The Camera Fiend

by E.W. Hornung

Tony "Pocket" Upton is almost seventeen-years-old, a student at a resident school in England, and has suffered from asthma as long as he can remember. Pocket makes regular overnight trips into London to meet with his doctor. But this last trip is one that he'll always remember...

Genres: British Literature, Classics

152 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Ernest William Hornung known as Willie, was an English author, most famous for writing the Raffles series of novels about a gentleman thief in late Victorian London.

In addition to his novels and short stories Hornung wrote some war verse, and a play based on the Raffles stories was produced successfully. He was much interested in cricket, and was "a man of large and generous nature, a delightful companion and conversationalist".

Reviews

[Katie and Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

E.W Hornung writes so beautifully and the premise here is fascinating. Was gripped by the story.

[Frank McAdam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young adult fiction from England's Edwardian Age. I downloaded the book from Project Gutenberg simply because, as a photographer, I was fascinated by the title. It turned out to be the story of an intrepid 16-year old held in the clutches of a mad scientist whose particular mania was with spiritualist photography, specifically the quest to capture the soul at the moment it left a dying man's body. The book followed the conventions of its time in its characterizations and formal language, but for all that it was a fairly entertaining read. I couldn't help noting that the mad scientist was a German who had served in the Franco-Prussian war and wondered if this might not reflect the paranoia of the day as the outbreak of World War I loomed ever closer.

[Lanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony "Pocket" Upton is almost seventeen-years-old, a student at a resident school in England, and has suffered from asthma as long as he can remember. Pocket makes regular overnight trips into London to meet with his doctor. But this last trip is one that he'll always remember.

Even though the book is written about a teenager, it felt like it was meant for adults. There are so many twists and turns and surprises in this story. Very suspenseful. The author did a very good job of slowly deepening the plot and pulling me into the story.

[Sarah Smith]

Bizarre book, but a lovely cover. This is the first edition of 1911, with the pictorial cover of the weird man taking photographs with what looks like a stereoscopic camera. The camera is actually much stranger than that, mwahaha. As usual with Hornung, the background material is intensely observed and fun for us who write in that period.

[José Luis Valenciano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ernest William Hornung (1866-1921) fue un escritor británico de salud débil, pues padecía asma y acabaría falleciendo relativamente joven de neumonía, que fue cuñado de sir Arthur Conan Doyle tras casarse con la hermana de éste, y que crearía en 1898 a la antítesis de Sherlock Holmes: A. J. Raffles, acompañado de su particular Watson, Harry "Bunny" Manders. Cabe recordar que la primera aventura de Arsène Lupin no aparecería hasta 1905.
Se trata en inicio del clásico gentleman que se codea con lo más granado de la sociedad de su tiempo (al menos hasta ser descubierto), siendo un ladrón de guante blanco en la realidad, experto en el arte del disfraz y los acentos regionales.
"La cámara diabólica" no forma parte del ciclo de Raffles, pero se lee con especial interés por lo que parece tener de autobiográfico, dado que su protagonista de17 años, como el mismo autor, cursa estudios en una Public School (en Reino Unido, se trata de instituciones privadas y elitistas de enseñanza), padece asma y hasta se le ha planteado viajar a Australia para recuperarse. El autor estuvo de hecho dos años en Australia por ese motivo.
El pobre chico, sin comerlo ni beberlo, se encuentra inmerso en un lio, creyendo haber matado a una persona de un disparo mientras andaba sonámbulo por un parque. Resulta difícil ver en principio de quién puede fiarse o si las personas que le buscan creerán en él.
De un modo ameno y con líneas paralelas de investigación, se llega a un final sorprendente.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gruesome tale!

A somewhat immature teenage boy, Tony 'Pocket' Upton, goes to London to consult a doctor about his asthma and finds himself without a place to stay. He decides to spend the night in the park. The next thing he knows he is standing with a gun in his hand, and a body at his feet. The inescapable conclusion is that Pocket has shot him while sleep-walking.

Another man is looking at him in horror but agrees to harbour him. Should he go to the police and confess all? Can he let someone else take the blame? And is Dr Baumgartner all he seems?

[Angyyy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2'80.
Me ha generado un poco de bloqueo, una historia que podría haber dado mucho más de si y un tanto predecible. Ha estado entretenida y la forma de narrar del autor es buena. Aún que he de admitir que había veces en las que me salía de la narración.
De ahí mi puntuación.

[Estott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly, VERY silly, but entertaining.

[MH · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Raul Valderrama · Rating 1 out of 5]

Valiente puta mierda, si volviera atrás en el tiempo no cometería el error de comprarlo

[Ralph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this book has much general appeal to modern readers. The plot is somewhat rambling, the pace is somewhat slow, and the vocabulary and usage will seem off-key to most.

Still, it has its appeal if you're at all interested in the manners and mores of England in the early 20th century.

[Aravind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second consecutive century-old story and I'm happy to be on this track... The plot and the characters are excellent. The story moves at a good pace. Except for the "language" which is somewhat difficult to comprehend, this book is an enjoyable read.

[Harlan Whatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good period piece set in London.