 First edition | |
| Author | Dornford Yates |
|---|---|
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Ward Lock & Co [1] |
Publication date | 1940 [1] |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 317 [1] |
Shoal Water is a 1940 novel by the English author Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer). It was first serialised in Blue Book between July and October 1940, as When The Devil Drives, with illustrations by Austin Briggs.
Jeremy Solon (narrator) falls in with Katherine Scrope and learns she has been blackmailed into doing duty as a carrier for jewel thieves. She is kidnapped, and Solon and his companions – now including Jonathan Mansel – set out to rescue her.
The dust jacket of the first edition bears on the back the words "The making of this book enabled me to forget the gathering clouds: it is my great hope that the reading of it will enable others to forget the storm." [2]
Mercer's autobiographer AJ Smithers, writing in 1982, noted that this novel and the preceding one, Gale Warning , are written to a pattern, though one that is cunningly woven. [3] He considered both books to be swiftly moving, just plausible, and to still bear re-reading after all these years. [2] The second half of the book bears considerable resemblance to A. E. W. Mason's 1935 novel They Wouldn't Be Chessmen . [4]
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.
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.
Wife Apparent is a 1956 book by the English author Dornford Yates, his last novel. The book was originally to be called Lady-in-Waiting, but this had to be changed at the last moment as another book with the same title was scheduled to appear at about the same time.
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.
The Berry Scene is a 1947 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters.
As Berry and I Were Saying is the first volume of fictionalised memoirs of the English author Dornford Yates, published in 1952 and featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters - Berry, Daphne, Boy and Jill. A second volume, B-Berry and I Look Back, was published in 1958.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maiden Stakes is a 1928 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates originally written for The Windsor Magazine.
The Stolen March is a 1926 fantasy novel by the English author Dornford Yates, first serialised in The Windsor Magazine.
Safe Custody is a 1932 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Gale Warning is a 1939 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was first serialised in Woman's Home Companion. Although it includes Chandos and Mansel, as a first person narrative by another character it is not normally counted as one of the author's 'Chandos' books.
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.