Shadow of Doctor Syn is the seventh and last in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1944, it follows the events of Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn . Though it is the last book written in the series it acts as a prequel for the first novel. Thorndike dedicated it to Emma Treckman, with whom he co-wrote the stage play The Return of Doctor Syn. [1]
Set in 1793 during the events of the French Revolution, Syn travels to France amidst the Reign of Terror. He has fallen in love with young Cicily Cobtree and hopes his actions against Robespierre will earn him a pardon from the King. When Cicily dies, Syn gives up his ideas of pardon and nearly loses his sanity. This sets the stage for the fiendish character he becomes in Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh .
Critics praised the exciting story but the sudden romantic subplot was less favorably received. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Originally published by Rich & Cowan in 1944, it has been reprinted many times, including by Arrow Books (1959), Jarrolds (1966) and other recent small presses.
In 1989, the novel was adapted into a stage play by Philip Dart. Produced by the Channel Theatre Company, the traveling production performed in numerous locations in England. [9]
In 2007, an abridged version of the novel was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Comprising half of a ten-part series titled The Further Adventures of Doctor Syn, it was read by Rufus Sewell. [10]
The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn is the smuggler hero of a series of novels by Russell Thorndike. The first book, Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh was published in 1915. The story idea came from legendary coastal smuggling in the 18th century around well-known Romney Marsh, where brandy and tobacco were brought in at night by boat from France to avoid the tax. Minor battles were fought, sometimes at night, between gangs of smugglers, such as the Hawkhurst Gang, and His Majesty's Customs and Excise / Revenue, supported by the British Army, Royal Navy and local militias in the counties of the South Kent and Sussex.
Doctor John Dolittle is the central character of a series of children's books by Hugh Lofting starting with the 1920 The Story of Doctor Dolittle. He is a physician who shuns human patients in favour of animals, with whom he can speak in their own languages. He later becomes a naturalist, using his abilities to speak with animals to better understand nature and the history of the world.
Paul Douglas Cornell is a British writer. He is best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction, being the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield.
The Virgin New Adventures are a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. They continued the story of the Doctor from the point at which the television programme went into hiatus from television in 1989.
Doctor Syn on the High Seas is the second in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1936, it is chronologically the first novel in the series, followed by Doctor Syn Returns, though it was the fourth in terms of publication.
The Further Adventures of Doctor Syn is the fourth in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1936, it follows the events of Doctor Syn Returns and is followed by Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn.
Doctor Syn Returns is the third in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1935, it follows Doctor Syn on the High Seas and is followed by Further Adventures of Doctor Syn. It tells the story of Syn, who has tired of piracy, trying to settle down as the vicar of the little town of Dymchurch in Kent, England.
The Courageous Exploits of Doctor Syn is the sixth in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1939, it follows the events of Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn and is followed by Shadow of Doctor Syn.
Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn is the fifth in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1938, it follows the events of Further Adventures of Doctor Syn and is followed by Courageous Exploits of Doctor Syn. It was dedicated to actor George Arliss, who had starred in a feature film adaptation of the first novel a year prior.
Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.
Ace is a fictional character played by Sophie Aldred in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A 20th-century Earth teenager from the London suburb of Perivale, she is a companion of the Seventh Doctor and was a regular in the series from 1987 to 1989 and returned in 2022. She is considered one of the Doctor's most popular companions.
Elleston Trevor was a British novelist and playwright who wrote under several pseudonyms. Born Trevor Dudley-Smith, he eventually changed his name to Elleston Trevor. Trevor worked in many genres, but is principally remembered for his 1964 adventure story The Flight of the Phoenix, written as Elleston Trevor, and for a series of Cold War thrillers featuring the British secret agent Quiller, written under the pseudonym Adam Hall.
The Eighth Doctor Adventures are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who and published under the BBC Books imprint. 73 books were published overall.
The Virgin Missing Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which had been cancelled in 1989, featuring stories set between televised episodes of the programme. The novels were published from 1994 to 1997, and featured the First through Sixth Doctors. The Missing Adventures complemented the Virgin New Adventures range, which had proved successful.
Arthur Russell Thorndike was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels. Less well-known than his sister Sybil but equally versatile, Russell Thorndike's first love was writing and, after serving in World War I, he devoted himself to it.
The New Series Adventures are a series of novels relating to the long-running BBC science fiction television series, Doctor Who. The 'NSAs', as they are often referred to, are published by BBC Books, and are regularly published twice a year. Beginning with the Tenth Doctor, a series of 'Quick Reads' have also been available, published once a year. With exception to the Quick Reads, all of the NSAs have been published in hardcover to begin with, and have been reprinted in paperback for boxed collections that are exclusive to The Book People and Tesco. Some of the reprints amend pictures of the companion of the novel from the cover. Some of the hardback editions have also been reprinted to amend pictures of Rose.
Human Nature is an original novel written by Paul Cornell, from a plot by Cornell and Kate Orman, and based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The work began as fan fiction.
Lists of books based on Doctor Who cover different types of book in the Doctor Who media franchise. These include novels, audiobooks, and short story anthologies. The lists are organized by publisher and imprint.
Doctor Syn is a 1937 British black-and-white historical dramatic adventure film, directed by Roy William Neill for Gainsborough Pictures. It stars George Arliss, Margaret Lockwood, Graham Moffatt, and Ronald Shiner. The film is based on the Doctor Syn novels of Russell Thorndike, set in 18th-century Kent. The character of Syn and the events at the film's climax were both softened considerably in comparison to Thorndike's original storyline.
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