The Consul

by Richard Harding Davis

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Short Stories

74 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Richard Harding Davis (1864–1916) was a journalist and writer of fiction and drama, known foremost as the first American war correspondent to cover the Spanish-American War, the Second Boer War, and the First World War. His writing greatly assisted the political career of Theodore Roosevelt and he also played a major role in the evolution of the American magazine. His influence extended to the world of fashion and he is credited with making the clean-shaven look popular among men at the turn of the 20th century.

Reviews

[Leah Markum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really odd for a short story, but I was actually impressed with this story. It's on the long side--close to 7,500 words--so I was daunted to delve into what I usually think of classical short stories: commentary on the times and poor character and plot development--not that I blame short stories for that, it's just an indication that while I have a personal goal to read more short stories and learn to appreciate them, they're generally not my favorite type of publication.

The Consul has a sad side to it. The main character, Marshall, was once Abraham Lincoln's right hand man, but since the President's death, Marshall has fallen out of political favor. After many years in the navy rising to admiral and many more years as an ambassador to a myriad of countries, he has been "marooned" in Columbia. Forgotten. His hometown grew up, he has few friends, and he simply has no connection to his old life until the plot of the story: Senator Hanley pays him a visit, and on that ship is also an admiral that's a friend of Marshall's.

What will happen? Will party boy Hanley destroy Marshall's career? Will Admiral Hardy find a way to intervene?

It looks good. Marshall stands up for righteousness. But Hanley makes threats.

You must read to the last three, short paragraphs to find out. The plot twists left and right until the end. In fact, I still wasn't 100 percent sure what happened. I knew the result, but how did it come about? Who was the true conniving man? Was someone not a bad guy? What this planned in advance, if so how far? Was it decided at the first conflict? Why can't I find Spark Notes on this?

I think all the potential methods for the conclusion make the story as fun as the transparent plot twists.

[Dow Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great find! I recently helped go through a dear friend's library after his death, and this little gem turned up. It was published in 1911, and was a Christmas gift from one cousin to another in December of 1912. Somehow it ended up in my friend's library. Anyway, I read it last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it. About an hour and a half's worth of great storytelling about a US consul and what befell him while stationed in a backwater port town in Columbia. If you run across a copy, grab it! I'll certainly be looking for more of Richard Harding Davis' books and stories.

[Michael (Mike) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The good stuff in reading is all free. In this case, free on my Kindle. Richard Harding Davis is one of my favorite American authors for writings that straddle the 19th and 20th centuries.

A good short story. A simple test of a man's loyalty to country and service.