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Between 1904 and 1907, two young journalists called Bertram
Fletcher Robinson ('Bobbles') and PG Wodehouse ('Plum') co-authored
four satirical playlets together - each is a lampooning review of
the previous year's news. These works were originally published in
the "Daily Express", "Vanity Fair" and "The World". Robinson
(1870-1907) had previously assisted Arthur Conan Doyle with "The
Hound of the Baskervilles" (1901) and also enjoyed some success
with his own fictional detective, Addington Peace (1904-1905).
Later, Wodehouse (1881-1975) would achieve worldwide acclaim for
his series of stories and books that feature both Reginald Jeeves
and Bertram Wilberforce Wooster (1915-1974). Now all four
Robinson/Wodehouse playlets are reavailable for the first time in
this aptly named anthology, "Bobbles & Plum". This book
provides the reader with a fascinating glimpse into the evolving
mind of two of the finest young humorists of their generation.
When the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is
accused of murder, adultery and plagiarism, there is only one team
that can clear his name. Holmes and Watson, with the help of a
little time travel, head to Devon to solve the most important
mystery they have ever faced. After all, if Conan Doyle is found
guilty, then it could spell the end of the Sherlock Holmes legacy.
In January 1904, three men were elected to a small and secretive
London-based criminological society referred to by its members as
"Our Society." Members of this society would meet at each other's
homes to discuss real-life crimes and ideas for stories. The three
men were close friends and each, in his own way, became a
successful crime writer. The first was Max Pemberton, a popular
late Victorian and Edwardian novelist, who had several bestsellers,
such as 'The Iron Pirate' to his name; the second was Bertram
Fletcher Robinson, a man of many talents, who sadly died young, and
before the full extent of these talents could be realised; and the
third, Arthur Conan Doyle. These three friends formed a creative
partnership that remains practically unique within the annals of
popular fiction. Robinson's collaboration with Doyle over 'The
Hound of the Baskervilles', belongs to literary folk lore, but
Robinson's dealings with Pemberton were likewise fruitful. During
January 1907, Robinson contracted typhoid and became terminally
ill. Shortly before he died, Robinson drafted some notes for an
adventure story and asked Pemberton to write it for him. The result
was 'Wheels of Anarchy'. It appears that Robinson and Pemberton had
discussed this tale with Doyle, but in any event, the final
narrative technique and literary devices, strongly resemble those
used by Dr. John H. Watson to chronicle the adventures of Sherlock
Holmes. Robinson, however, the Cambridge 'Varsity sportsman, and
Edwardian gentleman, lives on through both Bruce Driscoll, the
narrator and hero of 'Wheels of Anarchy', and Edward E. Malone, the
narrator and hero of Doyle's novel, 'The Lost World'. 'Wheels of
Anarchy' is not only a rip-roaring adventure story, that makes
James Bond look like a stay at home, but also a testament to the
friendship between Pemberton, Robinson and Doyle. It should engage
Sherlock Holmes fans and aficionados of the adventure and mystery
genres alike.
Rugby Football was the first volume in the successful nine-part
series on Sports and Pastimes that was written for the Isthmian
Library between 1896 and 1901. It was also one of the first rugby
books to be written after members of the Rugby Football Union
became bitterly divided over a proposal to pay match expenses to
players. During 1896, the R.F.U. split and two new rugby codes were
born; the strictly amateur code of Rugby Union and the more
professionally inclined code of Rugby League. Bertram Fletcher
Robinson was a supporter of amateurism in sport and he felt that
the time was ripe to chart the birth of Rugby Union as a distinct
branch of Rugby Football. During the 1890s, The Times newspaper
described Fletcher Robinson as a household name within rugby
circles . Robinson played as a Forward alongside many international
players for both the Cambridge University Rugby Football Club 1st
XV and the Combined Oxford & Cambridge University Rugby
Football Club XV. According to his obituary in the Daily Express
newspaper, he would have been capped for England but for an
accident. Hence he was well qualified to write an anecdotal account
of the origin of Rugby Union. Rugby Football details the laws,
training techniques and tactics that were specific to Rugby Union
during its nascent period. It also reviews the development of Rugby
Union in British educational institutions and as a global
international sport. Rugby Football includes contributions from
several other historical rugby figures: Frank Mitchell (Cambridge
University & England), Richard Henry Burdon Cattell (Oxford
University, Blackheath, Moseley, Barbarians, Midland Counties &
England), Charles James Nicol Fleming (Oxford University &
Scotland), Gregor MacGregor (Cambridge University, Barbarians &
Scotland) and Henry Barrington Tristram (Oxford University &
England).
