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Duke de Richleau #3
The Second Seal
Apr 1914 - 18 Sep 1914
Spring 1914. At a masked ball, the Duke de Richleau has an intriguing meeting with a beautiful woman.
An incident that was to lead the Duke into a series of desperate adventures as he became involved, firstly with The Black Hand, a Serbian, secret, terrorist society, and then, as a British secret agent, at the Austrian Supreme Headquarters.
Finally, at the Kaiser's headquarters, he was to take a hand in the Battle of the Marne – the operation that shattered Germany's chance of victory.
And through the violence, intrigue and hair's-breadth escapes, there runs also the story of a great love.
Spring 1914. At a masked ball, the Duke de Richleau has an intriguing meeting with a beautiful woman.
An incident that was to lead the Duke into a series of desperate adventures as he became involved, firstly with The Black Hand, a Serbian, secret, terrorist society, and then, as a British secret agent, at the Austrian Supreme Headquarters.
Finally, at the Kaiser's headquarters, he was to take a hand in the Battle of the Marne – the operation that shattered Germany's chance of victory.
And through the violence, intrigue and hair's-breadth escapes, there runs also the story of a great love.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1950
7 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
385 books248 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2013
This is one of the best books I've EVER read-bar none. It's a wonderful mix of desperate action,intrigue,war and a great,great love story. All of these elements are skillfully woven together by a master storyteller. The intrepid Duke de Richleau overhears Winston Churchill at a party,speaking of the coming WWI. Then he meets the love of his life,the beautiful Princess Ilona Theresa of Austria. Unfortunately,even though he is a Duke, She is far out of his league,socially. Also, the Duke's allegiance is to his adopted country of England. But the Duke is adept at overcoming obstacles. Soon he is asked to spy for England and is terribly insulted-noblemen cannot stoop to be an agent. This is also a delightful window on the world of the preWWI nobility,the Belle Epoch.
I have read this book 5 times(I don't reread books that much) and I plan to read it again as soon as I get a copy that isn't falling apart. I have killed my copy-that ought to be recommendation enough.
I have read this book 5 times(I don't reread books that much) and I plan to read it again as soon as I get a copy that isn't falling apart. I have killed my copy-that ought to be recommendation enough.
pass
November 24, 2017I have read some of Wheatley's black magic stuff before, from charity shops with appalling covers, and found it highly amusing in an unjustifiable way. Apparently most of his work was straight pre Bond thrillers though. The Wheatley estate is obv very keen to promote these as readable too because money. However, this book starts with a massive dose of misogyny (women sure do love a manipulative or abusive man!) and then moves into a twenty page detailed infodump of the geopolitical causes of WW1, so no.
The intro states that this new edition has been 'lightly edited'. Heavily might have helped. DNF.
The intro states that this new edition has been 'lightly edited'. Heavily might have helped. DNF.
April 12, 2025
I don’t know what it is about Wheatley’s writing, but I’m digging his Duke de Richleau series. The Second Seal is the 3rd chronologically in the series, but my fifth I’ve read with the Duke. He’s kind of James Bond before James Bond was a thing, and in The Second Seal those traits really emerge.
Back in England after his escapades in Spain, the Duke just wants to get back to a nice, normal life — parties with rich friends, fancy dinners, chasing women — you know, normal. Ahh…but country has a way of calling and coming first, and a man of Duke’s set of international skills is needed. This time it’s being a spy for England. Now, keep in mind, this is before WWI and spying for a government is looked upon at the same moral level as child molesting for most Europeans. But the Duke swallows his pride and puts the good of mankind ahead of any personal feelings. There’s a powder keg about to brew in the Balkans, and it worries English officials that it will drag the entire continent into the bloody soup. With the Duke’s Austrian ties, off he goes to see what he can do. But before he does, he attends one last black-tie event and a stunning beauty he’s never met before catches his eye. So, in typical Duke fashion, he cranks up the charm and ends up stealing a kiss. That’s when all hell breaks loose. Little did he know, this beauty is none other than the Princess Ilona Theresa of Austria, and kissing a princess is a big no-no.
What follows is a fun, if not sometimes implausible secret agent adventure to get the dirt on the infamous Black Hand group, all while falling in love with what he can’t have — Princess Ilona. Historical events intertwine back and forth throughout The Second Seal, and we get a glimpse of what royalty and pre-WWI Europe was like. This is the part I really enjoy. Along the way, the Duke escapes numerous times by the seat of his pants from prison and death. So you get a little history lesson, some forbidden romance, all wrapped up in an adventurous secret agent tale. What’s not to love? Is every 500 and some pages all politically correct? Of course not. But I read stories through the lens of the time period they were written. If you can do the same, The Second Seal is an entertaining continuation of the Duke’s exploits.
4.5 Jailbreaks out of 5
Back in England after his escapades in Spain, the Duke just wants to get back to a nice, normal life — parties with rich friends, fancy dinners, chasing women — you know, normal. Ahh…but country has a way of calling and coming first, and a man of Duke’s set of international skills is needed. This time it’s being a spy for England. Now, keep in mind, this is before WWI and spying for a government is looked upon at the same moral level as child molesting for most Europeans. But the Duke swallows his pride and puts the good of mankind ahead of any personal feelings. There’s a powder keg about to brew in the Balkans, and it worries English officials that it will drag the entire continent into the bloody soup. With the Duke’s Austrian ties, off he goes to see what he can do. But before he does, he attends one last black-tie event and a stunning beauty he’s never met before catches his eye. So, in typical Duke fashion, he cranks up the charm and ends up stealing a kiss. That’s when all hell breaks loose. Little did he know, this beauty is none other than the Princess Ilona Theresa of Austria, and kissing a princess is a big no-no.
What follows is a fun, if not sometimes implausible secret agent adventure to get the dirt on the infamous Black Hand group, all while falling in love with what he can’t have — Princess Ilona. Historical events intertwine back and forth throughout The Second Seal, and we get a glimpse of what royalty and pre-WWI Europe was like. This is the part I really enjoy. Along the way, the Duke escapes numerous times by the seat of his pants from prison and death. So you get a little history lesson, some forbidden romance, all wrapped up in an adventurous secret agent tale. What’s not to love? Is every 500 and some pages all politically correct? Of course not. But I read stories through the lens of the time period they were written. If you can do the same, The Second Seal is an entertaining continuation of the Duke’s exploits.
4.5 Jailbreaks out of 5
October 6, 2020
Very old-fashioned and very slow moving. The story is set in Austria in the summer of 1914 just before the war. Ultimately, it's a good story with a neat ending and one that sticks with you for a long time. The main character, the Duc de Richlieu, is an aristocratic snob which makes it sometimes rather difficult to sympathise with him. The main plot revolves around his love life which is sweet but inconsequential against the backdrop of a terrible war in Europe.
November 29, 2018
Massive brilliant thriller covering month before and after murder of Archduke Ferdinand.
December 22, 2015
Adventure, twists and turns in early WW1 Europe. The good Duke, with his usual aristocratic views on life, skips and delves with the ruling class of Europe, just before they commit suicide via the Great War. Entertaining read, a tad light, but certainly ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2016
Skillful rendition of ante-bellum Europe..
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews