The Notting Hill Mystery
Encyclopedia
The Notting Hill Mystery (1862–63) is an English-language detective novel written by an anonymous author using the pseudonym
"Charles Felix", with illustrations by George du Maurier
. The author's true identity was never formally revealed in his lifetime but several critics have since suggested that it was Charles Warren Adams (1833-1903), a lawyer who wrote a few novels under a pseudonym. The novel was revolutionary in its techniques and style and has been called the first detective novel.
in Once A Week
magazine beginning on 29 November 1862, then as a single-volume novel in 1863 by Bradbury & Evans (publishers of Once A Week), with illustrations by George du Maurier
(grandfather of Daphne du Maurier
).
The editors of the magazine said the manuscript was submitted to them anonymously under the pseudonym
of "Charles Felix". In 1952 William Buckler identified Charles Warren Adams (1833–1903) as the author of The Notting Hill Mystery and in January 2011, Paul Collins
— a writer, editor and academic — writing in The New York Times Book Review
, came to the same conclusion. Adams, a lawyer, was the sole proprietor of Saunders, Otley & Co., which published another book by "Charles Felix" called Velvet Lawn. Collins bases his theory on a number of lines of evidence, including an explicit reference to Felix's identity as Adams in a 14 May 1864 "Literary Gossip" column of The Manchester Times which read “It is understood that ‘Velvet Lawn,’ by Charles Felix, the new novel announced by Messrs. Saunders, Otley & Co., is by Mr. Charles Warren Adams, now the sole representative of that firm.”
A number of critics, including Julian Symons
, a crime writer and poet, and Collins, believe it to be the first modern detective novel, but it has been overshadowed by works by Wilkie Collins
and Émile Gaboriau
who usually receive that accolade even though they came later. The novel contains a number of innovative features, such as the main character presenting evidence as his own findings through diary entries, family letters, depositions, chemical analysts report, crime scene map. These techniques would not become common until the 1920s, Symons said it "quite bowled me over" how far ahead of its time it was.
Ralph Henderson are used to build a case against Baron "R___", who is suspected of murdering his wife. The baron's wife died from drinking a bottle of acid, apparently while sleepwalking
in her husband's private laboratory. Henderson's suspicions are raised when he learns that the baron recently had purchased five life insurance
policies for his wife. As Henderson investigates the case, he discovers not one but three murders. Although the baron's guilt is clear to the reader even from the outset, how he did it remains a mystery. Eventually this is revealed, but how to catch him becomes the final challenge; he seems to have committed the perfect crime
.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
"Charles Felix", with illustrations by George du Maurier
George du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier was a French-born British cartoonist and author, known for his cartoons in Punch and also for his novel Trilby. He was the father of actor Gerald du Maurier and grandfather of the writers Angela du Maurier and Dame Daphne du Maurier...
. The author's true identity was never formally revealed in his lifetime but several critics have since suggested that it was Charles Warren Adams (1833-1903), a lawyer who wrote a few novels under a pseudonym. The novel was revolutionary in its techniques and style and has been called the first detective novel.
History
The Notting Hill Mystery was first published as an eight-part serialPeriodical publication
Periodical literature is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar examples are the newspaper, often published daily, or weekly; or the magazine, typically published weekly, monthly or as a quarterly...
in Once A Week
Once A Week (magazine)
Once A Week was an English weekly illustrated literary magazine published by Bradbury and Evans. According to John Sutherland, "[h]istorically the magazine's main achievement was to provide an outlet for [an] innovative group of illustrators [in] the 1860s."The magazine was founded in consequence...
magazine beginning on 29 November 1862, then as a single-volume novel in 1863 by Bradbury & Evans (publishers of Once A Week), with illustrations by George du Maurier
George du Maurier
George Louis Palmella Busson du Maurier was a French-born British cartoonist and author, known for his cartoons in Punch and also for his novel Trilby. He was the father of actor Gerald du Maurier and grandfather of the writers Angela du Maurier and Dame Daphne du Maurier...
(grandfather of Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
).
