Novel 360: Eden Phillpotts, Some Every-Day Folks (1894)

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Life in a small town in Devonshire.

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Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960) wrote nearly 200 novels during his long life, many of them (including an 18-novel series) set, like this one, in Devonshire.

“Full of a genial humour and shrewd but kindly observation of his fellow creatures.” Athenaeum, March 3, 1894

“In its unpretentious way, a veritable masterpiece, displaying an intimacy of observation . . . which is little, if at all, short of genius.” Spectator, March 31, 1894

“Mr. Phillpotts has succeeded in peopling his imaginary village with a well-contrasted assortment of varying types, drawn correctly enough in the main, but perhaps a trifle over-coloured.” Saturday Review, April 21, 1894

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v.1 http://www.archive.org/details/someeverydayfolk01phil

v.2 http://www.archive.org/details/someeverydayfolk02phil

v.3 http://www.archive.org/details/someeverydayfolk03phil

Crossword 359: Dimensional Instability

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Hey solvers! Here’s a quiz:  “Dimensional instability” refers to

A. the effect on the waistline of alternately over- and under-eating

B. the tendency of fabric to shrink or stretch with use

C. what happens in the moment before the end of the universe, when height is no longer high, width no longer wide, depth no longer deep, and everything collapses into nothing

Win a chance at a free mini-crossword! Just send us your answer, together with a $1,000 processing fee (bitcoin preferred), your name, address, and social security number (offer not valid in some states).

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359-Dimensional-Instability.puz

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359 Dimensional Instability

Novel 359: Sir Thomas Wemyss Reid, Mauleverer’s Millions (1885)

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A young man falls in love with a mysterious woman after having protected her from a bad man on a train.

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Sir Thomas Wemyss Reid (1842-1905) was better known as a journalist, editor, and publisher than as a novelist; this is the third of his three novels.

The novel is “an uncommonly good shillingsworth”; it is a “good thrilling romance. . . . the mystery becomes interesting on the third page, and continues so to the last. The most experienced reader is kept long in doubt as to the secret of the book, which is worked out with great skill, and with a strict adherence to the canons of romantic probability. . . .  But the real triumph of the book is the character of” the main villain. Saturday Review, February 20, 1885

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https://archive.org/details/mauleverersmilli00reid

Crossword 358: Let Me In

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Me!  It’s me time.  It’s all about me.  Not other people, and certainly not you.  Me.  I’m tired of everybody else always being everywhere and having everything.  It’s my turn.  I need to take care of me. At least, that’s what my therapist says.

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358-Let-Me-In.puz

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358: Let Me In

Novel 358: Noell Radecliffe, The Lees of Blendon Hall (1859)

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A young lady, cruelly treated by her mother and stepfather, is haunted by memories of her father’s death.

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For Radecliffe, see Novels 005, 105, 157, and 268..

It “has the merit, so rare among contemporary writers of fiction, of doing something quite unusual, something that was worth doing, and accomplishing it with considerable success.” Spectator, July 9, 1859

“A powerful and well-sustained story of strong and somewhat morbid interest”; though “as well done as it could be” it “has a close, stifling atmosphere about it.” Athenaeum, July 16, 1859

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v.1 https://archive.org/details/leesblendonhall00radegoog

v.2 https://archive.org/details/leesblendonhall02radegoog

v.3 https://archive.org/details/leesblendonhall01radegoog

Crossword 357: Dividends

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It’s time for David Alfred Bywaters’s Crossword Cavalcade and Fortnightly Victorian Novel Recommender to launch its initial public offering.  True, our profit margins are in negative territory as yet, but prospects for growth are enormous; and the infusion of cash we’re expecting from our stock sale will allow us to (1) develop and implement an AI solution that will reduce our labor costs by ninety-nine percent, and (2) purchase enough social media influence to increase our eyeballs a thousand million times.  I’ll be issuing a prospectus shortly; you’ll want to get in on the ground floor.

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357-Dividends.puz

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357 Dividends

Novel 357: Mrs. Alexander, What Gold Cannot Buy (1895)

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A woman enters her mother-in-law’s household in disguise to reconcile her to the marriage.

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For Mrs. Alexander, see Novels 001, 063, 113, 168, 221, and 278.

A “blameless little story”; the characters, especially the women, are “lifelike.” Athenaeum, February 23, 1895

“Very charming”; “The studies of character are excellent, and the sketch is simply and naturally written.” Academy, March 16, 1895

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https://archive.org/details/06738761.2181.emory.edu

Crossword 356: Something Fishy

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Some five years ago (see Crossword 127) I found it very fishy that my crosswords were not appearing in The New York Times.  Since then, they have continued not to appear there, and no doubt you too are wondering how that could be.  It’s not that I’m not sending crosswords to the Times (though I admit it has been awhile since I’ve done so).  And it’s not that the crosswords I’m sending don’t deserve publication—anyone can see that they’re much superior to many, perhaps most, that have appeared there of late years.

