'DW (in the guise of Richard Eaton) gives details of two stories that he very much appreciates.
The Field of Mustard' A.E Coppard & The Giaconda Smile 'Aldous Huxley.
They are two of the finest murder stories that he had ever read., both so true to life, so devastatingly possible and in both these stories the wrong man got hanged.
Page 183 - Richard is imprisoned for a short while - his biggest complaint is that he as unable to smoke whilst there.
'Absolute torture' he states.
' A scandal agree's the Duke'
'Better get busy with one or two of your MP's' suggest Rex.
Page 207 - A quite unbelievable 'chance meeting' when the Duke and Simon were visiting Winifred Eaton in her cottage near Liphook on the Hampsire/West Sussex border. Approx 50 miles away from central London.
Rex and Felicity being tempted by the sunshine decided to take a drive out into the country and just happened to have a fatal car crash just walking distance from Winifreds house!!!!!!
Page 220 - Rex Marries Lady Felicity.
Page 223 - Lady Felicity dies.
I've included some comments below which were written by Alan on the book (See The Library's 'General Topics' section ' Wheatleys Darkest work') .
A very well written and apt description of the style of writing in this novel.
The dialogue, the depth of character (in Simon in particular), the walk-on characters (including a truly revolting portrait of a gay, and some nasty homophobia), and the general atmosphere suggest more decadent Noel Coward than the normal upbeat adventure-story writings typical of Wheatley. The final "last straw" was Rex's marriage, to a paralyzed bride, with the two of them being allowed a few precious hours in bed together by the others, all of whom (including the girl herself) knowing that she's living out her final hours. Truly heavy stuff!
My last observation is regarding the title of the book.
The title 'Three Inquisitive People' does not appear in the index of Dennis Wheatley?s Autobiography. This doesn't mean to say it isn't mentioned in the body of the books as old indexes weren't totally foolproof prior to computerisation and I haven't read the Autobiography from over '..yet!!
DW refers to it as his first novel but doesn't seem to name it. Was he so unimpressed with it that he didn't give it a name or was the name delayed due to the fact that it wasn't published straight away?
Perhaps it wasn't named until it appeared in the omnibus edition?
If anyone can shed any light on this I'd be grateful.