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Sir John Dering
A thrilling adventure of old Sussex.
- GenresHistorical
376 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1923
About the author
Jeffery Farnol
456 books30 followersJohn Jeffery Farnol was born in Aston, Birmingham, England, UK, son of Kate Jeffery and Henry John Farnol, a factory-employed brass-founder. The marriage had three more children, two boys and a girl.] He was brought up in London and Kent. He attended the Westminster School of Art, after he had lost his job in a Birmingham metal-working firm.
In 1900 he married Blanche Wilhelmina Victoria Hawley (1883–1955), the 16 years old daughter of the noted New York scenic artist H. Hughson Hawley; they moved to the United States, where he found work as a scene painter. The marriage had a daughter, Gillian Hawley. He returned to England around 1910, and settled in Eastbourne, Sussex. In 1938, he divorced and remarried with Phyllis Mary Clarke on 20 May, and adopted her daughter, Charmian Jane.
On 9 August 1952, he died aged 73 in Eastbourne, after a long battle with cancer.
Farnol published his first romance novel My Lady Caprice in 1907. The success of his early novels led Farnol toeventually become a professional writer. He produced around 40 novels and volumes of stories, and some non-fiction and children's books. His last book was completed by his second wife Phyllis.
From Wikipedia
In 1900 he married Blanche Wilhelmina Victoria Hawley (1883–1955), the 16 years old daughter of the noted New York scenic artist H. Hughson Hawley; they moved to the United States, where he found work as a scene painter. The marriage had a daughter, Gillian Hawley. He returned to England around 1910, and settled in Eastbourne, Sussex. In 1938, he divorced and remarried with Phyllis Mary Clarke on 20 May, and adopted her daughter, Charmian Jane.
On 9 August 1952, he died aged 73 in Eastbourne, after a long battle with cancer.
Farnol published his first romance novel My Lady Caprice in 1907. The success of his early novels led Farnol toeventually become a professional writer. He produced around 40 novels and volumes of stories, and some non-fiction and children's books. His last book was completed by his second wife Phyllis.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 13, 2015
This is my favorite Farnol. Period. Over The Hills and Winds of Fortune come close but neither has the humor this one does. I really am puzzled as to why, when Farnol wrote such a good tale in this book, his earlier novel The Broad Highway is better known.
If you've read one Farnol, you know the basic "plot". Haughty, proud and inconsistent heroines in their show of feelings to the poor tortured heroes who are partially bad or have a past colored worse than it was. The secondary characters are always likable, sometimes more "human" than the heroines.
In this book, it is not much different. We have Hermaine (ghastly name), Sir John Dering (the wicked Dering), Rose ( the better half of Hermaine), Lord Hector a large Scotsman who knew Sir John's father, Penelope who insolent and naive towns people call a witch because she has a way with herds, Jarge Potter a member of the "Free Trade" (smuggler), a villain and a valet to Sir John, who has his own side story.
Five years ago Sir John Dering became involved in a deal with his best friend. His friend had picked the fight and was the first to thrust his sword. But Sir John was the one to walk away alive, his friend had slipped after stabbing Sir John and fallen onto Sir John's blade. Lady Hermine, finding the friend dead, swore vengeance on Sir John for taking his life and for the next five years worked to wreck his reputation. Sir John tried to live up to his "sordid" past and very nearly succeeded in it. But then he got the wonderful idea of marrying his tormenter, to his mind that would be complete revenge and be an enjoyable quest. And that is what he sets out to do.
What follows are two secret identities, smuggling, wooing and a trek to Sussex where the two "enemies" get to know another side to each other. But will they change their bad ways and admit to the good in each other? Misunderstandings galore, yet I still loved it.
I know it sounds like I've given everything away but all that happens in the first few chapters and gets much better.
PG We have a "ghost" which is just a prank and some swears as well as sword play and murder. Nothing else.
Note to People looking for this book in online bookstores: My edition pictured it the 1950 reprint of the 1923 edition. They both have the same cover, but the 1923 has its original price in blue on the spine. They are both Sampson Low.
There is also another 1950-ish Sampson Low printing of this book. However that one looks nothing like these two is printed to match the war-time editions so it's print is bold, cheep and over all I find it more difficult to read.
If you've read one Farnol, you know the basic "plot". Haughty, proud and inconsistent heroines in their show of feelings to the poor tortured heroes who are partially bad or have a past colored worse than it was. The secondary characters are always likable, sometimes more "human" than the heroines.
In this book, it is not much different. We have Hermaine (ghastly name), Sir John Dering (the wicked Dering), Rose ( the better half of Hermaine), Lord Hector a large Scotsman who knew Sir John's father, Penelope who insolent and naive towns people call a witch because she has a way with herds, Jarge Potter a member of the "Free Trade" (smuggler), a villain and a valet to Sir John, who has his own side story.
Five years ago Sir John Dering became involved in a deal with his best friend. His friend had picked the fight and was the first to thrust his sword. But Sir John was the one to walk away alive, his friend had slipped after stabbing Sir John and fallen onto Sir John's blade. Lady Hermine, finding the friend dead, swore vengeance on Sir John for taking his life and for the next five years worked to wreck his reputation. Sir John tried to live up to his "sordid" past and very nearly succeeded in it. But then he got the wonderful idea of marrying his tormenter, to his mind that would be complete revenge and be an enjoyable quest. And that is what he sets out to do.
What follows are two secret identities, smuggling, wooing and a trek to Sussex where the two "enemies" get to know another side to each other. But will they change their bad ways and admit to the good in each other? Misunderstandings galore, yet I still loved it.
I know it sounds like I've given everything away but all that happens in the first few chapters and gets much better.
PG We have a "ghost" which is just a prank and some swears as well as sword play and murder. Nothing else.
Note to People looking for this book in online bookstores: My edition pictured it the 1950 reprint of the 1923 edition. They both have the same cover, but the 1923 has its original price in blue on the spine. They are both Sampson Low.
There is also another 1950-ish Sampson Low printing of this book. However that one looks nothing like these two is printed to match the war-time editions so it's print is bold, cheep and over all I find it more difficult to read.
March 3, 2022
I read this many years ago. Page-turning tale of two friends who dueled and one ended up dead (not a spoiler as this happened before the book even starts) and a heroine who has vowed vengeance on the hero.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews