DLS at Sotheby's

Dave · #1 January 14th, 2002, 10:23 AM

Sotheby's had an auction of a large amount of DLS's books, manuscripts and other material about 1 year ago. Were any of you able to pick-up anything? One of the lots that caught my eye was a collection of material relating to "The Detection Club".

It included an autographed manuscript of "The Order of Solemn Installation for a President of the Detection Club" as well as the Constitution of the Rules of the Detective Club. Also, the manuscripts for No Flowers by Request and The Floating Admiral were included.

I've always been interested in The Detection Club and would love to read a history of it. As far as I know there is not a history (at least in book form) of the club. This material would provide a lot of insight into the formation and running of the club. Hopefully, if a history of the club is ever written whoever writes it will have access to this information.

Jan Bilski · #2 January 23rd, 2002, 03:51 AM

Yes, it'really a shame that there is no book about history of The Detection Club - I would buy such book at once.
Once I have found a web site about it, quite good but couldn't find it again. I believe ther is lot of interesting information about The Detection Club in biographies of few members.
Jan

Dave · #3 January 23rd, 2002, 08:46 AM

There must have been some very interesting dinner conversations at those meetings! I do hope that someday a book is written about the club. I have come across the occasional reference to the club (awrobbins informed me that Chesterton had an article in The Strand on it), but nothing with much depth.

Doug Greene · #4 May 29th, 2002, 07:48 AM

I too would love a book about the Detection Club and suggested such a project to Harry Keating when he was President. Simon Brett is the new President, and might be interested--though I know that little in the way of early documents survives.

When I was gathering material for my biography of John Dickson Carr, I interviewed Clarcie Carr about the Detection Club, and also asked both Gladys Mitchell and Michael gilbert for their memories. The result is a chapter on my JDC bio, which may be the most complete account of the Club during the 1930's -- which fact goes to prove how little we do know about that period.

Doug Greene