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The Duke in the Suburbs
The local directory is a useful institution to the stranger, but the intimate directory of suburbia, the libellous "Who's Who," has never and will never be printed. Set in parallel columns, it must be clear to the meanest intelligence that, given a free hand, the directory editor could produce a volume which, for sparkle and interest, would surpass the finest work that author has produced, or free library put into circulation.
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1909
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Wallace
2,122 books260 followersRichard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1875-1932) was a prolific British crime writer, journalist and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and countless articles in newspapers and journals.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
Over 160 films have been made of his novels, more than any other author. In the 1920s, one of Wallace's publishers claimed that a quarter of all books read in England were written by him.
He is most famous today as the co-creator of "King Kong", writing the early screenplay and story for the movie, as well as a short story "King Kong" (1933) credited to him and Draycott Dell. He was known for the J. G. Reeder detective stories, The Four Just Men, the Ringer, and for creating the Green Archer character during his lifetime.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 6, 2015
This was my first Edgar Wallace book, and it didn't disappoint until the very end. Some of the humorous lines and plot devices were very similar to P.G. Wodehouse--one of my favorites--and made the story fizzy and enjoyable. Unfortunately, it felt like Wallace got to the end and didn't know how to wrap it all up, so sent all the characters on a journey that felt tacked-on. Had the ending been better, I would have given it five stars; as it is, four will do.
January 19, 2024
Una splendida lettura.
Il duca nel sobborgo è un piccolo gioiello di arguzia e umorismo.
La vita di un piccolo sobborgo di Londra viene sconvolta dall’arrivo di un chiassoso duca che, con un immancabile sorriso sul bel viso, ne combina di tutti i colori, incorrendo nelle ire del suo vicino.
Tra sparatorie, inseguimenti, battute e scherzi, il lettore viene travolto dalla simpatia del duca e, al momento di salutarsi, chiude di malavoglia il libro.
Lo stile è frizzante e arguto, rendendo questo volume un piccolo capolavoro.
Il duca nel sobborgo è un piccolo gioiello di arguzia e umorismo.
La vita di un piccolo sobborgo di Londra viene sconvolta dall’arrivo di un chiassoso duca che, con un immancabile sorriso sul bel viso, ne combina di tutti i colori, incorrendo nelle ire del suo vicino.
Tra sparatorie, inseguimenti, battute e scherzi, il lettore viene travolto dalla simpatia del duca e, al momento di salutarsi, chiude di malavoglia il libro.
Lo stile è frizzante e arguto, rendendo questo volume un piccolo capolavoro.
Want to read
August 15, 2015Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
August 27, 2025
Not a typical Edgar Wallace. He mostly wrote mysteries and thrillers, and while there are some moments of action, this is mostly a comedy. For me, quite a successful comedy, too.
For reasons that are never explained, presumably because it makes no sense at all, the Duc de Montvilliers has decided to rent a suburban villa in a quiet middle-class neighbourhood in London. He's not an English duke, but a (presumably purely nominal) French duke, descendant of refugees from the Terror, born and raised in England. He has plenty of money, because he's been to the US and struck silver, along with his American friend Hank, who's also living with him in the suburban house (no, not like that, this is 1909). While in America, he lived a rough-and-tumble life and was the cause of a ruffian being jailed, and this ruffian, having by some pull and corruption got out of jail, is now trying to hunt him down.
Meanwhile, by coincidence, the uncle of his neighbour (a young woman who he falls in love with and proposes to almost immediately on meeting her), a schemer named Sir Harry Tanneur, is trying, by completely dodgy means, to wrest the silver mine from him in a US court. Sir Harry's lawyer there cunningly fulfils the letter of the law by advertising the action in three small local newspapers, but then has an agent buy up the entire run of all three papers so the duke has no chance of finding out in practice, since if he defends the claim he will definitely win. However, the lawyer sends the clippings to Sir Harry, and by a series of highly unlikely coincidences one of them ends up being read out at a parish concert, alerting the duke, who rushes to the US and crushes the fraudulent claim.
This annoys Sir Harry significantly. His family were actually tanners, surnamed Tanner, but when they made a lot of money in the 19th century changed it to Tanneur, presumably to rhyme with "poseur," which is what Sir Harry is. He's busily engaged in producing false documentation of ancient and exalted genealogy. He deeply resents the duke legally asserting his right to his own property and scotching Sir Harry's attempt to pinch it, and considers it cause for a vendetta.
The two men then buy newspapers in order to campaign against one another, and the suburbanites, who are amusingly characterized, divide into factions. The characters are wonderful in general: the urbane duke, a mixture of Eton old boy and Wild West adventurer; his phlegmatic buddy Hank, who shows a lot more sophistication than the usual stock American character; the permanently broke but always genial Lord Tupping, known to one and all as "Tuppy"; the self-deceiving and bitter Sir Harry; the absurd would-be detective. It's unfortunate, though, that the love interest doesn't have a lot of personality, which is a flaw in an otherwise strong and amusing book.
I think this must have been one of the books Wallace dictated, and whoever transcribed and/or edited it was weak on punctuation. The comma usage is erratic and frequently incorrect, apostrophes are missing, closing quotation marks get missed (or put where they don't belong), and the duke's American nickname is spelled "Dukey" or "Jukey" seemingly at random. It's the kind of book that makes me want to produce my own edition, so that it can shine as it deserves.
For reasons that are never explained, presumably because it makes no sense at all, the Duc de Montvilliers has decided to rent a suburban villa in a quiet middle-class neighbourhood in London. He's not an English duke, but a (presumably purely nominal) French duke, descendant of refugees from the Terror, born and raised in England. He has plenty of money, because he's been to the US and struck silver, along with his American friend Hank, who's also living with him in the suburban house (no, not like that, this is 1909). While in America, he lived a rough-and-tumble life and was the cause of a ruffian being jailed, and this ruffian, having by some pull and corruption got out of jail, is now trying to hunt him down.
Meanwhile, by coincidence, the uncle of his neighbour (a young woman who he falls in love with and proposes to almost immediately on meeting her), a schemer named Sir Harry Tanneur, is trying, by completely dodgy means, to wrest the silver mine from him in a US court. Sir Harry's lawyer there cunningly fulfils the letter of the law by advertising the action in three small local newspapers, but then has an agent buy up the entire run of all three papers so the duke has no chance of finding out in practice, since if he defends the claim he will definitely win. However, the lawyer sends the clippings to Sir Harry, and by a series of highly unlikely coincidences one of them ends up being read out at a parish concert, alerting the duke, who rushes to the US and crushes the fraudulent claim.
This annoys Sir Harry significantly. His family were actually tanners, surnamed Tanner, but when they made a lot of money in the 19th century changed it to Tanneur, presumably to rhyme with "poseur," which is what Sir Harry is. He's busily engaged in producing false documentation of ancient and exalted genealogy. He deeply resents the duke legally asserting his right to his own property and scotching Sir Harry's attempt to pinch it, and considers it cause for a vendetta.
The two men then buy newspapers in order to campaign against one another, and the suburbanites, who are amusingly characterized, divide into factions. The characters are wonderful in general: the urbane duke, a mixture of Eton old boy and Wild West adventurer; his phlegmatic buddy Hank, who shows a lot more sophistication than the usual stock American character; the permanently broke but always genial Lord Tupping, known to one and all as "Tuppy"; the self-deceiving and bitter Sir Harry; the absurd would-be detective. It's unfortunate, though, that the love interest doesn't have a lot of personality, which is a flaw in an otherwise strong and amusing book.
I think this must have been one of the books Wallace dictated, and whoever transcribed and/or edited it was weak on punctuation. The comma usage is erratic and frequently incorrect, apostrophes are missing, closing quotation marks get missed (or put where they don't belong), and the duke's American nickname is spelled "Dukey" or "Jukey" seemingly at random. It's the kind of book that makes me want to produce my own edition, so that it can shine as it deserves.
May 19, 2025
A surprising novel from Edgar Wallace, to be sure.
When I open a book with his name on the cover, I am preparing myself for a riveting cat-and-mouse game between a seasoned criminal and a clever detective, with a hint of romance for flavour. This was not what I have come to expect. Sure, it did have criminal activity and some cat-and-mouse for a flavour, but most of all, this was a romantic comedy (and doesn't the Estonian cover, declaring it to be a "crime novel" end up misleading as Hell, the short introduction on the back cover not assisting in any way in clearing the misconception).
The novel follows Duc the Montvillier, a real life duke of French decent, though he hails from America, from the moment he moves into Brockley, a suburb of London, and his pursuit of his new neighbour, Miss Alicia Terrill, while clashing with Alicia's uncle, Sir Harry Tenneur.
Would I have picked up the book if I had known it wasn't exactly a crime novel (as I had expected)? Probably not.
Do I regret reading it regardless? Of course not.
Would I read another rom-com (with criminal elements) by Edgar Wallace? Hell, yes!
When I open a book with his name on the cover, I am preparing myself for a riveting cat-and-mouse game between a seasoned criminal and a clever detective, with a hint of romance for flavour. This was not what I have come to expect. Sure, it did have criminal activity and some cat-and-mouse for a flavour, but most of all, this was a romantic comedy (and doesn't the Estonian cover, declaring it to be a "crime novel" end up misleading as Hell, the short introduction on the back cover not assisting in any way in clearing the misconception).
The novel follows Duc the Montvillier, a real life duke of French decent, though he hails from America, from the moment he moves into Brockley, a suburb of London, and his pursuit of his new neighbour, Miss Alicia Terrill, while clashing with Alicia's uncle, Sir Harry Tenneur.
Would I have picked up the book if I had known it wasn't exactly a crime novel (as I had expected)? Probably not.
Do I regret reading it regardless? Of course not.
Would I read another rom-com (with criminal elements) by Edgar Wallace? Hell, yes!
February 16, 2023
Conoscevo Wallace come autore di polizieschi piuttosto intricati; e non posso dire di avere apprezzato in genere i suoi romanzi.
Ma questo libro è tutta un'altra cosa: è pervaso di humor quanto un buon racconto di Wodehouse, e descrive con straordinaria finezza la società inglese dei primi decenni del novecento. Al di qua e al di là dell'Atlantico.
Ma questo libro è tutta un'altra cosa: è pervaso di humor quanto un buon racconto di Wodehouse, e descrive con straordinaria finezza la società inglese dei primi decenni del novecento. Al di qua e al di là dell'Atlantico.
October 15, 2025
Didn't Wallace ever reread what he had writtien? Did no editor ever point out the plot jumps, repeated events, huge discrepancies in the narrative? It's not just this novel, I find the same in his thrillers, I suppose that's what potboilers are all about. That said, this was quite amusing in parts. I suspect he had a pulisher's deadline which accounts for the abrupt end.
Read
October 5, 2020An odd, for-fun book.
June 12, 2025
This is a horribly boring tale. I limped through 33% of the book before having to trow in the towel.
June 14, 2016
English review follows below.
Geldadeliger Texas Cowboy mit tatsächlich adeligen französischen Wurzeln und Kenntnissen dieses Standes zieht in die Londoner Vorstadt und mischt dort Nachbarn, die Frauen, ehemalige Feinde und Freude kräftig auf. Er muss Anschläge abwehren, Intrigen durchkreuzen, Zeitschriften gründen und vieles mehr.
Mischung aus Gesellschaftskomödie mit kleinem Gaunerkomödien-Touch. Größter Aktivposten ist das gut geeichte komödiantische Timing des Autors mit vielen herrlichen Beschreibungen, Szenen und Dialogen, die einen häufig Schmunzeln lassen. Dafür sieht man die oberflächliche und manchmal etwas konfuse Handlung gerne nach. Obschon kein typischer Wallace-Krimi ein unterhaltsamer Roman, kann man auch heute noch ganz gut lesen.
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Rich (new riche) Texas Cowboy with French noble lineage and knowledge of the manners of a Duke (“knows his way around duking” he would say) moves to the suburbs of London and creates a havoc with the neighbors there, the women, former enemies and friends. He has to avoid ambushes, avert sinister plots against him, found newspapers and much more.
Entertaining comedy of manners whose writer shows a lot of skill with comedic timing. Very amusing descriptions, scenes and dialogues make the reader smile a lot, so one you can forgive the sometimes shallow and confusing story. Even though not a typical crime meller by Wallace, still entertaining and readable today.
Geldadeliger Texas Cowboy mit tatsächlich adeligen französischen Wurzeln und Kenntnissen dieses Standes zieht in die Londoner Vorstadt und mischt dort Nachbarn, die Frauen, ehemalige Feinde und Freude kräftig auf. Er muss Anschläge abwehren, Intrigen durchkreuzen, Zeitschriften gründen und vieles mehr.
Mischung aus Gesellschaftskomödie mit kleinem Gaunerkomödien-Touch. Größter Aktivposten ist das gut geeichte komödiantische Timing des Autors mit vielen herrlichen Beschreibungen, Szenen und Dialogen, die einen häufig Schmunzeln lassen. Dafür sieht man die oberflächliche und manchmal etwas konfuse Handlung gerne nach. Obschon kein typischer Wallace-Krimi ein unterhaltsamer Roman, kann man auch heute noch ganz gut lesen.
--
Rich (new riche) Texas Cowboy with French noble lineage and knowledge of the manners of a Duke (“knows his way around duking” he would say) moves to the suburbs of London and creates a havoc with the neighbors there, the women, former enemies and friends. He has to avoid ambushes, avert sinister plots against him, found newspapers and much more.
Entertaining comedy of manners whose writer shows a lot of skill with comedic timing. Very amusing descriptions, scenes and dialogues make the reader smile a lot, so one you can forgive the sometimes shallow and confusing story. Even though not a typical crime meller by Wallace, still entertaining and readable today.
October 3, 2015
A Wodehousian comic novel about the Duc de Montevillier, who — despite his aristocratic French lineage — is a rootin' tootin' cowboy out of Texas. He takes up residence in the London suburbs, pays court to the damsel next door from atop a sacred stepladder and is beset by bad guys, both of the of the Wild West and the City financier variety, with loads of witty language and drollery.
March 27, 2013
An early fairly untypical comic novel novel from Edgar Wallace. Unbelievable, situations and characters don't help this still fairly enjoyable and largely comic tale of a French Duke (and cowboy) who relocates to a London suburb.
March 9, 2013
I would so have given this book 4 stars--and then it just ended! Right in the middle of things, it felt. Loved the banter, the wit, the unexpectedness of events. And then it just ended. And no sequel!
February 18, 2014
I loved this one! In many ways it's different from the usual plot with the secret crime syndicate. In many other ways it's very typical: Strong female character, strong male character who loves her for it, somebody up to no good (who gets his in the end). Lots of humor.
December 15, 2019
Niente di che, abbastanza insulso e etereo. Parè però si discosti molto dal suo stile, vedremo se leggere ancora qualcosa di suo...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews