 1930 dustjacket | |
| Author | Dornford Yates |
|---|---|
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Ward Lock & Co [1] |
Publication date | 1926 [1] |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 319 [1] |
The Stolen March is a 1926 fantasy novel by the English author Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer), first serialised in The Windsor Magazine .
The novel starts credibly enough, with the return of Simon and Patricia Beaulieu (previously seen in "Simon", one of the stories in As Other Men Are ). Simon falls ill, and on medical advice the couple take a relaxed caravan holiday, being driving down through France to the fictional country of Etchechuria, lying in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. En route they are joined by Eulalie (previously seen in chapter VIII of Jonah & Co , 1922) and Pomfret Tudor. There, fantastic things start to happen: they are addressed by a mule speaking English, and find themselves in a land peopled by animated illustrations and nursery rhyme characters. The tone becomes darker, and some of the characters start to develop murderous intent.
Mercer himself loved the book, but recognised that many readers did not, including the editor of The Windsor Magazine . [2] The novel would probably not have been accepted for serialisation had the editor realised at the start where the opening situation would ultimately lead. [3]
| Chapter | Book Title | Windsor Title | Date | Volume | Issue | Pages | Illustrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | The Open Road | The Paying Of Paul | August 1925 | LXII | 368 | 241-255 | Norah Schlegel |
| II | Enter Pomfret | The Rule Of Three | September 1925 | LXII | 369 | 361-375 | Norah Schlegel |
| III | Blind Country | The Way Of A Man With A Mule | October 1925 | LXII | 370 | 479-492 | Norah Schlegel |
| IV | Love Among The Mountains | On Velvet | November 1925 | LXII | 371 | 589-602 | Norah Schlegel |
| V | Blood Royal | All On A Summer's Day | December 1925 | LXIII | 372 | 59-76 | Norah Schlegel |
| VI | Publican And Sinner | Up To Date | January 1926 | LXIII | 373 | 180-195 | Norah Schlegel |
| VII | The Cloven Hoof | The Short Lane | February 1926 | LXIII | 374 | 275-291 | Norah Schlegel |
| VIII | Gathering Clouds | The Peck Of Pepper | March 1926 | LXIII | 375 | 405-419 | Norah Schlegel |
| IX | King, Queen And Knave | Le Roy Le Veut | April 1926 | LXIII | 376 | 540-554 | Norah Schlegel |
| X | Hue And Cry | Le Roy Le Veut/The Last Jest | April-May 1926 | LXIII | 376-377 | 554-560 & 649-655 | Norah Schlegel |
| XI | Dolores | The Last Jest | May 1926 | LXIII | 377 | 655-667 | Norah Schlegel |
Mercer’s autobiographer AJ Smithers, writing in 1982, considered that this book contains some of the author’s best pastoral writing, and that some of it is very funny indeed. [2]
Mercer reported that he had "had a great many requests that I should turn again to Etchechuria" and had begun writing a book entitled The Tempered Wind which had reached fifty-one pages when his "subconscious brain stopped dead" and he eventually abandoned the project. [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 Brother of Daphne is a 1914 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, the first book published under the pen name he had been using for magazine pieces since 1910. This was also the first book to feature the group of characters that featured in many of his future works: Bertram ('Berry') Pleydell, his wife and cousin Daphne Pleydell, Daphne's brother Boy Pleydell, another cousin Jonathan ('Jonah') Mansel, and Jonah's younger sister Jill Mansel. The group of five - Berry, Daphne, Boy, Jonah and Jill - later came to be known collectively as 'Berry and Co'.
The Courts of Idleness is a 1920 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, his second book. Half of the tales feature his 'Berry' characters.
Jonah and Co. is a 1922 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters.
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.
And Berry Came Too is a 1936 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters.
The Berry Scene is a 1947 collection of comic short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, featuring his recurring 'Berry' characters.
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.
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.
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.
And Five Were Foolish is a 1924 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, first published in The Windsor Magazine. The title is a reference to the Parable of the Ten Virgins.
As Other Men Are is a 1925 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, first published in The Windsor Magazine. The title is a reference to the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.
Maiden Stakes is a 1928 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates, first published 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.
Shoal Water is a 1940 novel by the English author Dornford Yates. It was first serialised in Blue Book between July and October 1940, as When The Devil Drives, with illustrations by Austin Briggs.