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Running the Gauntlet
Edmund Hodgson Yates (3 July 1831 – 20 May 1894) was a British journalist, novelist and dramatist. He was born in Edinburgh to the actor and theatre manager Frederick Henry Yates and was educated at Highgate School in London. His first career was a clerk in the General Post Office, before entering journalism.
In 1854 he published his first book My Haunts and their Frequenters, after which followed a succession of novels, and plays. As a contributor to All The Year Round and Household Words, he gained the high opinion of Charles Dickens.
This novel was originally published in 1865.
In 1854 he published his first book My Haunts and their Frequenters, after which followed a succession of novels, and plays. As a contributor to All The Year Round and Household Words, he gained the high opinion of Charles Dickens.
This novel was originally published in 1865.
446 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1867
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About the author
Edmund Hodgson Yates
320 books2 followersEdmund Hodgson Yates was a British journalist, novelist and dramatist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_...
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August 21, 2019
Victorian social satire from a minor maestro, nearly forgotten now.
Colonel Laurence Alsager returns to England after a few years on the continent recuperating from a failed love affair, whereupon he immediately falls in love again with a married woman, Lady Mitford.
Her husband Charles is something of a rotter ("a lout, a great, overgrown schoolboy sort of fellow" according to the urbane Alsager) who once forged a check and chases after a dangerous flirt named Laura Hammond, who also happens to be Alsager's ex. The title refers to the social ignominy Lady Mitford has to face being married to such a man and from which Colonel Alsager would like to spare her, purely for platonic reasons, or so he tells himself.
Running the Gauntlet is a gentle satire, the type in which a low comedian can go by the name of Mugger, and a popular restaurant is called Foodle's. When Alsager first returns to his club from self-imposed exile he soon gets back into the spirit of things ("You've done admirably, old fellow," said Laurence. "'Pon my oath I don't think there's hardly any one we know that you haven't had something pleasantly unpleasant to say about.")
Yates was a dab-hand at setting a scene, whether it be the smoking room of a gentleman's club, recreating the business lingo unique to the theatrical world, or sketching the various patrons of the gaming tables in Baden.
The two most striking characters are in support roles. Lizzie Ponsford is a vibrant woman with a bad past masquerading as a governesses, Lord Dollomore a cynical social observer who whispers secrets to his Malacca cane.
In the author's own words, 'every thing was à tort et à travers, as it has been, is, and always shall be, in the great world of London.'
Colonel Laurence Alsager returns to England after a few years on the continent recuperating from a failed love affair, whereupon he immediately falls in love again with a married woman, Lady Mitford.
Her husband Charles is something of a rotter ("a lout, a great, overgrown schoolboy sort of fellow" according to the urbane Alsager) who once forged a check and chases after a dangerous flirt named Laura Hammond, who also happens to be Alsager's ex. The title refers to the social ignominy Lady Mitford has to face being married to such a man and from which Colonel Alsager would like to spare her, purely for platonic reasons, or so he tells himself.
Running the Gauntlet is a gentle satire, the type in which a low comedian can go by the name of Mugger, and a popular restaurant is called Foodle's. When Alsager first returns to his club from self-imposed exile he soon gets back into the spirit of things ("You've done admirably, old fellow," said Laurence. "'Pon my oath I don't think there's hardly any one we know that you haven't had something pleasantly unpleasant to say about.")
Yates was a dab-hand at setting a scene, whether it be the smoking room of a gentleman's club, recreating the business lingo unique to the theatrical world, or sketching the various patrons of the gaming tables in Baden.
The two most striking characters are in support roles. Lizzie Ponsford is a vibrant woman with a bad past masquerading as a governesses, Lord Dollomore a cynical social observer who whispers secrets to his Malacca cane.
In the author's own words, 'every thing was à tort et à travers, as it has been, is, and always shall be, in the great world of London.'
Displaying 1 of 1 review