R.C. Woodthorpe was a
pretty successful author in the 1930s, and his best known novel, which I have
in a green Penguin edition, is my Forgotten Book for today. This is The Public
School Murder, and its school setting, Polchester, is evidently based on
Christ’s Hospital, where Woodthorpe taught in the Twenties before going into
journalism.
The story is agreeably
written, and it makes a virtue of the public school ethos, about which views
are probably as divided today as they were in the Golden Age. Much of the tale
is told from the viewpoint of one of the teachers, although it is the head of
the governing body of the school who eventually acts as amateur detective and
comes up with a solution to the mystery of how Polchester’s headmaster died.
I’ve never read
anything else by Woodthorpe, but I would like to do so. The trouble is that his
books are now rather elusive – it would be good if someone could bring them
back into print. However, very little
information seems to be available about Woodthorpe, and such detection work as
I’ve been able to do has been rather poignant.
17 comments:
He definitely was a better than average writer. Some of his books are more successful than others, but he's yet another GA writer that GA fans would enjoy if it were allowed that he be reprinted.
Martin, here is a link that allows one to read another Woodthorpe novel online. Perhaps you are already aware of this. If not, enjoy!
Silly me, I forgot the link: http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000326378
I love that you're helping us discover some of these forgotten mysteries, Martin. I'm hoping many of these will eventually end up in digital format and maybe find a new audience.
Anonymous - wow, thank you very much indeed. I've been looking for that book for a while. Greatly appreciated!
Curt, I'm sure that's right. I've just started Purple Shirt and it has begun very well.
Great, now Blogger thinks I am anonymous! Whatever will happen next?
Christos, so it was you!! Thanks very much once again.
Elizabeth, I very much share that hope. A post about Bello on this subject will follow before long.
I think writers should realize that fame comes and goes. For movie actors is even worst.
The most important is love for writing that keeps the writer in a moment.
Good luck with your writing!
Just looked at the digitized book via the Hathi Trust website. It is dedicated to "Philip and Margery." Wonder if they are Pip Carter and Margery Allingham?
Thanks, Anon.
Miranda, you are quite right. Woodthorpe was at one time Philip's teacher. In one book he invents "the Marchioness of Allingham"!
There was at least one radio drama based on his work "Storm Over Polchester" which I think was on Sat. Night Theatre around 1963.
Thanks, Michael. I didn't know that. Are you able to tell me any more, please?
http://www.radioechoes.com/saturday-night-theatre?searchTerms=saturday%20night%20theat
radio Play can be found here
Thank you Martin for this posting; I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I was particularly interested because, like you, I have a green Penguin (rather battered but fairly sound) and I could find no mention of it anywhere other than on Bookfinders where two 1932 copies were priced at over $210!!! I do like to know about the authors of classic crime, which is why your introductions to the British Crime Library prove invaluable! Keep up the excellent work and once again, thank you.
Gerry Wolstenholme
Thanks very much, Gerry. I've never seen a first edition of this one anywhere, not even in a dealer's catalogue, so definitely a rarity. Glad you like the intros!
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