Henry Wade (1887–1969)
Author of The Duke of York's Steps
About the Author
Image credit: Sir Henry painted by Norman Hepple in 1962 By Norman Hepple - Original publication: 1962Immediate source: BBC - Your Paintings, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47723103
Works by Henry Wade
The Dying Fall 1 copy
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Wade, Henry
- Legal name
- Fletcher, Sir Henry Lancelot
- Birthdate
- 1887-09-10
- Date of death
- 1969-05-30
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Eton College
University of Oxford (New College) - Occupations
- detective story writer
- Organizations
- Detection Club
- Short biography
- Major Sir Henry Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher, CVO DSO, 6th Baronet and Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire (1954 to 1961). Aubrey-Fletcher was the only son and second child of Sir Lancelot Aubrey-Fletcher, 5th Baronet, and Emily Harriet Wade. He was educated at Eton College and New College, Oxford, and fought in both the First World War and Second World War with the Grenadier Guards, and in 1917 was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and French Croix de guerre. He married Mary Augusta Chilton in 1911 and they had five children. He was a member of Buckinghamshire County Council and was appointed High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1925. He played Minor counties cricket between 1921 and 1928 for Buckinghamshire. A noted mystery writer, his stories were published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and he was a founding member of the Detection Club. He wrote under the pen name of Henry Wade.
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Leigh, Surrey, UK
- Place of death
- Witney, Oxfordshire, UK
- Map Location
- UK
Members
Reviews
I marvel that a brilliant man like Jacques Barzun would include this in a collection of fifty classics. While it does have some -- shall we say? -- sociological interest, and it does end very strong, it is a classic instance of "For the first thirty pages you wonder whether it will ever start, and from then on you wnder whether it will ever end." Incidentally, the gimmick of three suspects with similar names is used again with great cleverness in Warner Shedd's WILDCAT AT EVE. Another show more thought of much less consequence: this volume, like many others in the Barzun & Taylor reprint series is blighted by multiple typographical errors. I don't think Barzun would have put-up with that kind of sloppiness in his own students! show less
Charles Rathlyn bet everything on his horse to win, but sadly the horse stumbled on the last jump and Charles lost it all. Another owner, the wealthy widow Kate Waygold offered him a job as her racing manager, which he gratefully accepted. Then she proposed marriage, an offer he couldn't refuse without losing the security and privileged lifestyle he had been enjoying. When Kate died after a fall over the balustrade the story became a "did he or didn't he?" conundrum, amplified when her show more secretary apparently committed suicide. The detective investigating the case would have been delighted to put the noose around Charles' neck himself. This mystery was very well done. show less
Inspector Poole is asked to look into the apparently natural death of a banker, and soon discovers he was murdered. The characterization in this 1929 novel was deeper than is often the case in that period, and I thought the first half was excellent. After that it got a bit complex and unbelievable - lots of people carrying make up around to disguise themselves for example.
SPOILER
I also found the idea that Inez would get together with her half-brother after he is told they are in fact not show more related by blood (she has known all along) a bit disturbing. show less
SPOILER
I also found the idea that Inez would get together with her half-brother after he is told they are in fact not show more related by blood (she has known all along) a bit disturbing. show less
With a few caveats, "Lonely Magdalen" is not a bad read. Those cautions would include a willingness to overlook the sexism and moral strictures that were normative in the early part of the twentieth-century, the time period in which the book is set. The plot, however, is interesting and the writing is crisp if not elegant. I was a bit disappointed in the ending but that is likely attributable to my tastes rather than any shortcomings in the plot. Nothing memorable here but an enjoyable easy show more read. show less
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Statistics
- Works
- 24
- Also by
- 12
- Members
- 565
- Popularity
- #44,254
- Rating
- 3.4
- Reviews
- 9
- ISBNs
- 85
- Languages
- 2