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In the Fog
1901. Illustrated by Thomas Mitchell Peirce and F. D. Steele. Harding, novelist and journalist begins In the Fog with: The Grill is the club most difficult of access in the world. To be placed on its rolls distinguishes the new member as greatly as though he had received a vacant Garter or had been caricatured in Vanity Fair. Men who belong to the Grill Club never mention that fact. If you were to ask one of them which clubs he frequents, he will name all save that particular one. He is afraid if he told you he belonged to the Grill, that it would sound like boasting.
184 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1901
About the author
Richard Harding Davis
389 books24 followersRichard Harding Davis (1864–1916) was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
June 6, 2023
An entertaining, easy to read story from 1901
An interesting, well written story by one of the most notable American journalists and adventurers of the late 1800's - early 1900's. Some would say that he was the most successful and famous of the period.
The story is an unusual sort of mystery. However, the entire point of the story, despite murder and exotic villains, is to distract a powerful member of parliament from speaking and voting in favour of five new British battleships. To this purpose, five strangers cooperate to "save the British taxpayer the cost of five more battleships, many millions of pounds.” Of course, even if successful, they would not actually save the taxpayers a penny. In the real world, the politicians would just spend the money on something else. Some of the five are playing the game just for the excitement and adventure of it.
A short piece well worth the time expended in reading it.
An interesting, well written story by one of the most notable American journalists and adventurers of the late 1800's - early 1900's. Some would say that he was the most successful and famous of the period.
The story is an unusual sort of mystery. However, the entire point of the story, despite murder and exotic villains, is to distract a powerful member of parliament from speaking and voting in favour of five new British battleships. To this purpose, five strangers cooperate to "save the British taxpayer the cost of five more battleships, many millions of pounds.” Of course, even if successful, they would not actually save the taxpayers a penny. In the real world, the politicians would just spend the money on something else. Some of the five are playing the game just for the excitement and adventure of it.
A short piece well worth the time expended in reading it.
February 25, 2018
Me ha parecido un relato ingenioso y muy bien llevado pero no ha superado el sopor que me despiertan las novelas detectivescas (y eso que no llega a las 100 páginas!).
Lo admito, es un problema personal, si os gustan las novelas de misterio, este relato os encantará.
Lo admito, es un problema personal, si os gustan las novelas de misterio, este relato os encantará.
August 20, 2020
3.5 rounded down. A very short mystery that was free from Amazon about a year ago for Kindle.
This book is my 61st of the year and ends my 2020 reading challenge. I should have added another 25 books if I had known how much reading time I would have this year!
Three British gentlemen in a club tell a mystery in parts hoping to keep a member of Parliament from going to the house to vote on a Naval bill to build warships. I wasn't counting this towards my WWI novels, but it was written in 1903 so maybe those boats would have been in the war!
The writer was described as a "Gibson Man". Info from Goodreads:
Richard Harding Davis (April 18, 1864 – April 11, 1916) was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
This book is my 61st of the year and ends my 2020 reading challenge. I should have added another 25 books if I had known how much reading time I would have this year!
Three British gentlemen in a club tell a mystery in parts hoping to keep a member of Parliament from going to the house to vote on a Naval bill to build warships. I wasn't counting this towards my WWI novels, but it was written in 1903 so maybe those boats would have been in the war!
The writer was described as a "Gibson Man". Info from Goodreads:
Richard Harding Davis (April 18, 1864 – April 11, 1916) was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
July 16, 2014
14 JUL 2014 -- having read and enjoyed Somewhere in France by Harding Davis, I am hoping for the same result with this one.
May be downloaded for free here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7884
And because Somewhere in France is a great read, you may download it here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11144
Trust me, you will enjoy it.
15 JUL 2014 -- This excerpt describes Sir Andrew and his "secret" vice of reading -- "Since I have been a member of Parliament I have never seen him in the library without a shilling shocker in his hands. He brings them even into the sacred precincts of the House, and from the Government benches reads them concealed inside his hat. Once started on a tale of murder, robbery, and sudden death, nothing can tear him from it, not even the call of the division bell, nor of hunger, nor the prayers of the party Whip. He gave up his country house because when he journeyed to it in the train he would become so absorbed in his detective stories that he was invariably carried past his station."
