The Defender (Thwaites novel)

Last updated
Author F. J. Thwaites
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
PublisherJackson & O'Sullivan
Publication date
1936

The Defender is a 1936 novel by F. J. Thwaites. [1] It was his eighth novel. [2]

Contents

In 1937 the novel was reprinted in the United Kingdom. [3]

In 1937, it was announced a film version of the novel would be made at National Studios, following production of The Flying Doctor , but the movie did not eventuate. [4] [5]

There were allegations Thwaites plagiarised from a story in Master Detective magazine, "The Startling Mystery Aboard the SS Chinese Prince". This was in additino to plagiarism accusations made by Thwaites about his earlier novel Flames of Convention . [6] Smith's Weekly commented "It must be very discouraging to Mr. Thwaites that whether he lifts slabs from a best seller by an author who was murdered over 25 years ago before he finished his book, or carves slices out of one of thousands of American crime magazine publications, the theft is still detected by someone. "Smith's" almost feels like apologising to him about it." [7]

The novel was adapted for the radio in 1936. [8] Sections of the novel were read out over a number of episodes four days a week. [9]

Premise

A Sydney barrister defends downtrodden women.

Related Research Articles

<i>King Solomons Mines</i> (1937 film) 1937 British film

King Solomon's Mines is a 1937 British adventure film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Paul Robeson, Cedric Hardwicke, Anna Lee, John Loder and Roland Young. A film adaptation of the 1885 novel of the same name by Henry Rider Haggard, the film was produced by the Gaumont British Picture Corporation at Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush. Sets were designed by art director Alfred Junge. Of all the novel's adaptations, this film is considered to be the most faithful to the book.

Frederick Joseph Thwaites was an Australian novelist whose books sold over four million copies. He was best known for his first work The Broken Melody, which was adapted into a 1938 film.

Hell's Doorway is an adventure novel by Australian author F. J. Thwaites.

Flames of Convention was the third novel by F. J. Thwaites.

Where Gods Are Vain is a novel by F. J. Thwaites.

<i>The Redemption</i> (novel) Book by F.J. Thwaites

The Redemption is a 1936 novel by F. J. Thwaites. It was his ninth novel.

The Mad Doctor is a 1935 novel by Australian author F. J. Thwaites, a melodramatic medical romance set in Africa.

Broken Wings is a 1934 novel by F. J. Thwaites.

Fever is a 1939 novel by F. J. Thwaites.

Whispers in Tahiti is an Australian 1940 novel by F. J. Thwaites. It was translated into French.

Husky Be My Guide is a 1957 travel book by F. J. Thwaites. It was the first in a series of travel books written by Thwaites based on his real-life adventures.

Ned Kelly is a 1942 radio play by Douglas Stewart about the outlaw Ned Kelly.

<i>Murder in the Silo</i> Australian radio drama

Murder in the Silo is a 1937 radio drama by Edmund Barclay. It was described as a psychological melodrama and was very popular at a time when Australian set radio dramas were relatively rare. Leslie Rees called it "one of the most effective of our shorter radio plays."

<i>Shanghai</i> (radio serial) 1936 Australian radio serial by Edmund Barclay

Shanghai is a 1936 radio serial by Edmund Barclay. It ran for 26 weeks.

Valley of the Sky is a 1937 Australian novel by Tarlton Rayment that was based on the life of Angus McMillan.

Blood on His Hands is a 1936 Australian novel by Max Afford. It was his first novel and featured Jeffrey Blackburn his detective hero. It was set in Melbourne during that city's Centenary celebrations. Afford wrote the novel for a competition held by John Long a publishers in London, submitted it in December 1934, then while waiting to hear back wrote a sequelo. John Long accepted it and offered a contract for three books. The novel was published in London before Australia.

<i>The Dead are Blind</i>

The Dead are Blind is a 1937 Australian novel by Max Afford featuring his hero Jeffrey Blackburn. It was the third Jeffrey Blackburn novel.

<i>Deaths Mannikins</i>

Death's Mannikins is a 1937 Australian novel by Max Afford. It was the second Jeffrey Blackburn novel following Blood on His Hands.

The Broken Melody is a 1930 Australian novel by F. J. Thwaites. It was Thwaites' debut novel and became a best seller, launching his career. It was turned into a 1938 Australian film and led to a sequel The Melody Lingers.

The Valley of Adventure is a 1926 Australian novel by E. V. Timms. In the novel, a father and his sons discover a map that takes them to a hidden valley.

References

  1. "BOOK TALK". The Morning Bulletin . Rockhampton, Qld. 24 October 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 1 November 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Australian Author". Daily Advertiser . New South Wales, Australia. 2 April 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Four Thwaites Novels To Be Reprinted". News. Vol. XXIX, no. 4, 399. South Australia. 28 August 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 9 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  4. "AUTHOR PUBLISHES OWN BOOKS". The News . Adelaide. 13 February 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 1 November 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  5. "SENDS GREETINGS". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate . Parramatta, NSW. 23 December 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 1 November 2014 via National Library of Australia.
  6. Ron Blaber, 'Thwaites, Frederick Joseph (1908–1979)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/thwaites-frederick-joseph-8810/text15453, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 9 March 2024.
  7. "NOVEL WRITING MADE EASY". Smith's Weekly . Vol. XVIII, no. 35. New South Wales, Australia. 31 October 1936. p. 3. Retrieved 9 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "SWITCHGIRL'S FOLLIES AT 2SM", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, 27 (19 (May 8, 1936)), Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-712038814, retrieved 9 March 2024 via Trove
  9. "SERIAL STORY". Sunday Mail. No. 342. Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 9 March 2024 via National Library of Australia.