- Paperback: 397 pages
- Publisher: MX Publishing (13 Dec 2010)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1907685316
- ISBN-13: 978-1907685316
- Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 20.3 x 2.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,434,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Product Description
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.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thanks to Paul R. Spiring and Brian W. Pugh, we know much more about Bertram Fletcher Robinson than we did a few years ago. At his death in 1907 he left a set of notes, which, as he requested, were developed by Max Pemberton into a novel, published in 1908. Now 'Wheels of Anarchy: The Story of an Assassin', edited by Hugh Cooke and Paul Spiring, has been reprinted in facsimile by MX Publishing Ltd., (London). Robinson or Pemberton may have discussed the story with their friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but the narrator, Bruce Ingersoll, is no Sherlock Holmes. Like the heroes of those other unputdownable Edwardian thrillers 'The Riddle of the Sands' and 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', he's an ordinary, decent, educated man with an adventurous streak. The peril he faces is extraordinary and strikingly modern - international terrorism. It's a gripping tale, grippingly told.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Paul Spiring has been largely instrumental in rescuing the memory of Bertram Fletcher Robinson from obscurity. Of late he has also been applying his not inconsiderable talents in trying to do the same for Sir Max Pemberton. Fletcher Robinson and Pemberton knew each other and both knew Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. At the turn of the last century, all three friends joined a small and secretive London-based criminological society which met at members homes to discuss real-life crimes and ideas for stories - they referred to it as Our Society.
Conan Doyles achievements in the field of crime writing speak for themselves but Robinsons true potential in the field was never to be fulfilled, his life cut tragically short at an all too young age by typhoid. In consequence his lasting claim to fame has not been his own work but through association with Conan Doyle in the genesis of the latters most famous story - The Hound of the Baskervilles. Pemberton was a popular late Victorian and Edwardian novelist with several best sellers to his credit, including The Iron Pirate.
Fletcher Robinson was also to have a hand in the creation of another rip-roaring adventure story - Wheels of Anarchy. Before he died, he left a set of notes which he asked Max Pemberton to develop into a novel. It is also known that he and Pemberton discussed the tale with Conan Doyle although there is no suggestion that the latter had any significant input into the final outcome.
Wheels of Anarchy: The Story of an Assassin, edited by Paul Spiring and Hugh Cooke has recently been reprinted in facsimile by MX Publishing. Fletcher Robinson lives on in the shape of Bruce Driscoll, the narrator and hero of the story and there is the constant reminder of the Watsonian influence in the narrative technique and literary devices employed.
Those who enjoy a good adventure and mystery story should find plenty to engage with in Wheels of Anarchy. Like myself, readers may also be intrigued to discover that international terrorism is by no means a recent phenomenon!
Conan Doyles achievements in the field of crime writing speak for themselves but Robinsons true potential in the field was never to be fulfilled, his life cut tragically short at an all too young age by typhoid. In consequence his lasting claim to fame has not been his own work but through association with Conan Doyle in the genesis of the latters most famous story - The Hound of the Baskervilles. Pemberton was a popular late Victorian and Edwardian novelist with several best sellers to his credit, including The Iron Pirate.
Fletcher Robinson was also to have a hand in the creation of another rip-roaring adventure story - Wheels of Anarchy. Before he died, he left a set of notes which he asked Max Pemberton to develop into a novel. It is also known that he and Pemberton discussed the tale with Conan Doyle although there is no suggestion that the latter had any significant input into the final outcome.
Wheels of Anarchy: The Story of an Assassin, edited by Paul Spiring and Hugh Cooke has recently been reprinted in facsimile by MX Publishing. Fletcher Robinson lives on in the shape of Bruce Driscoll, the narrator and hero of the story and there is the constant reminder of the Watsonian influence in the narrative technique and literary devices employed.
Those who enjoy a good adventure and mystery story should find plenty to engage with in Wheels of Anarchy. Like myself, readers may also be intrigued to discover that international terrorism is by no means a recent phenomenon!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
An Unputdownable Edwardian thriller...
31 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback
Thanks to Paul R. Spiring and Brian W. Pugh, we know much more about Bertram Fletcher Robinson than we did a few years ago. At his death in 1907 he left a set of notes, which, as he requested, were developed by Max Pemberton into a novel, published in 1908. Now 'Wheels of Anarchy: The Story of an Assassin', edited by Hugh Cooke and Paul Spiring, has been reprinted in facsimile by MX Publishing Ltd., (London). Robinson or Pemberton may have discussed the story with their friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but the narrator, Bruce Ingersoll, is no Sherlock Holmes. Like the heroes of those other unputdownable Edwardian thrillers 'The Riddle of the Sands' and 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', he's an ordinary, decent, educated man with an adventurous streak. The peril he faces is extraordinary and strikingly modern - international terrorism. It's a gripping tale, grippingly told.
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
