Other editions of book The King of Diamonds A Tale of Mystery and Adventure

Louis Tracy (1863 - 1928) was a British journalist, and prolific writer of fiction. He used the pseudonyms Gordon Holmes and Robert Fraser, which were at times shared with M. P. Shiel, a collaborator from the start of the twentieth century. He was born in Liverpool to a well-to-do middle-class family. At first he was educated at home and then at the French Seminary at Douai. Around 1884 he became a reporter for a local paper - 'The Northern Echo' at Darlington, circulating in parts of Durham and North Yorkshire; later he worked for papers in Cardiff and Allahabad. During 1892-1894 he was closely associated with Arthur Harmsworth, in 'The Sun' and 'The Evening News and Post'

In The King of Diamonds, Mr. Tracy has given us a masterpiece of fiction. The entire story pulsates with life, love, adventure and mystery, and after every chapter the reader finds himself speculating as to the possible outcome, which, when it is finally reached, is satisfying in the extreme. "This is a daringly improbably story, but so sympathetically and well told that the reader follows it with enthralled and unquestioning interest. Its hero is Philip Anson, whose mother, sister of Sir Philip Morland, Bart., had married the Dieppe agent of a London firm of coal shippers to please herself and had offended her relatives. Husband and wife were seriously injured in a motor accident two years before the story opens. Mr. Ansen died in a few weeks, but his wife survives him in great poverty, without being able to obtain any aid from her brother and his wife. Lady Louisa Morland, who is scheming to induce Sir Philip to make her son by a first marriage heir. However, Mrs. Anson dies under circumstances detailed in the first chapter. Philip starts as a newspaper boy one thunderous evening, and is the means of saving from a carriage accident, caused by the storm, a young girl, Evelyn Atherley, whose uncle, Lord Vanstone, brutally strikes the lad for interfering. However, the boy ultimately profits by his courageous act, as he does by the storm. For, after he gets home to the wretched tenement in Johnson's Mews, Mile End Road, the meteor falls which contains the diamonds giving the title to this sensational tale. Philip makes excellent use of the wealth thus brought to him, and gains the readers good will, as do some other personages of the novel." -The Publishers' Circular and Booksellers Record "Well worth reading. The idea is daringly original in conception, and the plot is worked out with much reckless magnificence as one can only find its parallel in 'Monte Cristo.' But whereas the hero of Dumas' great romance lived for revenge, and triumphantly ticked off his enemies as they perished one by one, Mr. Tracy's hero shows such an example of magnanimity, and exhibits a spirit of charity so exceptionally Christian, that, for the sake of sensational romance, it is to be devoutly hoped, no other hero, will think himself called upon to imitate him....This new idea of 'pardon all round' is admirably managed in 'The King of Diamonds,' where the hero forgives every knave in the pack, much to the admiration, but, it must be added, to the honest indignation of the judicially discriminating Baron." -London Charivari

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 edition. Excerpt: ...idea of the identity of the smart, young gentleman who addressed him so familiarly. "Don't you know me, Mr. Judd?" "Well, sir, I can't exactly bring to min' " "I suppose the good fare you provided for me at Holloway has so altered my appearance that you fail to recognize me again?" "Wot! Ye don't mean to s'y 'Ere, Eliza, this young gent is the lad I was a-tellin' you of. Remanded till Saturday, you was. I saw in the piper last night. Well, there, I'm done!" By this time Philip was inside the shop, and the stout greengrocer and his equally stout spouse were gazing open-mouthed at this well-dressed youth who had supplanted the thin tatterdemalion so much discussed by them and their neighbors. Judd and the restaurant keeper were the only men In the locality who could claim actual acquaintance with the boy whose strange proceedings as reported by the newspapers made London gape. Indeed, both men had been interviewed by police and reporters many times. They were living links with the marvelous, a pedestal of common stone for an aerial phantasy. And now, here he was, back again, dressed like a young gentleman, and hailing Judd as a valued friend. No wonder the greengrocer lost his breath and his power of speech. But Philip was smiling at him and talking. "You were the one man out of many, Mr. Judd, who believed in me, and even stuck up for me when you saw me led through the street by a policeman to be imprisoned on a false charge. I did not know until an hour ago that I was indebted to you for an abundance of excellent food while I was remanded in prison. I will not offer to refund you the money you spent. My gratitude will take another form, which you will learn in a few days. But I do want to pay you the ninepence I borrowed. Would you mind asking...

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

No. 3, Jobnson's Mews. Is there no hope, doctor? Absolutely none - now. If she had gone to the - the workhouse infirmary - would she have lived? The doctor paused. The gulp before that hateful word was not lost on him. He tried professional severity, and bestowed some care on the buttoning of a glove. I am surprised, he said, that an excellent woman like your mother should encourage your feelings of - er - repugnance toward - er Confound it, boy, have you no relatives or friends? No, sir. We are alone in the world. And hard up, eh? The boy dug a hand into a pocket with the stolid indifference of despair. He produced two shillings and some pennies. He picked out the silver, and the man reddened in protest. Don't be stupid, Philip. That is your name, is it not? When I want my fee I will ask for it. Your mother needs a nurse, wine, chicken broth. Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology. Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention has been made to accurately preserve the original format of each page whilst digitally enhancing the aged text. Read books online for free at www.forgottenbooks.org

Louis Tracy (1863 - 1928) was a British journalist, and prolific writer of fiction. He used the pseudonyms Gordon Holmes and Robert Fraser, which were at times shared with M. P. Shiel, a collaborator from the start of the twentieth century.He was born in Liverpool to a well-to-do middle-class family. At first he was educated at home and then at the French Seminary at Douai. Around 1884 he became a reporter for a local paper - 'The Northern Echo' at Darlington, circulating in parts of Durham and North Yorkshire; later he worked for papers in Cardiff and Allahabad. During 1892-1894 he was closely associated with Arthur Harmsworth, in 'The Sun' and 'The Evening News and Post'. (wikipedia.org)

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. This text refers to the Bibliobazaar edition.