And Five Were Foolish is a 1924 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer), first published in The Windsor Magazine.[2] The title is a reference to the Parable of the Ten Virgins.
 1943 dustjacket | |
| Author | Dornford Yates |
|---|---|
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Ward Lock & Co[1] |
Publication date | 1924[1] |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 311[1] |
Plot
editThe book consists of ten short stories, several inspired by incidents and places known to Mercer and all named after a significant female character.[3]
Background
editThe stories were written for The Windsor Magazine, which boasted its readers had been "clamouring for more".[4]
Chapters
edit| Chapter | Book title | Windsor title | Date | Volume | Issue | Pages | Illustrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Sarah | False Pretences | November 1922 | LVI | 335 | 591-684 | Henry Coller |
| II | Madeleine | Fine Linen | October 1922 | LVI | 334 | 463-473 | E G Oakdale |
| III | Katharine | Three's Company | October 1923 | LVIII | 346 | 493-506 | Norah Schlegel |
| IV | Spring | Groom Of The Chambers | November 1923 | LVIII | 347 | 587-600 | Norah Schlegel |
| V | Elizabeth | A Drink Divine | December 1923 | LIX | 348 | 3-14 | Norah Schlegel |
| VI | Jo | Private Papers | January 1924 | LIX | 349 | 115-127 | Norah Schlegel |
| VII | Athalia | A Fool's Errand | February 1924 | LIX | 350 | 233-246 | Norah Schlegel |
| VIII | Ann | Mesalliance | April 1924 | LIX | 352 | 505-523 | Norah Schlegel |
| IX | Eleanor | A Private Scandal | March 1924 | LIX | 351 | 347-359 | Norah Schlegel |
| X | Susan | Noblesse Oblige | May 1924 | LIX | 353 | 573-578 | Norah Schlegel |
Critical reception
editThe collected volume was a significant success, reprinted seven times before World War II.[5] The original dust jacket carried a Daily Telegraph quote:
The reader may decide for himself which five of Mr. Dornford Yates's virgins were foolish. Opinions will probably vary, and perhaps not one of the host of readers which the book deserves will compile a list tallying exactly with that which the author has drawn up in his own mind. But there will at least be unanimity on the point that here are ten extraordinary powerful and intriguing stories.
References
edit- ^ a b c "British Library Item details". primocat.bl.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ Smithers 1982, p. 103.
- ^ Smithers 1982, pp. 118–125.
- ^ Smithers 1982, p. 118.
- ^ Smithers 1982, p. 122.
Bibliography
edit- Smithers, AJ (1982). Dornford Yates. London: Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-27547-2.