During 1868, Thomas Gibson Bowles founded an influential British
periodical entitled "Vanity Fair". It was published weekly and
included both serial fiction and articles on fashion, current
affairs, theatre, books and social events. Bowles also used "Vanity
Fair" to expose what he perceived to be the contemporary vanities
of Victorian high-society. This led him to introduce cartoon
caricatures of famous people, drawn by artists such as Ape (Carlo
Pellegrini, 1838-1889) and most famously, Spy (Leslie Ward,
1851-1922). Each cartoon was accompanied by a short, entertaining
and often cutting biography. It has been suggested that Bowles
scribed over two-thousand biographies during the forty-six years
that "Vanity Fair" was in existence (1868-1914) under the pseudonym
of Jehu Junior (named partially after a Biblical King who
vanquished his enemies with extreme vigour). This is improbable, as
Bowles sold the magazine during 1889 and thereafter became an
extremely active Politician. It is far more probable that many of
the Jehu Juniors were written by subsequent editors that included
Bertram Fletcher Robinson. Bertram Fletcher Robinson edited "Vanity
Fair" between 1904 and 1907. During his editorship, he began
advertising widely and also swapped publishing house from Arthur
Evans to Harmsworth. These actions coupled with the recruitment of
writers such as PG Wodehouse saw an increase in the readership of
"Vanity Fair". Between December 1905 and February 1907, Robinson
also had a series of fifteen articles entitled "Chronicles in
Cartoon" published in "The Windsor Magazine". Within these
articles, Robinson reviews the most prominent caricatures and
accompanying Jehu Juniors to appear in "Vanity Fair" between 1868
and 1907. Collectively, these articles provide a fascinating
insight into every aspect of late Victorian-life and they will
interest both collectors of the famous caricatures and historians.
During January 1907, Bertram Fletcher Robinson died aged just 36
years. His untimely death occurred just two months after he
relinquished the editorship of "Vanity Fair" and just one month
before the conclusion of his serialization, "Chronicles in
Cartoon". It is very likely that had he lived, he would have sought
to have the fifteen items that were published in "The Windsor
Magazine" compiled and republished in book form. Moreover, it is
probable that he would have considered this work to be his magnum
opus given that he was a graduate of History from Cambridge
University. This book affords Robinson that posthumous opportunity.
Aside Arthur Conan Doyle is a collection of twenty original short
stories by the twentieth Century Editor and Journalist, Bertram
Fletcher Robinson (1870-1907). He is perhaps best remembered for
assisting Arthur Conan Doyle with the story, The Hound of the
Baskervilles (1901). Thereafter, Fletcher Robinson wrote fifty-four
stories before his tragically early death. Throughout this period,
Conan Doyle and Fletcher Robinson remained close friends and each
man appears to have influenced the other man's work. This book was
written as a tribute to the special friendship between Fletcher
Robinson and Conan Doyle; a friendship that enriched British
literary history.
This biographical work examines the life of Bertram Fletcher
Robinson who acted as assistant plot producer to Arthur Conan Doyle
for the Sherlock Holmes story "The Hound of the Baskervilles."
The first biography about Bertram Fletcher Robinson, who acted as
'assistant plot producer' to Arthur Conan Doyle over the Sherlock
Holmes story The Hound of the Baskervilles (1901/02).
The definitive tour guide for anyone looking to retrace the steps,
physically or virtually, of Arthur Conan Doyle during his time in
Devon and see the places that inspired the Sherlock Holmes stories.
The book features a comprehensive tour map with GPS co-ordinates
for around thirty key sites. Arthur Conan Doyle is best remembered
for writing sixty tales that feature his legendary detective,
Sherlock Holmes. Between 1882 and 1923, Doyle visited Devon on no
fewer than ten occasions and he resided there for some four months
in total. During 1882, Dr. George Turnavine Budd employed Doyle as
a junior physician at his surgery in West Devon. Their partnership
was dissolved after just seven weeks and Doyle was compelled to
turn increasingly to writing in order to supplement his income.
During 1891 and 1892, George Newnes elevated Sherlock Holmes to
stardom via the pages of his Strand Magazine. He then used some of
the ensuing profits to build a summer home in North Devon. In July
1900, Doyle befriended a young journalist called Bertram Fletcher
Robinson from South Devon. This friendship inspired Doyle to
resurrect Holmes for his highly successful supreme adventure, The
Hound of the Baskervilles. Once again, Newnes used some of the
resulting profits to fund civic improvements in North Devon. These
links are further explored within Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock
Holmes and Devon - A Complete Tour Guide and Companion.
Tras las huellas de Arthur Conan Doyle. Un Viaje Ilustrado por
Devon. The Spanish translation from the original English. Between
1882 and 1923, Conan Doyle, the creator of the legendary character
of Sherlock Holmes, visited Devon on no fewer than ten separate
occasions and resided for no less than four months in total. This
book sets these visits within the wider context of Conan Doyles
life and works.
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