H. C. Bailey

Henry Christopher Bailey (1878–1961) was an English author of detective fiction.

H. C. Bailey

Life

Bailey was born in London. He studied Classics at Oxford University, earning a B.A. in 1901.[1] Bailey began working as a journalist for The Daily Telegraph, writing war journalism, drama reviews, and editorials for the newspaper.

Bailey retired from writing in 1950, and spent the last years of his life living in North Wales.[1]

Fiction

Bailey wrote mainly short stories featuring a medically qualified detective called Reggie Fortune (a surgeon, hence he is known as 'Mr Fortune'). Fortune's mannerisms and speech put him into the same class as Lord Peter Wimsey but the stories are much darker, and often involve murderous obsession, police corruption, financial skulduggery, child abuse and miscarriages of justice.[1] Although Mr Fortune is seen at his best in short stories, he also appears in several novels.

A second series character, Joshua Clunk, is a sanctimonious lawyer who exposes corruption and blackmail in local politics, and who manages to profit from the crimes. He appears in eleven novels published between 1930 and 1950, including The Sullen Sky Mystery (1935), widely regarded as Bailey's magnum opus.

Bailey also wrote historical fiction. His first historical novel, My Lady of Orange (1901) revolves around William the Silent, and his involvement in the Dutch Revolt.[2]

Bailey's works were published in a number of magazines, primarily The Windsor Magazine but also Adventure[3] and Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

Works
Bailey's "The Woman in the Veil" was the cover story in the May 1912 issue of Adventure

—At that time Adventure did not commission covers based on published stories. So this was a coincidence but not a cover story.

Romantic and historic fiction
  • My Lady of Orange (1901). Serialised, Longman's Magazine, December 1900 to May 1901
  • Karl of Erbach (1903). Serialised as Prince Karl, Longman's Magazine, July 1992 to March 1903
  • The Master of Gray (1903)
  • Rimingtons (1904)
  • Beaujeu (1905). Serialised, Monthly Review, UNKNOWN MONTH to UNKNOWN MONTH 1905
  • Under Castle Walls (1906), aka Springtime: Serialised as "Springtime", The Idler, April 1906 - November 1906
  • Raoul, a Gentleman of Fortune (1907), aka A Gentleman of Fortune: Serialised, The Idler, June to December 1906
  • The God of Clay (1908): Serialised, Pall Mall Magazine, January to December 1907
  • Colonel Stow (1908)
  • Storm and Treasure (1910)
  • The Lonely Lady (1911)
  • The Suburban (1912)
  • The Sea Captain (1913) Serialized, The Grand Magazine, January to December 1912.;[4] and in Adventure, September 1911 to January 1913
  • The Gentleman Adventurer (1914)
  • The Highwayman (1915)
  • The Gamesters (1916)
  • The Young Lovers (1917)
  • The Pillar of Fire (1918)
  • Barry Leroy (1919)
  • His Serene Highness (1920)
  • The Fool (1921); serialised, Everybody's Magazine, June to September 1921. Historical novel about Henry II of England [5]
  • The Plot (1922)
  • The Rebel (1923)
  • Knight at Arms (1924) Historical novel set in the time of Charles VIII of France [6]
  • The Golden Fleece (1925)
  • The Merchant Prince (1926)
  • Bonaventure (1927)
  • Judy Bovenden (1928). Serialised, Daily Telegraph, 3 August 1928 to 13 September 1928
  • The Roman Eagles (1929), juvenile
  • Mr Cardonnel (1931)