So what’s this really about?  Well, have you ever noticed that, if you zoom in on a digital black-and-white picture until its pixels look like squares, those squares together, in 15 x 15 sets, resemble crossword grids?  Okay, so it stands to reason that if you take several crossword grids, arrange them together, and then zoom out, you’ll get something that looks like a black-and-white picture.  Now, have you ever thought that maybe the Times crosswords of the past few years can be arranged so as to make such a picture, for those who are in on the secret, that they might in fact have been constructed for that purpose? And have you ever wondered what that picture might reveal?  I don’t dare to be more explicit, but I will say this: there’s definitely something fishy going on here.

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356 Something-Fishy.puz

356 Something-Fishy.pdf

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356 Something Fishy

Novel 356: EsmE Stuart, Harum Scarum (1896)

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An uncivilized Australian niece comes to live with an English country gentleman and his selfish wife.

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Esmé Stuart was the pen name of Amélie Claire LeRoy (1861-1934), who wrote over 60 novels beginning in 1876.  This was the first of a series, followed by Harum Scarum’s Fortune (1909) and Harum Scarum Married (1918).

The heroine is “fresh and good-hearted, and her exploits are decidedly entertaining.” Spectator, May 30, 1896

“Fun, and froth, and amusement”; “a brilliant little family sketch.” Athenaeum, July 18, 1896

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https://www.google.com/books/edition/Harum_scarum_by_Esm%C3%A8_Stuart/bJzihMAGxtcC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA3&printsec=frontcover

Crossword 355: Backlash

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It’s been nearly ten years since I published my first crossword—ten years of awards too numerous to mention, of adoring media plaudits, of untold wealth and fame.  A backlash was inevitable.  Some now find my crosswords too funny, some not funny enough.  I am accused here of Positivism, there of Negativism. My wordplay, it is alleged, has rewired the brains of the young, rendering them unable to bear the responsibilities of adulthood. Well, what can I do?  I owe it to my many remaining admirers—to you, loyal solver—to continue doing what I do better than anybody else:  that is, to make the best crosswords ever made!

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355 Backlash.puz

355 Backlash.pdf

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355 Backlash

Novel 355: W.E. Norris, Mr. Chaine’s Sons (1891)

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Three brothers of varying characters interact.

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For Norris, see Novels 002, 054, 104, 156, 209, 260, and 300.

The author “does not hit upon any particularly new situations, and most of his men and women are what his readers will recognize as stock characters. . . .   But there is no lack of freshness and fidelity in this story . . . whilst the author’s mildly cynical style will be as pleasant as ever to such as have acquired a taste for it.” Athenaeum, October 17, 1891

It is “distinctly clever and interesting, and Mr. Norris’s way of telling it is irresistibly amusing. . . .   It is Mr. Norris’s ‘way.’ The cynicism that is at bottom so kind, . . . the pessimism which hopes for the best, make his point of survey of life most entertaining. There is an element of self-complacence in being made to laugh at fellow-creatures so good-naturedly. In this particular story however there is more than laughter,” e.g., pathos in delineation of some characters. Saturday Review, October 31, 1891

A contrasting view:

It is “far too cynical”; and its cynicism not supported by “the observed facts of life”; its women are implausibly calculating, and Norris “destroys the charm” of their “portraits without imparting to them the reality which is sometimes a compensation for ugliness.” Spectator, November 28, 1891

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v.1 https://archive.org/details/mrchainessonsnov01norr

v.2 https://archive.org/details/mrchainessonsnov02norr

v.3 https://archive.org/details/mrchainessonsnov03norr

Crossword 354: All Is Not Well

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All is not well.  After an exhaustive analysis of current society, politics, and culture, that is my conclusion.  Conflict is more violent, immorality more shameless, ugliness uglier, and badness worse than it ever was before or, if the world survives, ever will be again.  We live in really and truly desperately terrible, horrible times. But here’s a crossword.

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354 All-Is-Not-Well.puz

354 All-Is-Not-Well.pdf

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354 All Is Not Well

Novel 354: Margaret Hunt, This Indenture Witnesseth (1875)

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A virtuous young heiress, all but engaged to a needy squire’s heir, loses her prospects.

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For Hunt, see Novels 039 and 285.