Sound familiar? It is all of us; right? I know I am guilty.
16 JUL 2014 -- a good, solid mystery. The twist at the end elevates this from a 3 to a 4. Super!
May be downloaded for free here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7884
And because Somewhere in France is a great read, you may download it here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11144
Trust me, you will enjoy it.
15 JUL 2014 -- This excerpt describes Sir Andrew and his "secret" vice of reading -- "Since I have been a member of Parliament I have never seen him in the library without a shilling shocker in his hands. He brings them even into the sacred precincts of the House, and from the Government benches reads them concealed inside his hat. Once started on a tale of murder, robbery, and sudden death, nothing can tear him from it, not even the call of the division bell, nor of hunger, nor the prayers of the party Whip. He gave up his country house because when he journeyed to it in the train he would become so absorbed in his detective stories that he was invariably carried past his station."
Sound familiar? It is all of us; right? I know I am guilty.
16 JUL 2014 -- a good, solid mystery. The twist at the end elevates this from a 3 to a 4. Super!
May 19, 2019
Whew, this one’s a twisty mystery! With clues stacked one on top of the other and plenty of solving to attempt. It was very unusual and the ending has a fun surprise that I never saw coming. If you want a short mystery that surprises you all the way, give this one a try.
Listened on Librivox.
Listened on Librivox.
September 17, 2022
4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. My, what a story! Although short, it was absolutely hooking. The characters were all very enjoyable and I particularly sympathized with the old gentleman bookworm. (The solution, of course, was not to stop reading.) The story was a series of twists and ended with an absolutely astonishing couple of final quirks. The humour was epic and I loved the glimpse into late 1800s life.
*probably includes language*
A Favourite Quote: Where he has the advantage over the ordinary police official is in the fact that he possesses imagination. He imagines himself to be the criminal, imagines how he would act under the same circumstances, and he imagines to such purpose that he generally finds the man he wants.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Since I have been a member of Parliament I have never seen him in the library without a shilling shocker in his hands. He brings them even into the sacred precincts of the House, and from the Government benches reads them concealed inside his hat. Once started on a tale of murder, robbery, and sudden death, nothing can tear him from it, not even the call of the division bell, nor of hunger, nor the prayers of the party Whip. He gave up his country house because when he journeyed to it in the train he would become so absorbed in his detective stories that he was invariably carried past his station.”
*probably includes language*
A Favourite Quote: Where he has the advantage over the ordinary police official is in the fact that he possesses imagination. He imagines himself to be the criminal, imagines how he would act under the same circumstances, and he imagines to such purpose that he generally finds the man he wants.
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Since I have been a member of Parliament I have never seen him in the library without a shilling shocker in his hands. He brings them even into the sacred precincts of the House, and from the Government benches reads them concealed inside his hat. Once started on a tale of murder, robbery, and sudden death, nothing can tear him from it, not even the call of the division bell, nor of hunger, nor the prayers of the party Whip. He gave up his country house because when he journeyed to it in the train he would become so absorbed in his detective stories that he was invariably carried past his station.”
July 5, 2020
Estamos ante una historia que si bien comienza siendo un tanto normalilla, finaliza dando un vuelco inesperado y cambiando por completo su base. No estamos sólo ante lo que podríamos considerar una historia de intriga/novela negra ordinaria, sino también ante una denuncia o reivindicación (invitación, incluso) del autor que podrá captarse con el fondo de la historia. Para ello tendremos que prestar atención a las características y procedencia de los personajes.
No merece mucho la pena centrarnos en si se empatiza o no con los personajes, puesto que no hay una acción suficiente en la historia o un papel destacado de ninguno de ellos como para realizar valoraciones de este tipo. Si que es cierto que en la primera parte de la historia se puede inferir un cierto "atontamiento" del protagonista, pero será algo pasajero por el propio cambio de sentido de la historia.
