I was always intrigued by the Disney series of The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh. So I searched out the original source material.I found a kinship with the the author Russell Thorndyke;He was an actor, I am an actor.He wrote about a costumed character The Scarecrow, I wrote a about a costumed character Skunk-Guy.His books take place in his home town, My books take place in my home town.I was immediately taken by the old writing style. It added to the charm of the the time period. It drew me into the setting of the small English village of Dymchurch Under the Wall.I had similar experiences reading the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and House of the Seven Gables.The Cast of characters are varied and eccentric.The Vicar I knew from the Disney film was a gentle and reliable man, but as I read he grew darker and more complex His past which was totally ignored in the film added a suspenseful element that drives the story.You have the villagers:Mrs. Waggetts the dutiful LandladyThe severe School Master Mr. Rash.Imogene a tall slim wild creature, the daughter of the fearsome pirate Captain Clegg who had been hanged for murder.The young men: Sexton/Undertaker Mr. Mipps, Denis Cobtree, Jack Ketch, and Jerry Jerk a young man who obsesses about growing up to be a hangman and even pays to have his own scaffolding built. These men are all involved as a night time band of masked marauders and smugglers lead by the infamous Scarecrow.Then enters Captain Howard Collyer and a regiment of Kings Men to uncover any and all smuggling activities.Captain Collyer pursues his assignment with all the fervor of Columbo. Unraveling layer upon layer of deception. Nothing in Dymchurch is what it seems.There are so many twists and turns in this story it is definitely not the Disney story, its better.The closest film version of the story is Hammer Films 'Night Creatures' and even that changed the ending.This is a rollicking adventure of revenge and mystery with a twist ending.
Originaly written in 1915, that is the version presented here. It was re-written by an American in the 1960s, and that was what Disney based their movie (TV mini-series)on. I've not read the later version, so I can't compare the two. The earlier review and even the blurb in this book, mentions events that do not happen in this edition - so I wonder if they've been edited out. Hmmm. Of course, the book's main secret is widely known, so we can't judge it on that. the plot is now old, so we can't judge it on that. The writing is creaky by today's standard. It does have violence and casual racism, if that's a minus or a plus (certainly means it's not a children's book) The ending (at least of this edition) seemed rushed and and inconclusive. It's possible that I'm judging the book on its classic standards and thus was let down by unrealistic expectations. It might warrant a 3 instead of a 2
I don't know who wrote this: "In this thrilling masterpiece, Imogene and Denis, star-crossed lovers, find themselves caught between deadly forces and turn for help to the vicar, Doctor Syn" but that isn't quite the way the story goes that I just read! While I still enjoyed Doctor Syn, more than I expected given the love I have for the Disney movie 'The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh,' the best thing about the writing is the dialogue. If you need a sample of lower class English dialect in the Napoleonic era, here you go. The plot slowly draws out at a snail's pace but near the end it does quicken up a bit. Entertaining, yes. Old-fashioned, quite. Still fun, very. The movie probably took liberties, but I haven't seen it in years and it's not out on DVD as of yet. Rats. I loved seeing the Scarecrow on horseback - shiver me timbers!
—Meg Mims
Wonderful stuff. I loved the old Hammer films with Peter Cushing in the title role. It's all a bit fanciful but I'm such a lover of spooky, mysterious, smuggling adventures that I can't help but give it top marks.There are some excellent descriptive phrases and laugh out loud funny bits too. Also, being a Norfolk man the descriptions of the flat, bare and empty marshes resonated with me strongly (I know this is set in Kent, but I'm sure the feeling is similar).I've downloaded the entire series and can't wait to read the next one.
—Stephen Watson
An early "anti-hero" a clergyman (quiet and respectable) whose wife cheats on him and leaves him sending our hero, Dr. Syn off into a violent life as an avenger, terrorist (of his fleeing wife and her lover), pirate, smuggler, etc., etc., etc. following him till he became a Vicar and a smuggler at the same time (sporting the disguise of the "evil" Scarecrow)and was finally killed, (after defeating his enemy, having his ex-wife die in his arms raising their child and providing for her, heroically caring for his friends, the local people) by someone from his past. The first book (I read it all in one volume when I was 13) was published in 1915...and they seem to hold up very well. Well, I liked them. By the way, if you don't recognize the title as some I've talked to didn't...Disney's The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh was based on the "center" of the story.Also "by the way", these seem to be totally out of print. I've seen a few used and I believe they may be available for The Kindle (I don't have one). Frustrating.
—Mike (the Paladin)