The editors of the magazine said the manuscript was submitted to them anonymously under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of "Charles Felix". In 1952 William Buckler identified Charles Warren Adams (1833–1903) as the author of The Notting Hill Mystery and in January 2011, Paul Collins
Paul Collins (writer)
Paul Collins is an American writer, editor and associate professor of English at Portland State University. He is best known for his work with McSweeney's and The Believer, as editor of the Collins Library imprint for McSweeney's Books, and for his appearances on National Public Radio's Weekend...
— a writer, editor and academic — writing in The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
, came to the same conclusion. Adams, a lawyer, was the sole proprietor of Saunders, Otley & Co., which published another book by "Charles Felix" called Velvet Lawn. Collins bases his theory on a number of lines of evidence, including an explicit reference to Felix's identity as Adams in a 14 May 1864 "Literary Gossip" column of The Manchester Times which read “It is understood that ‘Velvet Lawn,’ by Charles Felix, the new novel announced by Messrs. Saunders, Otley & Co., is by Mr. Charles Warren Adams, now the sole representative of that firm.”
A number of critics, including Julian Symons
Julian Symons
Julian Gustave Symons 1912 - 1994) was a British crime writer and poet. He also wrote social and military history, biography and studies of literature.-Life and work:...
, a crime writer and poet, and Collins, believe it to be the first modern detective novel, but it has been overshadowed by works by Wilkie Collins
Wilkie Collins
William Wilkie Collins was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. He was very popular during the Victorian era and wrote 30 novels, more than 60 short stories, 14 plays, and over 100 non-fiction pieces...
and Émile Gaboriau
Émile Gaboriau
Émile Gaboriau , was a French writer, novelist, and journalist, and a pioneer of modern detective fiction.- Life :Gaboriau was born in the small town of Saujon, Charente-Maritime...
who usually receive that accolade even though they came later. The novel contains a number of innovative features, such as the main character presenting evidence as his own findings through diary entries, family letters, depositions, chemical analysts report, crime scene map. These techniques would not become common until the 1920s, Symons said it "quite bowled me over" how far ahead of its time it was.
Plot
Source documents compiled by insurance investigatorInsurance fraud
Insurance fraud is any act committed with the intent to fraudulently obtain payment from an insurer.Insurance fraud has existed ever since the beginning of insurance as a commercial enterprise. Fraudulent claims account for a significant portion of all claims received by insurers, and cost billions...
Ralph Henderson are used to build a case against Baron "R___", who is suspected of murdering his wife. The baron's wife died from drinking a bottle of acid, apparently while sleepwalking
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness...
in her husband's private laboratory. Henderson's suspicions are raised when he learns that the baron recently had purchased five life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
policies for his wife. As Henderson investigates the case, he discovers not one but three murders. Although the baron's guilt is clear to the reader even from the outset, how he did it remains a mystery. Eventually this is revealed, but how to catch him becomes the final challenge; he seems to have committed the perfect crime
Perfect crime
Perfect crime is a colloquial term used in law and fiction to characterize crimes that are undetected, unattributed to a perpetrator, or else unsolved as a kind of technical achievement on the part of the perpetrator....
.
External links
- The Notting Hill Mystery, serialized in Once a Week (original edition illustrated, at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
):- Section 1 (Once a Week, Vol. 7, pg. 617, 29 November 1862)
- Section 2 (Once a Week, Vol. 7, pg. 645, 6 December 1862)
- Section 3 (Once a Week, Vol. 7, pg. 673, 13 December 1862)
- Section 4 (Once a Week, Vol. 7, pg. 701, 20 December 1862)
- Section 5 (Once a Week, Vol. 8, pg. 1, 27 December 1862)
- Section 6 (Once a Week, Vol. 8, pg. 29, 3 January 1863)
- Section 7 (Once a Week, Vol. 8, pg. 57, 10 January 1863)
- Section 8 (Once a Week, Vol. 8, pg. 85, 17 January 1863)
- Lewis, Steve (19 December 2010). Norris, J.F. (19 December 2010). "Reviewed by J. F. Norris: Charles Felix – The Notting Hill Mystery". Mystery File (blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
at mysteryfile.com). Retrieved 10 January 2011.