On the way home from Germany after having captured Axel the Red’s treasure, dapper Jonathan Mansel happens upon a corpse in the road, that of an Englishman. There ensues a gripping tale of adventure and vengeance of a rather gentlemanly kind. On publication, this novel was such a hit that it was ...
These stories, written in response to huge popular demand, give us classic Berry Pleydell – Yates’ finest comic character – at the top of his form. The first story sees Berry capturing a German spy at a village cricket match in 1914, and things get more bizarre from then on. A self-consciously no...
This is Yates’ final book, a semi-autobiographical novel spanning a lifetime of events from the sinking of the Titanic to the notorious Tichborne murder case. It opens with Berry, one of British comic writing’s finest creations, at his funniest, and is a companion volume to 'As Berry and I Were S...
Eight stories in which we encounter ‘the hair-raising adventures and idiotic situations of the Pleydell family’ (Punch). Along with John Buchan and ‘Sapper’, Yates dominated the adventure book market of the inter-war years, and Berry is regarded as one of British comic writing’s finest creations,...
At his chivalrous, rakish best in a story of mistaken identity, kidnapping, and old-world romance, Richard Chandos takes us on a romp through Europe in the company of a host of unforgettable characters. This fine thriller can be read alone or as part of a series with ‘Blind Corner’, ‘An Eye For a...
Jonathan Mansel, one of Dornford Yates’ most popular characters, heads a small private organisation dedicated to the detection of serious crime ‘by methods sadly unavailable to the regular police’. An aristocratic member of his team is murdered and the avengers set out in pursuit of the killer, i...
A tautly written and exciting yarn published when Yates was at the height of his powers, this is a real potboiler of the very best kind – tension, cliffhangers, wit and pace. Both a thriller and a humorous romance, the book draws heavily on the author’s own (somewhat bitter) experiences. It gives...
A story from Dornford Yates’ later career, of stolen treasure, set against a backdrop of World War II: adventure, a travelling circus and much more besides. Lots of favourite Yates characters are here, as well as some new ones, like the Portuguese mule in trousers, and a few striking villains. Th...
It seems that she missed her train in a final, frantic endeavour to do as we said. We told her to deliver the letter to Geoffrey or Barley alone. Ten times she took that letter to your cousin's Salzburg address; ten times she was asked to leave it; and ten times the poor girl refused. When she ha...
Millions of readers devoured the full reports: a certain firm of solicitors must have done very well: but for Berry, as Chairman of the Justices before whom Vision appeared, the episode was most trying from first to last. For some years now, Berry had, so to speak, carried the Riding Hood Bench. ...
This, by the way, was worth breathing, for it was fresh from Night's cellar and had not lain long enough in Day's parlour to lose its cool bouquet. Sir Andrew marked this and snuffed luxuriously. He might have been deep in meditation. As a matter of fact, he was looking fo...
On that day was finished the little retaining wall at the mouth of the entrance-drive. In fact, it was not ‘little’: but the great wall itself diminished all other masonry. Falcon had compared it to Hadrian’s Wall; and for us it went by that name from that time on. To return to the ‘little’ wall....
said Daphne, her white arms stretched along the back of the sofa. From the opposite side of the fireplace her husband regarded her. Then he turned to me. “D’you hear that?” he said. “I know,” said I. “I can’t help it.” “But she’s actually looking forward. She finds pleasure in anticipation.” “I k...
said I, staring at the breakfast cup which Jill was offering me, that I might pass it to Daphne. “How many more cups is he going to drink? He’s had three to my knowledge.” “That vessel,” said Berry, “was passed to you for information and immediate action. So, as they say in the Army, close your p...
said Berry. “Your office was there, and I find it a comfortable name.” “It was once a most comfortable house. And The Row was a blind alley, so it was very quiet. For all I know, it is now. We had the whole house. Each partner had one floor. There wasn’t a typewriter in the building. Every single...
The season at Pau was approaching the end of its course. Already villas and flats and servants were being engaged for the winter to come. We had been asked definitely whether we proposed to return and, if so, whether we wished again to occupy the excellent villa we had. Not knowing what answer to...
The sky was cloudless, the sun was agreeably hot, and there was no wind. No sounds but those of Nature came to our ears. The peace was absolute. It was, in fact, an old-fashioned summer’s day. Jonathan Mansel and I were sitting at ease on the terrace, our eyes on the blowing meadows that neighbou...