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That Mainwaring Affair
Excerpt from That Mainwaring Affair
Mdhhmmnimmwflcuhflynodeesbkon mdafldmmyeyqeoldmdaknhdn', andchhdnfimsm-uh'lmu. Though.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Mdhhmmnimmwflcuhflynodeesbkon mdafldmmyeyqeoldmdaknhdn', andchhdnfimsm-uh'lmu. Though.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
379 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1900
About the author
Anna Maynard Barbour
18 books1 followerAnna Maynard Barbour (? -1941) was an American author of best-selling fiction. Anna Barbour was born in Mansfield, New York in the 19th century. Her parents died when she was young. During the late 19th century, she lived in Helena, Montana where she worked for the U. S. Government. She married an English gentleman in 1893, and her husband reportedly encouraged her writing career. In 1907 she became an Episcopal deaconess at the House of Mercy in Boston and subsequently worked in Boston and Tennessee. A 1903 article in the The Atlantic Monthly stated that "A. Maynard Barbour has been generally hailed as the most successful of American writers of mystery. "
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 3, 2022
I thought it was a good story. I would have liked to know what happened at the end to some of the supporting characters though.
November 21, 2009
Anna Maynard Barbour wrote the kind of novels that you either expect to find in a very dusty section of the local "Friends of the Library Book Sale" or in a mini-series version on "Mystery!" That's a bit of a shame, really, because as far as late 19th and early 20th century mysteries go, this one's pretty good. That Mainwaring Affair is more or less a classic courtroom drama, in which a death occurs among a wealthy class of people and the denouement is saved for the trial. There's something rather refreshing about this; read enough Agatha Christie novels and you get used to the murderer always being disclosed around tea time, just as the deacon is passing around a plate of biscuits. TMA, by contrast, is a very public mystery--the narrator repeatedly updates the reader about the general populace's interest in the case, the mystery is solved by both amateur and professional detectives, and the final solution is presented in a court of law, where the guilty party is revealed to all, rather than a select few.
The plot takes such a twist at the end, that Barbour had to be pretty careful in how much information was revealed to the reader in order to maintain suspense. This is not, in any way, one of those mysteries that can be solved by the reader based on the evidence presented in the text. Barbour takes her mystery a step further, though, in creating a mystery that can't be solved by a reader who is familiar with the workings of the genre. And she makes that fairly obvious. While the reader is regularly privy to every conversation, including those of the more tender and intimate variety, the narrator deliberately blocks readerly access to important information by having the conversants speak in "hushed tones" or "low voices." In other places, the reader's line of sight is blocked by a closing door or a hat pulled over a face. These are rhetorical tricks that help maintain suspense, but frankly come off as "cheating" on the part of the narrator. There's something annoying about a mystery that allows me, as a reader, to witness the main characters confess their love for one another, but treats me as a third wheel as soon as someone has to pass along vital information.
The only other shame of this novel is that it is so morally conventional, even for its time. There's a rigidity about the main character's sense of honor that makes his attitudes towards women, money, and character slightly annoying. He's an interesting enough person in other ways, but I found many of his motivations tiresome. Chief amongst them--his willingness (and presumption) in bribing the press to keep his involvement in certain affairs from being made public. The novel, on the whole, assumes the reader will be sympathetic to such maneuvers--that the reader will want the main character to remain as protected and as insulated from public scrutiny as possible. This is clearly at odds with the fact that the courtroom denouement ultimately serves as a public vindication of the same character's good name.
For all its drawbacks, though, this is a fun mystery and ingenious enough. If a printed copy isn't around, you can listen to it for free at librivox.
The plot takes such a twist at the end, that Barbour had to be pretty careful in how much information was revealed to the reader in order to maintain suspense. This is not, in any way, one of those mysteries that can be solved by the reader based on the evidence presented in the text. Barbour takes her mystery a step further, though, in creating a mystery that can't be solved by a reader who is familiar with the workings of the genre. And she makes that fairly obvious. While the reader is regularly privy to every conversation, including those of the more tender and intimate variety, the narrator deliberately blocks readerly access to important information by having the conversants speak in "hushed tones" or "low voices." In other places, the reader's line of sight is blocked by a closing door or a hat pulled over a face. These are rhetorical tricks that help maintain suspense, but frankly come off as "cheating" on the part of the narrator. There's something annoying about a mystery that allows me, as a reader, to witness the main characters confess their love for one another, but treats me as a third wheel as soon as someone has to pass along vital information.
The only other shame of this novel is that it is so morally conventional, even for its time. There's a rigidity about the main character's sense of honor that makes his attitudes towards women, money, and character slightly annoying. He's an interesting enough person in other ways, but I found many of his motivations tiresome. Chief amongst them--his willingness (and presumption) in bribing the press to keep his involvement in certain affairs from being made public. The novel, on the whole, assumes the reader will be sympathetic to such maneuvers--that the reader will want the main character to remain as protected and as insulated from public scrutiny as possible. This is clearly at odds with the fact that the courtroom denouement ultimately serves as a public vindication of the same character's good name.
For all its drawbacks, though, this is a fun mystery and ingenious enough. If a printed copy isn't around, you can listen to it for free at librivox.
February 19, 2016
I found this book using ProjectGutenburg.org’s random feature. This feature is a gamble and I was lucky enough to get a murder-mystery. This book is a fairly standard whodunit. There is a pseudo-Sherlock Holmes character, hidden compartments and a few exclamations of “Egad!”. It would have simply been a boring mystery, if not for the woman-bashing nature of it. Every single female character in this book was terrible. This is alarming, because the book was written by a woman. Most of them are just high-class bitches, useful only for contributing snarky comments. There is the heroine, Miss Carleton, who is so trusting and angelic that she gives all her trust to the hero Scott, even though she just met him and he is accused of murder. Then there is the villain of the piece, Mrs. La Grange, who represents female evil incarnate. She’s beautiful, but icy and unattainable. She’s a bad mother, a scheming mistress and probably a whore. The author seems to have felt that Mrs. La Grange needed no real character development or depth. Luckily there is a whole team of proper gentleman on the case, ready to stop Mrs. La Grange from carrying out her dastardly plans.
I think that it would be an interesting exercise to re-write this book from Mrs. La Grange’s point of view, in the same way that “The Wide Sargasso Sea” re-told “Jane Eyre” from Mr. Rochester’s first wife’s point of view. What if, instead of being the villain of the story, Mrs. La Grange is actually the true victim? A poor, nameless woman, she is courted by two rich, reckless brothers. She marries the elder, but he turns out to be a brute. He hides her child from her and tells her that it died. She turns to the second brother, but he is equally cruel. Of course, “The Wide Sargasso Sea” was a classic created from another classic. I don’t think even the most generous critic could call “That Mainwaring Affair” a classic, so re-imagining it would probably be a foolish errand. I can’t help it, though. Whenever I see a female character so unrelentingly maligned in a book, I automatically wonder about the other side.
It is very difficult for me to understand why all the “good” characters in the book believe in Mr. Scott so enthusiastically. He lies, sneaks looks at his employer’s personal papers and steals documents. He is admittedly the last person to see Hugh Mainwaring alive. Yet, one look into his honest face is all that it takes for young Hugh Mainwaring to throw over his father, who has spent his life trying to advance his interest, and join up with Mr. Scott. It’s a huge plot hole, and not the only one. In the end, Barbour’s lack of logic and imagination demote this book from a harmless Sherlock Holmes wannabe to straight up trash.
I think that it would be an interesting exercise to re-write this book from Mrs. La Grange’s point of view, in the same way that “The Wide Sargasso Sea” re-told “Jane Eyre” from Mr. Rochester’s first wife’s point of view. What if, instead of being the villain of the story, Mrs. La Grange is actually the true victim? A poor, nameless woman, she is courted by two rich, reckless brothers. She marries the elder, but he turns out to be a brute. He hides her child from her and tells her that it died. She turns to the second brother, but he is equally cruel. Of course, “The Wide Sargasso Sea” was a classic created from another classic. I don’t think even the most generous critic could call “That Mainwaring Affair” a classic, so re-imagining it would probably be a foolish errand. I can’t help it, though. Whenever I see a female character so unrelentingly maligned in a book, I automatically wonder about the other side.
It is very difficult for me to understand why all the “good” characters in the book believe in Mr. Scott so enthusiastically. He lies, sneaks looks at his employer’s personal papers and steals documents. He is admittedly the last person to see Hugh Mainwaring alive. Yet, one look into his honest face is all that it takes for young Hugh Mainwaring to throw over his father, who has spent his life trying to advance his interest, and join up with Mr. Scott. It’s a huge plot hole, and not the only one. In the end, Barbour’s lack of logic and imagination demote this book from a harmless Sherlock Holmes wannabe to straight up trash.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2012
Wealthy British ex-pat Hugh Mainwaring has no heirs, so for his 50th birthday, he writes his will in favor of his British nephew and namesake, fulfilling years of scheming by the namesake's father Ralph Mainwaring. However, on the morning of his birthday Hugh Mainwaring is found shot dead in his private rooms, and the will has been burned. Let the complications begin!
This convoluted 19th century mystery bears all the rusty old conventions and tropes we associate with classic mysteries, which at the time were probably wildly original and gasp-producing. There's the missing heir, the deathbed conversion, the evil twin, the mistaken identity, the young lovers (who must fall in love as fast as possible, since there's not much text space available to devote to their whirlwind, probably 4 page romance), and so much more. Missing gems, early rail travel, steamer trips to England, unknown parents, soliloquizations on how a character's evil intents brought him to well-deserved justice, didactic musings on the only right way to live a life, not one but two detectives and about seven lawyers...I wished I'd had a list of characters because it was so hard to keep them straight, especially since at least a third were Mainwarings, and several had aliases as well. It was completely entertaining to read, once you just accept that it drips with Victorian morality--you can ignore that in favor of the wonderfully, ridiculously intricate plot, and I'll admit I didn't guess who did it until the end--though granted, the author pretty much abandoned the murder during the middle part of the book, which was more about the inheritance. The murder is solved in the end, though, just when you've rather forgotten about it. So, not great literature, but very entertaining.
This convoluted 19th century mystery bears all the rusty old conventions and tropes we associate with classic mysteries, which at the time were probably wildly original and gasp-producing. There's the missing heir, the deathbed conversion, the evil twin, the mistaken identity, the young lovers (who must fall in love as fast as possible, since there's not much text space available to devote to their whirlwind, probably 4 page romance), and so much more. Missing gems, early rail travel, steamer trips to England, unknown parents, soliloquizations on how a character's evil intents brought him to well-deserved justice, didactic musings on the only right way to live a life, not one but two detectives and about seven lawyers...I wished I'd had a list of characters because it was so hard to keep them straight, especially since at least a third were Mainwarings, and several had aliases as well. It was completely entertaining to read, once you just accept that it drips with Victorian morality--you can ignore that in favor of the wonderfully, ridiculously intricate plot, and I'll admit I didn't guess who did it until the end--though granted, the author pretty much abandoned the murder during the middle part of the book, which was more about the inheritance. The murder is solved in the end, though, just when you've rather forgotten about it. So, not great literature, but very entertaining.
January 13, 2014
The wealthy Hugh Mainwaring is murdered and, apparently having no heirs to his estate, had his will made out to his nephew... but was this a right decision, was it honest, is this will even the actual one? What are the true identities of all of those involved in the affair; his household, acquaintances... Is this murdered man who he is thought to be and has he lived a life of truth...
This affair is truly a rather complicated one...
This affair is truly a rather complicated one...
March 12, 2024
This is a most entertaining 'melodrama'. All that is missing in this Librivox recording (that I read & listened to) was the Snidely Whiplash style music from the old Rockie & Bullwinkle Show. The plot is interesting, the characters are well 'melodramatic'. Have fun!
August 16, 2012
That Mainwaring Affair.
by Anna Maynard Barbour
Bio of Author
Anna Barbour was born in Mansfield, New York in the 19th century. Her parents died when she was young. During the late 19th century, she lived in Helena, Montana where she worked for the U. S. Government. She married an English gentleman in 1893, and her husband reportedly encouraged her writing career. In 1907 she became an Episcopal deaconess at the House of Mercy in Boston and subsequently worked in Boston and Tennessee.
Description
Paperback, 308 pages
Published May 1st 2006 by Dodo Press (first published December 2002)
A conventional cover which is appropriate to the era of the late 19th century
Appraisal
The first character we meet is a wealthy British ex-pat Hugh Mainwaring has no heirs, so for his 50th birthday, he writes his will in favour of his British nephew and namesake, fulfilling years of scheming by the namesake's father Ralph Mainwaring. However, on the morning of his birthday Hugh Mainwaring is found shot dead in his private rooms, and the will has been burned.
This convoluted 19th century mystery bears all the traditional conventions we associate with classic mysteries, which at the time were probably new and innovative. We wonder about the missing heir, the deathbed conversion, the evil twin, the mistaken identity, the young lovers and much more. The back story is missing gems, early rail travel, liner trips to England, confusing parentage, not one but two detectives and about seven lawyers.
.It was difficult to remember the list of characters because it was so hard to keep them straight. There were so many Mainwarings, and several had aliases as well. A completely entertaining read, complete with Victorian morality, ridiculously intricate plot. The murder is solved in the end, although, by now it seems almost irrelevant. Very entertaining.
For Your Information
This is a guide to the lifestyle of the rich and famous of the 19th century. Very correct language and not great character building. The plot is convoluted and confusing at times, but it is a pleasant read.
Format/Typo Issues:
Coming from a free site, one could excuse the poor formatting and frequent typo.
Star rating:
by Anna Maynard Barbour
Bio of Author
Anna Barbour was born in Mansfield, New York in the 19th century. Her parents died when she was young. During the late 19th century, she lived in Helena, Montana where she worked for the U. S. Government. She married an English gentleman in 1893, and her husband reportedly encouraged her writing career. In 1907 she became an Episcopal deaconess at the House of Mercy in Boston and subsequently worked in Boston and Tennessee.
Description
Paperback, 308 pages
Published May 1st 2006 by Dodo Press (first published December 2002)
A conventional cover which is appropriate to the era of the late 19th century
Appraisal
The first character we meet is a wealthy British ex-pat Hugh Mainwaring has no heirs, so for his 50th birthday, he writes his will in favour of his British nephew and namesake, fulfilling years of scheming by the namesake's father Ralph Mainwaring. However, on the morning of his birthday Hugh Mainwaring is found shot dead in his private rooms, and the will has been burned.
This convoluted 19th century mystery bears all the traditional conventions we associate with classic mysteries, which at the time were probably new and innovative. We wonder about the missing heir, the deathbed conversion, the evil twin, the mistaken identity, the young lovers and much more. The back story is missing gems, early rail travel, liner trips to England, confusing parentage, not one but two detectives and about seven lawyers.
.It was difficult to remember the list of characters because it was so hard to keep them straight. There were so many Mainwarings, and several had aliases as well. A completely entertaining read, complete with Victorian morality, ridiculously intricate plot. The murder is solved in the end, although, by now it seems almost irrelevant. Very entertaining.
For Your Information
This is a guide to the lifestyle of the rich and famous of the 19th century. Very correct language and not great character building. The plot is convoluted and confusing at times, but it is a pleasant read.
Format/Typo Issues:
Coming from a free site, one could excuse the poor formatting and frequent typo.
Star rating:
January 22, 2011
Lots of twists in this one - right up to the end. Some you could see coming, others were a surprise. There were times when the story seemed to drag in the details, but over all, I found it to be good, with a lot of little clues leading off in different directions. If you like old-school mysteries, you'd probably like "That Mainwaring Affair".
April 23, 2013
The book is rather entertaining, and I would recommend it to murder mystery lovers, especially those who like family intrigues and the occasional love story inside. I am afraid this is not a really breathtaking story. I had guessed the murderer right from the beginning.
The LibriVox narration is very good.
The LibriVox narration is very good.
March 13, 2015
A transcontinental detective mystery involving romance, murder, false identities, questionable parentage, changing and misplaced wills, secret compartments, missing jewels, testimonies from old family servants, blackmail, and unrequited love. I listened to this as a free download from Librivox.org.
January 20, 2010
I thought this was a great mystery novel. Kept me guessing til the end. I love all this old crap.
March 28, 2010
A very average murder mystery - but you can get it free from manybooks.net. Mildly entertaining.
September 22, 2012
this was a very good book that keeps your attention and surprises you in the end. if you like sherlock holmes-type of stories, this will satisfy your need to guess "who done what" to who and why.
August 28, 2012
Well read for Librivox, but the plot is slow
It's very well performed, but the story itself, although interesting, isn't a classic in the genre.
It's very well performed, but the story itself, although interesting, isn't a classic in the genre.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews