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The House of Jeffreys: A Play in Three Acts
London, Bakery Street, 1883. Georgina Jeffreys, last scion of the publishing giant House of Jeffreys, returns after twenty years of missionary work abroad. Murder follows her home.
A mystery play in three acts by noted actor, playwright and novelist Russell Thorndike. Originally written for (and starring) his sister, Dame Sybil Thorndike. A novel written concurrently with the play was published by Rich & Cowan shortly after the stage premiere in 1942.
A mystery play in three acts by noted actor, playwright and novelist Russell Thorndike. Originally written for (and starring) his sister, Dame Sybil Thorndike. A novel written concurrently with the play was published by Rich & Cowan shortly after the stage premiere in 1942.
80 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1943
7 people want to read
About the author
Russell Thorndike
70 books21 followersArthur Russell Thorndike was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels. Lesser known than his sister Dame Sybil Thorndike but just as versatile, Russell Thorndike's first love was for the pen and, following service in World War I, he devoted himself to writing.
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August 8, 2009
A murder mystery from the estimable Russell Thorndike. Though I passionately love his Doctor Syn novels, this play is less successful.
The heir of a publishing house, Georgina Jeffreys, returns home after many years abroad doing missionary work. She brings with her a manservant named Sabbath, who has been converted to Christianity. But Georgina has fallen once again under the spell of a portrait hanging in the House of Jeffreys. Murder ensues.
Although the play was well-received in 1942, it does not work well reading it now. Much of the suspense and horror centers around the manservant, Sabbath, and his formerly cannibalistic ways. There are racial stereotypes aplenty, which are not merely archaic, but central to the plot. I do not know what the novel of this story is like, but I fear that it does not do better.
Written for his sister, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Russell himself also starred in the play in the role of Mr. Sharp. I can't help thinking that, given those two Shakespearean heavyweights, the play must've come off better live on stage.
An interesting, dated, curiosity, but it does not hold up to the standards of modern drama and racial understanding, nor to the deft turns of plot and character found in Thorndike's other works, most notably, the novels of Doctor Syn.
The heir of a publishing house, Georgina Jeffreys, returns home after many years abroad doing missionary work. She brings with her a manservant named Sabbath, who has been converted to Christianity. But Georgina has fallen once again under the spell of a portrait hanging in the House of Jeffreys. Murder ensues.
Although the play was well-received in 1942, it does not work well reading it now. Much of the suspense and horror centers around the manservant, Sabbath, and his formerly cannibalistic ways. There are racial stereotypes aplenty, which are not merely archaic, but central to the plot. I do not know what the novel of this story is like, but I fear that it does not do better.
Written for his sister, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Russell himself also starred in the play in the role of Mr. Sharp. I can't help thinking that, given those two Shakespearean heavyweights, the play must've come off better live on stage.
An interesting, dated, curiosity, but it does not hold up to the standards of modern drama and racial understanding, nor to the deft turns of plot and character found in Thorndike's other works, most notably, the novels of Doctor Syn.
Displaying 1 of 1 review