Safe Custody

Last updated

Safe Custody
Safe Custody dustjacket.jpg
First edition
Author Dornford Yates
GenreNovel
Publisher Hodder and Stoughton [1]
Publication date
1932 [1]
Media typePrint
Pages317 [1]

Safe Custody is a 1932 novel by the English author Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer). It was serialised weekly in five parts in The Saturday Evening Post in October and November 1931 as "Your Castle of Hohenems", illustrated by F. R. Gruger. [2]

Contents

It was Yates's first adventure novel to not feature Richard Chandos, and introduced new heroes: John Ferrers (who narrates the story), and his cousin Hubert Constable. Two minor villains, Punter and Bunch, who featured in Perishable Goods, are the only characters from previous novels.

The castle of Hohenems has the same name as a town in Vorarlberg, but in the book is located in Carinthia.

Plot

Ferrers and Constable inherit the Castle of Hohenems in Austria and seek the priceless carved jewel collection of its former owner, the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, walled up within the dungeons. They team up with Andrew Palin to outwit the thief Harris and his ally Father Herman Haydn. Lady Olivia Haydn, Father Herman's niece, joins forces with the heroes.

Background

The author, living in France at the time, seems to have been homesick, as the dedication reads "To the finest city in the world incomparable LONDON TOWN". [3]

Critical reception

Mercer’s autobiographer AJ Smithers, writing in 1982, suggested that "his public ought to have become disenchanted by now with such well-worn stuff, but it cannot be denied that Safe Custody came as fresh as any of the others". [3] It sold well, as usual. [3]

The original dustjacket included the following quotes -

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dornford Yates</span> English writer and novelist (1885–1960)

Cecil William Mercer, known by his pen name Dornford Yates, was an English writer and novelist whose novels and short stories, some humorous, some thrillers, were best-sellers during the Interwar Period.

<i>The House That Berry Built</i> 1945 novel by Dornford Yates

The House That Berry Built is a 1945 humorous semi-autobiographical novel by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters. It is a lightly fictionalised recounting of the construction of the author's house Cockade in the commune of Eaux-Bonnes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France.

<i>Adèle and Co.</i> 1931 novel by Dornford Yates

Adèle and Co. is a 1931 comic novel by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters. This was Yates's first full-length Berry novel, following several earlier Berry short story collections. It was the first Berry book to be published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton, and not to be serialised in The Windsor Magazine.

<i>The Berry Scene</i> 1947 short story collection by Dornford Yates

The Berry Scene is a 1947 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters.

<i>Blind Corner</i> (novel) 1927 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Blind Corner is a 1927 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. The book was the first in his Chandos thriller series and is narrated in the first person by Richard Chandos. In addition to Chandos and his servant Bell, the novel features a cast of characters who recur in many of the later books: George Hanbury and Jonathan Mansel; their respective servants Rowley and Carson; and Tester the Sealyham terrier. Mansel's character also appears as Jonah Mansel in the author's 'Berry' series of comic books and short stories, though he is not written for comic effect in this nor the later 'Chandos' books.

<i>Perishable Goods</i> 1928 novel by Dornford Yates

Perishable Goods is a 1928 novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the second in his Chandos thriller series and a sequel to Blind Corner. The story features the recurrent characters Richard Chandos (narrator), Jonathan Mansel and George Hanbury, with their respective servants Bell, Carson and Rowley.

<i>Blood Royal</i> 1929 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Blood Royal is a 1929 novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the third in his Chandos thriller series. The story features the recurrent characters Richard Chandos (narrator) and George Hanbury, with their servants Bell and Rowley. Jonathan Mansel does not appear in this book.

<i>Fire Below</i> 1930 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Fire Below is a 1930 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the fourth in his Chandos thriller series and a sequel to Blood Royal. The book was published in the US under the title By Royal Command.

<i>She Fell Among Thieves</i> 1935 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

She Fell Among Thieves is a 1935 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the fifth in his 'Chandos' thriller series. It was serialised in Woman's Journal. The title comes from a phrase in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

<i>An Eye for a Tooth</i> 1943 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

An Eye for a Tooth is a 1943 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the sixth in his 'Chandos' thriller series. The events of the story immediately follow those of Blind Corner.

<i>Red in the Morning</i> 1946 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Red in the Morning is a 1946 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the seventh in his 'Chandos' thriller series. The events of the story immediately follow those of his 1939 novel Gale Warning in which Richard Chandos and Jonathan Mansel appear as characters. The book was published in the US under the title Were Death Denied.

<i>Cost Price</i> 1949 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Cost Price is a 1949 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the eighth and last in his 'Chandos' thriller series. It serves as a sequel to his 1932 novel Safe Custody. The book was published in the US under the title The Laughing Bacchante.

<i>Anthony Lyveden</i> 1921 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Anthony Lyveden is a 1921 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was first published in monthly instalments in The Windsor Magazine. The book was Mercer's first attempt at a full-length novel, and was succeeded by Valerie French which continued the story of the main characters.

<i>Valerie French</i> (novel) 1923 adventure novel by Dornford Yates

Valerie French is a 1923 adventure novel by the English author Dornford Yates, a sequel to Anthony Lyveden. It was first published in monthly instalments in The Windsor Magazine.

<i>Maiden Stakes</i> 1928 short story collection by Dornford Yates

Maiden Stakes is a 1928 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, first published in The Windsor Magazine.

<i>Storm Music</i> 1934 novel by Dornford Yates

Storm Music is a 1934 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was first serialised in Woman's Journal and Woman's Home Companion.

<i>She Painted Her Face</i> 1937 novel by Dornford Yates

She Painted Her Face is a 1937 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was first serialised in Woman's Journal and in Woman's Home Companion.

<i>This Publican</i> 1938 novel by Dornford Yates

This Publican is a 1938 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was first serialised as She Knew Not Mercy in Woman's Journal for November 1937 to March 1938, with illustrations by Forster.

<i>Lower than Vermin</i> 1950 novel by Dornford Yates

Lower than Vermin is a 1950 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was not a commercial success, dealing as it did with a vanished pre-war world of upper class characters that held little attraction to readers of the 1950s.

<i>Neer-Do-Well</i> 1954 detective novel by Dornford Yates

Ne'er-Do-Well is a 1954 detective novel by the English author Dornford Yates, his only work of the genre. Although Richard Chandos narrates, the book is not generally classified as a 'Chandos' title.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "British Library Item details". primocat.bl.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  2. Yates, Dornford (10 October 1931). "Your Castle of Hohenems" . The Saturday Evening Post.
  3. 1 2 3 Smithers 1982, p. 161.

Bibliography