Rodney Stone
Rodney Stone is a historical novel by the British writer Arthur Conan Doyle published by Simth, Elder Co. in London in 1896.
action
Rodney Stone, the story's title character, also acts as the narrator. He grew up in the small village of Friar's Oak as the son of a naval officer who was hardly at home due to the Napoleonic wars . Rodney's best friend is called Jim Harrison and lives with his uncle, the village blacksmith who used to be a famous pugilist. When Rodney finishes school, he is introduced to London society by his uncle Charles Tregellis. Tregellis is not only a dandy and fashion trendsetter, but also a patron of fistfighting. He takes on a wager with the seedy Sir Lothian Hume, who claims that no one can match his pugilist Crab Wilson. When looking for a promising candidate, Tregellis finally struck gold in Jim Harrison. However, on the eve of the fight, Jim mysteriously disappears, whereupon his uncle stands in for him. When the blacksmith's victory became apparent, Hume had his cronies blow up the ring in order not to lose the high stake.
In addition, the struggling Hume has long kept an eye on the legacy of his cousin, Lord Avon. Avon, who has disappeared without a trace since he was charged with the murder of his brother, must first be officially declared dead before Hume can take over the inheritance. It later emerges that Avon has been hiding in his old Cliffe Royal estate near Friar's Oak for years, and when he learns that Jim, his biological son, is going to compete in the ring, which is not fitting for a nobleman, he lets him kidnap and bring to you to reveal your true identity. Gradually, the murder of Avon's brother is also exposed: Avon's former servant witnessed the crime, the perpetrator of which is none other than Sir Lothian Hume, who will ultimately be brought to justice.
While Rodney follows in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the Navy, Jim inherits his father's title and becomes master of the Cliffe Royal estate.
background
The carefully researched novel leads the reader into the milieu of pugilists in England at the beginning of the 19th century, while the Napoleonic wars rage in the background. Several historical figures make an appearance, such as Admiral Nelson , Beau Brummell , the Prince of Wales and a number of pugilists who enjoyed star status among the population at the time. Sport is at the center of the novel, and the ideal of fair play reflects the attitude of the author, who repeatedly advocates this quintessentially English quality in his memoirs. However, the sabotage of the wrestling match indicates that this sporting spirit has to be measured against reality and that there is something utopian about it.
Impact history
Although the author himself considered the work one of his best books, it is one of Doyle's least known novels. It was made into a film by Harold M. Shaw in 1913 under the title The House of Temperley . The first German translation was published by 28 Eichen in 2015.