Detective fiction
  • Call Mr Fortune (1920), short stories collection
  • "The Archduke's Tea"
  • "The Sleeping Companion"
  • "The Nice Girl"
  • "The Efficient Assassin"
  • "The Hottentot Venus"
  • "The Business Minister"
  • Mr Fortune's Practice (1923), short stories collection
  • "The Ascot Tragedy"
  • "The President of San Jacinto"
  • "The Young Doctor"
  • "The Magic Stone"
  • "The Snowball Burglary"
  • "The Leading Lady"
  • "The Unknown Murderer"
  • Mr Fortune's Trials (1925), short stories collection
  • "The Young God" (London Magazine, August 1924)
  • "The Only Son" (London Magazine, November 1924)
  • "The Furnished Cottage" (London Magazine, December 1924)
  • "The Hermit Crab" (London Magazine, October 1924)
  • "The Long Barrow" (London Magazine, January 1925)
  • "The Profiteers" (London Magazine, September 1924)
  • Mr Fortune, Please (1928), short stories collection
  • "The Missing Husband"
  • "The Cat Burglar"
  • "The Lion Party"
  • "The Violet Farm"
  • "The Quiet Lady"
  • "The Little House"
  • Mr Fortune Speaking (1929), short stories collection
  • "Zodiacs" (Windsor Magazine, May 1928)
  • "The Cat's Milk"
  • "The Pink Macaw"
  • "The Hazel Ice"
  • "The Painted Pebbles" (Windsor Magazine, June 1928)
  • "The Woman in Wood"
  • "The German Song"
  • "The Lion Fish" (Windsor Magazine, April 1928)
  • Garstons / The Garston Murder Case (1930; Clunk)
  • Mr Fortune Explains (1930), short stories collection
  • "The Picnic"
  • "The Little Milliner"
  • "The Wedding Ring" (Windsor Magazine, February 1930)
  • "The Football Photograph"
  • "The Rock Garden" (Windsor Magazine, January 1930)
  • "The Silver Cross"
  • "The Bicycle Lamp"
  • "The Face in the Picture"
  • Case for Mr Fortune (1932), short stories collection
  • "The Greek Play" (Windsor Magazine, October 1931)
  • "The Mountain Meadow" (Windsor Magazine, January 1932)
  • "The Pair of Spectacles" (Windsor Magazine, September 1931)
  • "A Bunch of Grapes" (Windsor Magazine, November 1931)
  • "The Sported Oak" (Windsor Magazine, April 1932)
  • "The Oak Gall" (Windsor Magazine, May 1932)
  • "The Little Dog" (Windsor Magazine, March 1932 as "The Small Dog")
  • "The Walrus Ivory" (Windsor Magazine, February 1932)
  • The Red Castle / The Red Castle Mystery (1932; Clunk)
  • The Man in the Cape (1933)
  • Mr Fortune Wonders (1933), short stories collection
  • "The Cigarette Case" (Windsor Magazine, May 1933)
  • "The Yellow Diamonds" (Windsor Magazine, June 1933)
  • "The Lilies of St. Gabriel's" (Windsor Magazine, August 1933)
  • "The Gipsy Moth" (Windsor Magazine, October 1933)
  • "The Fairy Cycle" (Windsor Magazine, November 1933)
  • "The Oleander Flowers" (Windsor Magazine, December 1933)
  • "The Love Bird" (Windsor Magazine, September 1933)
  • "The Old Bible" (Windsor Magazine, July 1933)
  • Shadow on the Wall (1934; Fortune, cameo by Clunk)
  • Mr Fortune Objects (1935), short stories collection
  • "The Broken Toad" (Windsor Magazine, October 1934)
  • "The Angel's Eye" (Windsor Magazine, November 1934)
  • "The Little Finger" (Windsor Magazine, December 1934)
  • "The Three Bears" (Windsor Magazine, February 1935)
  • "The Long Dinner" (Windsor Magazine, January 1935)
  • "The Yellow Slugs" (Windsor Magazine, March 1935)
  • The Sullen Sky Mystery (1935; Clunk)
  • A Clue for Mr Fortune (1936), short stories collection
  • "The Torn Stocking"
  • "The Swimming Pool" (Windsor Magazine, April 1936)
  • "The Hole in the Parchment" (Windsor Magazine, May 1936)
  • "The Holy Well" (Windsor Magazine, June 1936)
  • "The Wistful Goddess" (Windsor Magazine, August 1936)
  • "The Dead Leaves" (Windsor Magazine, July 1936)
  • Black Land, White Land (1937; Fortune)
  • Clunk's Claimant / The Twittering Bird Mystery (1937; Clunk, cameo by Fortune)
  • This is Mr Fortune (1938), short stories collection
  • "The Yellow Cloth" (Windsor Magazine, April 1938)
  • "The Children's Home" (Windsor Magazine, August 1938)
  • "The Lizard's Tail" (Windsor Magazine, May 1938)
  • "The Cowslip Ball" (Windsor Magazine, June 1938)
  • "The Burnt Tout" (Windsor Magazine, July 1938)
  • "The Key of the Door" (Windsor Magazine, September 1938)
  • The Great Game (1939; Fortune, cameo by Clunk)
  • The Veron Mystery / Mr Clunk's Text (1939; Clunk, cameo by Fortune)
  • Mr Fortune Here (1940), short stories collection
  • "The Bottle Party" (Strand Magazine, October 1939)
  • "The Primrose Petals" (Strand Magazine, April 1940)
  • "The Spider's Web" (Strand Magazine, November 1939)
  • "The Fight for the Crown"
  • "The Point of the Knife" (Strand Magazine, March 1940)
  • "The Gilded Girls"
  • "The Brown Paper"
  • "The Blue Paint" (Strand Magazine, February 1940)
  • "The Bird in the Cellar"
  • The Bishop's Crime (1940; Fortune)
  • The Little Captain / Orphan Ann(1941; Clunk)
  • No Murder / The Apprehensive Dog (1942; Fortune)
  • Dead Man's Shoes / Nobody's Vineyard (1942; Clunk)
  • Mr Fortune Finds a Pig (1943; Fortune)
  • Slippery Ann / The Queen of Spades (1944; Clunk)
  • Dead Man's Effects / The Cat's Whisker (1945; Fortune)
  • The Wrong Man (1946; Clunk)
  • The Life Sentence (1946; Fortune)
  • Honour Among Thieves (1947; Clunk)
  • Saving a Rope / Save a Rope (1948; Fortune)
  • Shrouded Death (1950; Clunk)

Other Books
  • Forty Years After (1914)

Other Mr Fortune short stories

See Radio plays and talks also

Uncollected short stories
  • Dolly and Dick. Longman's Magazine, October 1901
  • The Knight of Mayford. Windsor Magazine, January 1902
  • Sir Albert's Fall. Windsor Magazine, July 1902
  • Dominique. Macmillan's Magazine, November 1902
  • The King's Way. Windsor Magazine, December 1902
  • The Nun of Newstead. Windsor Magazine, December 1903
  • The Torpedo Lieutenant. The Realm, March 1904
  • The Deplorable Princess. The Realm, July 1904
  • The Devil of Marston. Windsor Magazine, July 1904
  • The Anachronism. Pall Mall Magazine, October 1904
  • The Lone Hand. Windsor Magazine, December 1904
  • A Plot in the Duchy. Pall Mall Magazine, January 1905
  • Ercole. Illustrated London News, 1 July 1905
  • Sir Bertram's Tryst. Windsor Magazine, August 1905
  • The Men in Buckram. Windsor Magazine, September 1905
  • Mrs Cromwell's Heart. Windsor Magazine, September 1905
  • The Golden Whistle. The Century, June 1906
  • How He Won His Throne. Pall Mall Magazine, November 1907
  • My Lady's Lord. Pall Mall Magazine, January 1908
  • TITLE UNKNOWN. Windsor Magazine, February 1908
  • The Pageant of England: I The Coming of Caesar. Pall Mall Magazine, May 1908
  • The Pageant of England: II Alfred the King. Pall Mall Magazine, June 1908
  • The Pageant of England: III William the Norman. Pall Mall Magazine, July 1908
  • The Pageant of England: IV King John Comes to Heel. Pall Mall Magazine, August 1908
  • Double Sculls. The Strand Magazine, August 1908
  • The Pageant of England: V The Merry King. Pall Mall Magazine, September 1908
  • The Pageant of England: VI The Angel of Revolution. Pall Mall Magazine, October 1908
  • The Pageant of England: VII TITLE UNKNOWN. Pall Mall Magazine, November 1908
  • Hungry Hours. Pall Mall Magazine, December 1908
  • The Lonely Queen. Pall Mall Magazine, July to December 1910
  • The Fairy Prince. Pall Mall Magazine, July 1911
  • Charles Is Engaged. Daily Telegraph, 3 August 1912
  • The Woman Who Cried. Daily Telegraph, 5 August 1912
  • The Hopkins Romance. Pall Mall Magazine, August 1913
  • The Bagman, July 1918
  • The Young Folks. The Quiver, July 1919
  • The Child, July 1920
  • The Old Bureau, May 1921
  • The Country Cottage. Grand Magazine, August 1921
  • The Tortoise Sonata. Gaiety, December 1921
  • The Golden Fleece. The Scotsman, 18 December 1926
  • The Thistle Down. The Queen's Book of the Red Cross (1939)
  • Victoria Pumphrey. Holly Leaves (Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News), December 1939

Poetry
  • Spring in Arden. Programme for the matinee performance at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in aid of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Fund at Stratford on Avon

Theatre plays
  • Beaujeu by H C Bailey and David Kimball. English Play Society, 23 and 24 May 1909

Radio plays and talks
  • Meet Mr Fortune. Meet the Detective. BBC Empire Service. Date unknown (Mr Fortune profile, narrated by H C Bailey)
  • The Only Husband. Plays by Members of the Detection Club No. 8. BBC National Programme, 14 and 21 June 1941 (Mr Fortune radio play)

Uncollected journalism

Letters to the press
  • Tram Memories. (London) Daily Telegraph, 30 June 1952

References
  1. William L. DeAndrea, Encyclopedia Mysteriosa : a comprehensive guide to the art of detection in print, film, radio, and television. New York, Prentice Hall General Reference, 1994. ISBN 9780028616780 (pp 15-16)
  2. Jonathan Nield, A Guide to the Best Historical Novels and Tales. London, E. Mathews & Marrot, 1929 (p.51).
  3. "Forgotten Giant: Hoffman’s Adventure" by Richard Bleiler. Purple Prose Magazine, November 1998, pp. 3–12.
  4. http://www.philsp.com/homeville/fmi/s/s741.htm#A8725
  5. "In "The Fool" ,(Methuen and Co.) Mr. H. C. Bailey has presented to his readers a wonderfully fine portrait of England in the confusion of the twelfth century, when Stephen and Henry of Anjou fought for supremacy, and, later, during the rule of Henry." "Review of The Fool by H.C. Bailey". The Queenslander, 4 Feb 1922 (p.3)
  6. "Mr. Bailey has written a wide variety of stories, including several detective yarns far above the average. This time he has given us a romance of chivalry, set in an age when chivalry was passing away....The background of the story is the richly-colored, turbulent life of the Court of Charles VIII." "Review of Knight At Arms". The World's News 18 Oct 1924 (p.12)
  • Murder Will Out: The Detective in Fiction, T. J. Binyon (Oxford, 1989) ISBN 0-19-219223-X pp. 22–26
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