Lo recomiendo para aquellas ocasiones en que apatezca leer algo que no sea muy largo o denso.
NOTA: 7/10
No merece mucho la pena centrarnos en si se empatiza o no con los personajes, puesto que no hay una acción suficiente en la historia o un papel destacado de ninguno de ellos como para realizar valoraciones de este tipo. Si que es cierto que en la primera parte de la historia se puede inferir un cierto "atontamiento" del protagonista, pero será algo pasajero por el propio cambio de sentido de la historia.
Lo recomiendo para aquellas ocasiones en que apatezca leer algo que no sea muy largo o denso.
NOTA: 7/10
May 1, 2021
44/2021 Si conseguís encontrar este libro (no es tarea fácil) ya solamente necesitáis una hora para leerlo.
Y va a ser una hora muy bien empleada. En un club inglés, de estos típicos y rancísimos que son solamente señores, cuatro de ellos le cuentan a un quinto la historia de un doble asesinato.
Hay muertos (claro), robos, espías internacionales y un plan de giros de guión muy divertidos. Me lo he pasado fenomenal, lo lees del tirón y no puedes parar.
Es la clase de lectura que me hace feliz en 2021
Y va a ser una hora muy bien empleada. En un club inglés, de estos típicos y rancísimos que son solamente señores, cuatro de ellos le cuentan a un quinto la historia de un doble asesinato.
Hay muertos (claro), robos, espías internacionales y un plan de giros de guión muy divertidos. Me lo he pasado fenomenal, lo lees del tirón y no puedes parar.
Es la clase de lectura que me hace feliz en 2021
August 14, 2023
In The Fog is a book written in 1901 by Richard Harding Davis. It is a short book, mine is around 160 pages or so. How I ended up with this I'll never know, but here it is. It is old and falling apart, but here it is. As for the author:
Richard Harding Davis was an American journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish–American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt. He also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion, and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
I didn't know any of that. I didn't know he was a war correspondent, that he helped Theodore Roosevelt become president, that he started the magazine and the he made the clean shaven look popular. I wonder if that means before he came around all men grew beards. It is enough to make me want to go look at pictures of men, before 1901 at least. Almost enough but not quite. He started as a journalist and gained attention writing on controversial subjects like abortion, suicide and execution. He reported on the Johnstown flood which happened right here in my state. He wrote about war, and he wrote a whole bunch of books of which In The Fog is one of. The one I read anyway. Here is the first line of the story:
The Grill is the club most difficult of access in the world. To be placed on its rolls distinguishes the new member as greatly as though he had received a vacant Garter or had been caricatured in “Vanity Fair.”
It goes on to say that men who belong to the club never mention the fact. If you would ask a man which clubs he belongs to he would never mention The Grill. It dates back to the days of Shakespeare's Theatre, Charles the Second belonged, they still use sand to blot the ink when writing letters, which seems very strange. All kinds of things like that. I was wondering if it was so secret how anyone ever managed to join it. But they did, somehow. Well there was this one foggy night after the great fog of 1897, which I will assume was foggier than most fogs, five men are in the club, four were eating their supper and one was reading a mystery book.
The guy reading in peace some ways away from the others is Sir Andrew, and one of the other men makes the comment that if this was the 18th century he would have him bound and gagged and held prisoner to prevent him from speaking in the House that night. It seems the Navy Increase Bill is to be voted on, and our gentleman with the black pearl, he's the guy who's coming up with this plan, he doesn't want this passed. Sir Andrew is to speak for it that night and with his influence, it will go through. If it passes, he says, it will cost the British taxpayer the cost of five more battleships, many millions of pounds.
If only he could be kept away from the court for a few hours the bill won't pass and everything will be wonderful, that's what the guy with the pearl says anyway. Seeing that the book Sir Andrew is reading is a mystery gives the American fellow (yes, one of the four is an American) an idea, a way to keep Sir Andrew at the club for a few more hours. He begins telling a story of something that happened in the fog last night, a mystery that is baffling the police. Right away the others beg him to tell the story, and seeing Sir Andrew becoming interested he begins:
“No one but the police has heard of it,” he murmured, “and they only through me. It is a remarkable crime, to, which, unfortunately, I am the only person who can bear witness. Because I am the only witness, I am, in spite of my immunity as a diplomat, detained in London by the authorities of Scotland Yard. My name,” he said, inclining his head politely, “is Sears, Lieutenant Ripley Sears of the United States Navy, at present Naval Attache to the Court of Russia. Had I not been detained to-day by the police I would have started this morning for Petersburg.”
He had spent the night visiting with a friend, and while walking back to the hotel he was staying at, got lost in the fog. After wandering around without being able to see a thing, finally he sees a door open and a man walk out into the fog. He speaks to the man, but he just rushes by him, so our American enters the house and there he finds a man seated on a divan,
Apparently the man was bent upon ignoring me, but as all I wished was to apologize for my intrusion and to leave the house, I walked up to the alcove and peered around it. Inside the screen was a divan piled with cushions, and on the end of it nearer me the man was sitting. He was a young Englishman with light yellow hair and a deeply bronzed face.
“He was seated with his arms stretched out along the back of the divan, and with his head resting against a cushion. His attitude was one of complete ease. But his mouth had fallen open, and his eyes were set with an expression of utter horror. At the first glance I saw that he was quite dead.
“For a flash of time I was too startled to act, but in the same flash I was convinced that the man had met his death from no accident, that he had not died through any ordinary failure of the laws of nature. The expression on his face was much too terrible to be misinterpreted. It spoke as eloquently as words. It told me that before the end had come he had watched his death approach and threaten him.
“I was so sure he had been murdered that I instinctively looked on the floor for the weapon, and, at the same moment, out of concern for my own safety, quickly behind me; but the silence of the house continued unbroken.
“The single candle was still flickering in the drought, and showed only the white cloth. The rest of the room was draped in shadows. I picked up the candle, and, lifting it high above my head, moved around the corner of the table. Either my nerves were on such a stretch that no shock could strain them further, or my mind was inoculated to horrors, for I did not cry out at what I saw nor retreat from it. Immediately at my feet was the body of a beautiful woman, lying at full length upon the floor, her arms flung out on either side of her, and her white face and shoulders gleaming dully in the unsteady light of the candle. Around her throat was a great chain of diamonds, and the light played upon these and made them flash and blaze in tiny flames. But the woman who wore them was dead, and I was so certain as to how she had died that without an instant’s hesitation I dropped on my knees beside her and placed my hands above her heart. My fingers again touched the thin slit of a wound.
Well, who are these people and why are they dead? The American is now at the end of his story, so we don't know who they are, but surprisingly, the next man in the room, the man with the black tie, picks up the story and tells us who this woman is and how she had once robbed him of the Czarina's diamonds. If you want to know what the Czarina's diamonds are, read the book. When that is finished the next man took over the story and so on until it is much too late for poor Sir Andrew to make it to the house for the vote. But it turns out that doesn't matter, and it turns out to have quite the surprise ending, which I can't say any more about, except perhaps this "story" wasn't just a story after all. There are even illustrations, what could be better? Happy reading.
Richard Harding Davis was an American journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish–American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt. He also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion, and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.
I didn't know any of that. I didn't know he was a war correspondent, that he helped Theodore Roosevelt become president, that he started the magazine and the he made the clean shaven look popular. I wonder if that means before he came around all men grew beards. It is enough to make me want to go look at pictures of men, before 1901 at least. Almost enough but not quite. He started as a journalist and gained attention writing on controversial subjects like abortion, suicide and execution. He reported on the Johnstown flood which happened right here in my state. He wrote about war, and he wrote a whole bunch of books of which In The Fog is one of. The one I read anyway. Here is the first line of the story:
The Grill is the club most difficult of access in the world. To be placed on its rolls distinguishes the new member as greatly as though he had received a vacant Garter or had been caricatured in “Vanity Fair.”
It goes on to say that men who belong to the club never mention the fact. If you would ask a man which clubs he belongs to he would never mention The Grill. It dates back to the days of Shakespeare's Theatre, Charles the Second belonged, they still use sand to blot the ink when writing letters, which seems very strange. All kinds of things like that. I was wondering if it was so secret how anyone ever managed to join it. But they did, somehow. Well there was this one foggy night after the great fog of 1897, which I will assume was foggier than most fogs, five men are in the club, four were eating their supper and one was reading a mystery book.
The guy reading in peace some ways away from the others is Sir Andrew, and one of the other men makes the comment that if this was the 18th century he would have him bound and gagged and held prisoner to prevent him from speaking in the House that night. It seems the Navy Increase Bill is to be voted on, and our gentleman with the black pearl, he's the guy who's coming up with this plan, he doesn't want this passed. Sir Andrew is to speak for it that night and with his influence, it will go through. If it passes, he says, it will cost the British taxpayer the cost of five more battleships, many millions of pounds.
If only he could be kept away from the court for a few hours the bill won't pass and everything will be wonderful, that's what the guy with the pearl says anyway. Seeing that the book Sir Andrew is reading is a mystery gives the American fellow (yes, one of the four is an American) an idea, a way to keep Sir Andrew at the club for a few more hours. He begins telling a story of something that happened in the fog last night, a mystery that is baffling the police. Right away the others beg him to tell the story, and seeing Sir Andrew becoming interested he begins:
“No one but the police has heard of it,” he murmured, “and they only through me. It is a remarkable crime, to, which, unfortunately, I am the only person who can bear witness. Because I am the only witness, I am, in spite of my immunity as a diplomat, detained in London by the authorities of Scotland Yard. My name,” he said, inclining his head politely, “is Sears, Lieutenant Ripley Sears of the United States Navy, at present Naval Attache to the Court of Russia. Had I not been detained to-day by the police I would have started this morning for Petersburg.”
He had spent the night visiting with a friend, and while walking back to the hotel he was staying at, got lost in the fog. After wandering around without being able to see a thing, finally he sees a door open and a man walk out into the fog. He speaks to the man, but he just rushes by him, so our American enters the house and there he finds a man seated on a divan,
Apparently the man was bent upon ignoring me, but as all I wished was to apologize for my intrusion and to leave the house, I walked up to the alcove and peered around it. Inside the screen was a divan piled with cushions, and on the end of it nearer me the man was sitting. He was a young Englishman with light yellow hair and a deeply bronzed face.
“He was seated with his arms stretched out along the back of the divan, and with his head resting against a cushion. His attitude was one of complete ease. But his mouth had fallen open, and his eyes were set with an expression of utter horror. At the first glance I saw that he was quite dead.
“For a flash of time I was too startled to act, but in the same flash I was convinced that the man had met his death from no accident, that he had not died through any ordinary failure of the laws of nature. The expression on his face was much too terrible to be misinterpreted. It spoke as eloquently as words. It told me that before the end had come he had watched his death approach and threaten him.
“I was so sure he had been murdered that I instinctively looked on the floor for the weapon, and, at the same moment, out of concern for my own safety, quickly behind me; but the silence of the house continued unbroken.
“The single candle was still flickering in the drought, and showed only the white cloth. The rest of the room was draped in shadows. I picked up the candle, and, lifting it high above my head, moved around the corner of the table. Either my nerves were on such a stretch that no shock could strain them further, or my mind was inoculated to horrors, for I did not cry out at what I saw nor retreat from it. Immediately at my feet was the body of a beautiful woman, lying at full length upon the floor, her arms flung out on either side of her, and her white face and shoulders gleaming dully in the unsteady light of the candle. Around her throat was a great chain of diamonds, and the light played upon these and made them flash and blaze in tiny flames. But the woman who wore them was dead, and I was so certain as to how she had died that without an instant’s hesitation I dropped on my knees beside her and placed my hands above her heart. My fingers again touched the thin slit of a wound.
Well, who are these people and why are they dead? The American is now at the end of his story, so we don't know who they are, but surprisingly, the next man in the room, the man with the black tie, picks up the story and tells us who this woman is and how she had once robbed him of the Czarina's diamonds. If you want to know what the Czarina's diamonds are, read the book. When that is finished the next man took over the story and so on until it is much too late for poor Sir Andrew to make it to the house for the vote. But it turns out that doesn't matter, and it turns out to have quite the surprise ending, which I can't say any more about, except perhaps this "story" wasn't just a story after all. There are even illustrations, what could be better? Happy reading.
December 29, 2015
Ardicia sigue publicando pequeños textos deliciosos envueltos de la mejor forma posible: sus portadas son atractivas y el papel incluso huele bien. Richard Harding Davis es un escritor y periodista norteamericano de principios del siglo XX prácticamente inédito en español y es un acierto rescatar esta novelita aparentemente policiaca que termina siendo un metarrelato sobre el género. Especialmente inquietante es el primer tercio de la historia, en el que la niebla del título es, además de la inequívoca ambientación, más allá de tópico, una metáfora sobre el conocimiento humano pero también de la experiencia lectora, que sólo puede de ser orientada por la habilidad del autor al llenar de contenido ese vacío, ese trasunto de la página en blanco. La resolución final del relato es una reproducción en abismo de este principio, esta vez a través del propio relato de los personajes, auténticos autores de la novela.
March 18, 2022
رواية تسرد ثلاث قصص متداخلة، يحكيها مجموعة من الأشخاص في ناد خاص من أجل إلهاء أحد أعضاء البرلمان عن جلسة هامة، لمنعه من التصويت لصالح زيادة نفقة تسليح الجيش على حساب الشعب.
May 28, 2019
This was really a fun short mystery. A group of men are at the club, you know, back in those days where men had dinner, drinks and cigars at men only locales, at least in England. I don't know if that tradition made it across the pond to here. On the other hand, here in Texas, good old boys and cowboys do enjoy meeting at local diners to just hang out and "chew the fat" as it's called.
As I was saying before I diverted myself, four men are seated around a table, four strangers as it were. One, known only as "the man with a pearl" is talking out loud to himself, but his companions soon join his conversation.
The man's complaint is toward another man who is seated in a comfortable chair in front of the fire and out of hearing. He is engrossed in reading the newspaper.
The man with a pearl laments to his companions at the table that the man yonder is a VIP in Parliament and is trying to get a particular bill passed. The vote will soon arrive and he wished he knew of a way to detain the man in order to keep him from making any influential speeches in Parliament.
One of the other men comment that the man seems to be an avid reader and quite an intellectual. The man with the pearl snorts. No! The man only reads mysteries.
Soon the man in question folds up his paper, puts it under his arm and makes his exit.
As he passes the group at the table, the man with the pearl hails him. The Parliament man says he is in a hurry and cannot stay, but the man with the pearl tells him that he is working on a very serious murder case.
This intrigues the Parliament man (sorry, I don't know what else to call him. Let's say P.M.) and he stays to hear the story.
What happens next is all the men at the table conspire to detain the man so each pick up the thread of the story when the previous man finishes.
Each story is complete in itself and very diverting, as the P.M. also finds and is glued to their every word.
And the ending is one of the best I've read in a long time, but I refuse to say more. Read the story for yourself. I'm sure it's in the public domain. I bought it as a part of the British Mystery Pack for my Kindle.
As I was saying before I diverted myself, four men are seated around a table, four strangers as it were. One, known only as "the man with a pearl" is talking out loud to himself, but his companions soon join his conversation.
The man's complaint is toward another man who is seated in a comfortable chair in front of the fire and out of hearing. He is engrossed in reading the newspaper.
The man with a pearl laments to his companions at the table that the man yonder is a VIP in Parliament and is trying to get a particular bill passed. The vote will soon arrive and he wished he knew of a way to detain the man in order to keep him from making any influential speeches in Parliament.
One of the other men comment that the man seems to be an avid reader and quite an intellectual. The man with the pearl snorts. No! The man only reads mysteries.
Soon the man in question folds up his paper, puts it under his arm and makes his exit.
