''The Prodigal Judge'' is a novel written by American novelist

Vaughan Kester Vaughan or Vaughn Kester (September 12, 1869 – July 4, 1911) was an American novelist and journalist. He was the elder brother of dramatist and author Paul Kester (1870–1933). His style and topics were influenced by his travels through ...

and published in 1911.(2 April 1911)
"The Prodigal Judge": Mr. Vaughn Kester's Much-Heralded Novel Has a Flavor of All Its Own
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

''(12 March 1911)
A Tale of Early Days
''Salt Lake Tribune'', p. 21, col. 1.(13 March 1911)
Among the Books (review)
''

Richmond Times-Dispatch The ''Richmond Times-Dispatch'' (''RTD'' or ''TD'' for short) is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond, Virginia, and the primary newspaper of record for the state of Virginia. Circulation The ''Times-Dispatch'' has the second-highest circul ...

'', p. 7 col. 4.(11 March 1911)
Swift Action Marks 'The Prodigal Judge' (review)
''

New York Herald The ''New York Herald'' was a large-distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between 1835 and 1924. At that point it was acquired by its smaller rival the '' New-York Tribune'' to form the '' New York Herald Tribune''. Hi ...

'', p. 16, col. 3.Rich, Amy C. (April 1911)
Books of the Day (review)
''Twentieth Century Magazine'', pp. 94-95 Kester wrote the novel while living at

Gunston Hall Gunston Hall is an 18th-century Georgian architecture, Georgian Plantation house in the Southern United States, mansion near the Potomac River in Mason Neck, Virginia, Mason Neck, Virginia, United States. Built between 1755 and 1759 by George ...

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. A best-seller, it was the second-best selling fiction book in the United States in 1911. Hackett, Alice Payne
Seventy Years of Best Sellers 1895-1965
p. 107 (1967) (the lists for 1895-1912 in this volume are derived from the lists published in ''

The Bookman (New York) ''The Bookman'' was a literary journal established in 1895 by Dodd, Mead and Company Frank H. Dodd, head of Dodd, Mead and Company, established ''The Bookman'' in 1895. Its first editor was Harry Thurston Peck, who worked on its staff from 1 ...

'')The "Best Sellers of 1911"
in ''The American library annual 1911-12'', pp. 121-24 (1912)(1 April 1911)
Quotes about book
''Publishers Weekly'' (a multi-page ad with quotes from booksellers about the book) Kester died in July 1911, but not before enjoying the knowledge his book had reached the top of the bestseller lists.In Memoriam
''

'' (October 1911), pp. 129-30 To promote the book, publisher

Bobbs-Merrill Company The Bobbs-Merrill Company was an American book publisher active from 1850 until 1985, and located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Company history The Bobbs-Merrill Company began in 1850 October 3 when Samuel Merrill bought an Indianapolis bookstore ...

held a "book review contest", with prizes of $250, $150, and $100 for the first through third best reviews published in the first month of the book's release, judged by a panel consisting of

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

professor

William Lyon Phelps William Lyon Phelps (January 2, 1865 New Haven, Connecticut – August 21, 1943 New Haven, Connecticut) was an American author, critic and scholar. He taught the first American university course on the modern novel. He had a radio show, wrote ...

, magazine editor

John Sanborn Phillips John Sanborn Phillips (1861–1949) attended Knox College in Illinois, where he worked on the student newspaper and met S. S. McClure. After earning an associate's degree, he entered Harvard College as a junior, and graduated in 1885, magna cum ...

, and writer

William Allen White William Allen White (February 10, 1868 – January 29, 1944) was an American newspaper editor, politician, author, and leader of the Progressive movement. Between 1896 and his death, White became a spokesman for Middle America (United States), ...

. Third place went to

H. L. Mencken Henry Louis Mencken (September 12, 1880 – January 29, 1956) was an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic, and scholar of American English. He commented widely on the social scene, literature, music, prominent politicians, ...

.(20 August 2011).
A Book Review Contest
''Indianapolis Star''

Adaptations

It debuted at the Bronx Opera House in December 1913 with

George Fawcett George Fawcett (August 25, 1860 – June 6, 1939) was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. Biography Born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1860, Fawcett graduated from the University of Virginia. His initial inclination was to be a ...

playing the judge.(9 December 1913)
"The Prodigal Judge": George Fawcett Appears in a Dramatization of Vaughn Kester's Novel
''

'' It was also made into a silent film of the same title directed by

Edward José Edward José (5 July 1865 – 18 December 1930) was a Belgian film director and actor of the silent film, silent era. He directed 42 films between 1915 and 1925. He also performed in 12 films between 1910 and 1916.Jean Paige Jean Paige (born Lucille Beatrice O'Hair, July 3, 1895 – December 15, 1990) was an American film actress of the silent era. Early years Although Paige's mother wanted her to become a missionary, her father prevented her from doing so. Paig ...

and

Macklyn Arbuckle Maclyn Arbuckle (July 9, 1866 – March 31, 1931) was an American screen and stage actor. He was the brother of actor Andrew Arbuckle and cousin of comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Early life Arbuckle was born in San Antonio, Texas, on July 9 ...

(as the judge), released in 1922.(11 February 1922)
The Prodigal Judge (Review)
''Exhibitors Trade Review'', Vol. 11, No., 11, p. 787

References

External links

''The Prodigal Judge''
full text at

Project Gutenberg Project Gutenberg (PG) is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, as well as to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks." It was founded in 1971 by American writer Michael S. Hart and is the oldest digital li ...

''The Prodigal Judge''
full scan via Google Books {{DEFAULTSORT:Prodigal Judge, The 1911 American novels Novels set in North Carolina Novels set in Tennessee American historical novels Novels set in the 1830s American novels adapted into films American novels adapted into plays Bobbs-Merrill Company books