Hunt “writes extremely well, and often forcibly.  She lays down her plan well beforehand, and carries it out without hurry and in good proportions”; “we are glad, on the whole, to commend this novel almost unreservedly.” Spectator, December 4, 1875

A somewhat contrasting view:

The plot is “managed with a great deal of ingenuity” but the characters are “well known to the hardened novel-reader.” Academy, November 13, 1875

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v.1 https://archive.org/details/thisindenturewit01hunt

v. 2 https://archive.org/details/thisindenturewit02hunt

v. 3 https://archive.org/details/thisindenturewit03hunt

Crossword 353: AI Will Replace U

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It appears that artificial intelligence (AI) can do your job better than you can, and so you won’t be asked to do it anymore.  But so what?  You’ll have all the more time to solve crosswords and read Victorian novels.  And if you should run out of crosswords to solve, or Victorian novels to read, never fear; AI can produce more of them.  Of course, if you’re dependent on income derived from your job for food, shelter, clothing, and such things, there will be some drawbacks.

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353-AI-Will-Replace-U.puz

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353 AI Will Replace U

Novel 353: Sir Walter Besant and James Rice, Ready-Money Mortiboy (1872)

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The son of a miserly father, supposed dead, returns unexpectedly.

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Sir Walter Besant (1836-1901) wrote some ten novels with James Rice (1844-1882) and some thirty more on his own.  This was his first.

“A clever book . . . which no grown man who has any experience of life can read without being the better for it”; the author makes characters “say in his pages just what they say in every day real life.” Athenaeum, July 13, 1872

“The story is daring and clever, and is well worth reading.” British Quarterly, July, 1873

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v.1 https://archive.org/details/readymoneymortib00besa_0

v.2 https://archive.org/details/readymoneymortib00besa_1

v.3 https://archive.org/details/readymoneymortib00besa_2

Crossword 352: Another Defeat

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This is my second defeat; the first (see Crossword 136) took place nearly five years ago.  That makes my win-loss record 350-2.  To what do I owe this triumphant career?  Exercise and diet.  I spend at least six hours a day lifting virtual weights in my AI-assisted smart gym, and I fry my tofu only in lard.

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352-Another-Defeat.puz

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352 Another Defeat

Novel 352: David Dwight Wells, Her Ladyship's Elephant (1898)

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Two honeymoon couples are re-sorted by a train mix-up.

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The American David Dwight Wells (1868-1900) wrote only three novels before his early death.

A “screaming farce, neither more nor less, and successful in its line of delightful absurdity.” Saturday Review, June 25, 1898

“An admirable piece of fooling, with not a dull page.” Athenaeum, July 2, 1898

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https://archive.org/details/cu31924022210185

Crossword 351: Ugh! Get It Out of Here!

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I’ve objected before to the long triumphant march of ugliness that, already underway in the late Victorian period, has now overwhelmed everything everywhere: our art and literature, our music and architecture, our dress, manners and speech have grown so relentlessly transgressive, so unreservedly offensive, that nothing remains for them to transgress, and no one for them to offend, except, perhaps, a few sensitive souls, like you, gentle solver, and me.  The most common word in informal conversation nowadays (used, with “ing,” as an all-purpose intensifier) is one that still, happily, cannot be printed in a newspaper crossword.  So today I turn again, in my own crossword, to the ceaseless and untiring work of casting out ugliness in all its forms.

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351 Ugh!-Get-It-Out-of-Here!.puz

351 Ugh!-Get-It-Out-of-Here!.pdf

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351 Ugh! Get It Out of Here!

Novel 351: Dorothea Gerard, The Rich Miss Riddell (1894)

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A rich but plain woman suspects the sincerity of her lovers.

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Scottish-born Dorothea Gerard (1855 - 1915), who spent much of her early years with her family in Austria, and married an Austrian officer, set many of her novels in her adopted country; she wrote some 43 of them, some with her sister Emily.

It is “more than merely readable”; the heroine’s troubles “are treated with perfect sympathy, considerable subtlety, and an entire absence of sensationalism”; “the pictures of foreign life are informed by that thorough knowledge and insight familiar to Miss Gerard’s readers.” Athenaeum, June 2, 1894

The author “tells even the slightest story with grace and verve and never fails to introduce us to at least one winsome new acquaintance”; “the book cannot fail to win many readers.” Academy, June 16, 1894

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https://books.google.com/books?id=PMsYAAAAYAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=editions%3AM54CRvIZd_oC&pg=PP11#v=onepage&q&f=false

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Crossword 350: Practice Phrases for the Aspirational

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You’ve got on your top hat, white tie, and tails, or your evening gown and string of pearls, and you’re seated at table next to the countess of this or the earl of that, and you’re using the right fork.  “I wonder whether the weather will improve,” you say.  Eyebrows are raised, gazes averted.  Nobody responds.  You’re never invited back.  What, oh what, have you done?  This puzzle supplies you with five practice phrases; learn to pronounce them properly and you may face your next dinner in high society with confidence.

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350-Practice-Phrases-for-the-Aspirational.puz

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350 Practice Phrases for the Aspirational

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A crossword of mine will appear Saturday, March 14, in The Wall Street Journal

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