As he passes the group at the table, the man with the pearl hails him. The Parliament man says he is in a hurry and cannot stay, but the man with the pearl tells him that he is working on a very serious murder case.
This intrigues the Parliament man (sorry, I don't know what else to call him. Let's say P.M.) and he stays to hear the story.
What happens next is all the men at the table conspire to detain the man so each pick up the thread of the story when the previous man finishes.
Each story is complete in itself and very diverting, as the P.M. also finds and is glued to their every word.
And the ending is one of the best I've read in a long time, but I refuse to say more. Read the story for yourself. I'm sure it's in the public domain. I bought it as a part of the British Mystery Pack for my Kindle.
Read
June 15, 2022القراءة الأولي لريتشارد ديفيز .. رواية من الصعب تقييمها، وهذا حالي دائما مع الأدب الإنجليزي الكلاسيكي، ربما لأنني ابتعدت كثيرا عنه الفترة الاخيرة .. وكل ما يمكنني قوله إنني أحببت الجو العام للرواية، أحببت العصر .. الزمن .. فكرة الغرباء حول طاولة واحدة يتحدثون معا ولكل منهم غرض مختلف ...
أعجبتني الفكرة .. إلا أنني للأسف لم اندمج كثيرا .. تكفيني تجربة اسم جديد في الأدب .. هذا وحده يسعدني،،
November 23, 2017
I'm always impressed when books hold up this well over time. Originally published in 1901, this is a quick and enjoyable read. Recommended to anyone who loves quick story of suspense and intrigue.
June 17, 2024
This is a short, fun read and should go on the list Inter-Connected Short Stories. Four men at an ultra-exclusive men's club in London tell stories of a Russian princess while a fifth man listens in. This fifth man is an MP and is supposed to be heading to the House later to give a speech in favor of a controversial bill. We, too, get to enjoy the stories of this notorious Russian princess. Very entertaining with a devilish twist of an ending.
I thought the writing better than we might expect for the early 20th Century time period. Richard Harding Davis was a journalist and war correspondent. Although I don't know when I'd fit one in, I think I'll explore his listing. I'm giving this only 3 stars, but that is because it is so very very short. It's probably worth one more star - especially for the ending.
I thought the writing better than we might expect for the early 20th Century time period. Richard Harding Davis was a journalist and war correspondent. Although I don't know when I'd fit one in, I think I'll explore his listing. I'm giving this only 3 stars, but that is because it is so very very short. It's probably worth one more star - especially for the ending.
May 30, 2015
A beautiful and decadent Russian princess with a scandalous past, a fog that engulfs everything, a murder, an explorer believed to have died in Africa returns to London... There's basically everything you need for a fun tale of mystery. The plot seems simple at first, but at the end there's a twist, and even after the conclusion the story spins once more. The first chapter's description of being lost in a fog is great, slightly oppressive, which alone would elevate the story even if the mystery itself wasn't good. A great bedtime story, actually.
January 8, 2021
A murder mystery from the end of the 19th C.
February 9, 2022
This was a short, entertaining read. Three British members and an American diplomat are gathered at a table in a very exclusive men's club, where they see a member of Parliament, reading a cheap copy of a mystery book. Apparently this man is renown for his love of this type of book, but he has to get to Westminster in order to submit a bill asking that the government buy five new warships for the Navy, costing the country millions of pounds. These members then proceed, one by one, to speak loudly of a mystery that each of them know part of.
This first published in 1901 would seem to be a precursor, of an idea taken up by the Detection club when they issued The Floating Admiral in 1931, where many authors gathered together.
This first published in 1901 would seem to be a precursor, of an idea taken up by the Detection club when they issued The Floating Admiral in 1931, where many authors gathered together.
March 16, 2023
This was a short but very enjoyable "mystery." Almost any comments I can make about the story tend to become spoilers to a new reader. I will only say it was very clearly written with a plot that was easy to follow. The twists and turns are all designed to take you, breathless and confused, to a conclusion that is more satisfying than cigars and brandy after dinner.
April 10, 2024
Despite the early announcement of two murder victims, I might still classify this as a “cozy mystery” in view of the chummy gentlemen’s-club setting and the style of narrative. The story is told verbally by a series of speakers and it soon becomes apparent that at least one of them may be an “unreliable narrator”. There appear to be several “red herrings” and the relationships among the narrators seem to be shifting as the tale unfolds. The atmosphere, the character of the story, the personalities of the speakers are all in keeping with London, 1901. Be prepared for several surprising revelations.
All of the forgoing signposts will make it clear what kind of mystery this is; all the classic elements are there.
An entertaining spoof, ideally read on a dark and foggy night, perhaps accompanied by a tot of brandy beside an open fireplace.
All of the forgoing signposts will make it clear what kind of mystery this is; all the classic elements are there.
An entertaining spoof, ideally read on a dark and foggy night, perhaps accompanied by a tot of brandy beside an open fireplace.
January 9, 2020
Clever!
January 12, 2023
This is a very clever mystery which is a 'twist in the tale'. Men meet at an exclusive London club. One, a member of Parliment is finishing his reading of a novel. As he begins to depart to return to the House a story unfolds of murder. During one of London's infamous fogs An Earl's heir and a Russian princess have been discovered dead by a passer by. The passer by being another of the men in the club. Two other men share their stories involving one or more of the victims. The surprises and twists just keep coming. Dead clever.
March 6, 2016
Recommended. A pleasant, interesting plot with a surprising twist at the end. I even like the antagonists in this one. Second reading & will again when I need to get away from the f-bombs that are supposed to pass for 'talent' in those who write such. Recommended for a refreshing romp and an inoffensive way or you can watch the "talent" on TV.
Available for free at:
Librivox.org
and
Gutenberg.org
Available for free at:
Librivox.org
and
Gutenberg.org
November 9, 2015
Las ediciones de Ardicia me vuelven loca. Y esta encima es de una novelita de misterio, con un par de cadáveres y con robos de joyas.
Con un gran giro final, del todo inesperado, Davis logra mantener la intriga a lo largo de las cortísimas 91 páginas de libro. Una delicia.
Con un gran giro final, del todo inesperado, Davis logra mantener la intriga a lo largo de las cortísimas 91 páginas de libro. Una delicia.
January 26, 2016
Una novelita muy corta y entretenida. Nada del otro mundo pero esa niebla y lo muy británico que resulta todo es una gozada.
September 29, 2018
A thoroughly enjoyable novella from 1901. Several members of a club (they don't know each other) spin a yarn to keep a Member of Parliament from attending a session to cast a vote (which they don't agree with). Each one plays off the prior's story. Twists and turns, and of course, a major twist at the end.
A very agreeable short read and very easy to get caught up in the story. If you can find this one, it's worth a day or two to immerse yourself.
A very agreeable short read and very easy to get caught up in the story. If you can find this one, it's worth a day or two to immerse yourself.
February 18, 2017
Simply brilliant!
November 22, 2017
So much fun! A classic written in 1901 and still an engaging and atmospheric mystery.
December 21, 2019
Book 2
In the Fog
Richard Harding Davis
1901
3/5
I don't know. This one is short, fast, plenty little twists, but kinda disjointed, as if it was written by two different people, only one of whom had an actual interest in the thing. There's a few jokes, most of which will raise a smile on the face of anyone who remembers the glorious days of early 20th century. Ey. But I did enjoy the premise of the book; five members of a gentlemen's club trying to keep one of their lot, a crime enthusiast, from an important parliament meeting by feeding him mystery stories about Russian princesses, murder, diamonds, the works.
In the Fog
Richard Harding Davis
1901
3/5
I don't know. This one is short, fast, plenty little twists, but kinda disjointed, as if it was written by two different people, only one of whom had an actual interest in the thing. There's a few jokes, most of which will raise a smile on the face of anyone who remembers the glorious days of early 20th century. Ey. But I did enjoy the premise of the book; five members of a gentlemen's club trying to keep one of their lot, a crime enthusiast, from an important parliament meeting by feeding him mystery stories about Russian princesses, murder, diamonds, the works.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews