''Doctor Syn Returns'' is the third in the series of

Doctor Syn The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn is the smuggler hero of a series of novels by Russell Thorndike. The first book, ''Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh'' was published in 1915. The story idea came from legendary coastal smuggling in the ...

novels by

Russell Thorndike Arthur Russell Thorndike (6 February 1885 – 7 November 1972) was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh novels. Less well-known than his sister Sybil but equally versatile, Russell Thorndike's first lov ...

. Published in 1935, it follows ''

Doctor Syn on the High Seas ''Doctor Syn on the High Seas'' is the second in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. Published in 1936, it is chronologically the first novel in the series, followed by ''Doctor Syn Returns'', though it was the fourth in term ...

'' and is followed by '' Further Adventures of Doctor Syn''. It tells the story of Syn, who has tired of piracy, trying to settle down as the

vicar A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English p ...

of the little town of

Dymchurch Dymchurch is a village and civil parish in the Folkestone and Hythe district of Kent, England. The village is located on the coast five miles (8 km) south-west of Hythe, and on the Romney Marsh. History The history of Dymchurch began w ...

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Plot

In 1775, Syn's attempt to live an obscure life fails when he is drawn into the local smuggling trade. To protect his parishioners from the agents of the King's Revenue, Syn becomes the masked Scarecrow of Romney Marsh and becomes leader of the smugglers.

Critical reception

"A triumph in its own particular class," said ''The Daily Mirror''. It received favorable reviews. The ''Daily Herald'' entreated Thorndike to write more novels. The Sunday Times noted that it had stylistic elements that were more graceful than most thrillers. ''The Observer'' singled out the gruesome cockroach death as particularly memorable. Reviewing the US version of the novel for the ''New York Tribune'', humorist

Will Cuppy William Jacob Cuppy (August 23, 1884 – September 19, 1949) was an American humorist and literary critic, known for his satirical books about nature and historical figures. Early life Cuppy was born in Auburn, Indiana. He was named "Will" in ...

described it as old-fashioned and out of step with current trends in adventure novels, but nonetheless enjoyable. The ''New York Times'' likewise reviewed it favorably as very entertaining, with an improbable plot made less so by comparing it to the antics of contemporary Prohibition smugglers.

Publication

Originally published by Rich and Cowan in early 1935, it was also serialized in ''The Daily Herald'' that November. An expanded version of the novel was published in the United States in 1935 by The Dial Press. It was retiled ''The Scarecrow Rides''. It has been reprinted many times in both hardcover and paperback editions, including by Cherry Tree Books (1938), Arrow Books (1959), Panther (1964), Jarrolds (1966), Ballantine Books (1974) and other more recent small presses.

Adaptations

In 1944 a "Battle of Britain" adaptation of Thorndike's novel was announced with the title ''Originally Syn'', written by Thorndike and Emma Treckman, though it did not tour as planned. Three years later, ''The Return of Doctor Syn'' by Russell Thorndike and Emma Treckman premiered at the Theatre Royal in Windsor on 17 November, 1947 for a short run. The cast included Thorndike as Christopher Syn, with Diana Calderwood, Ruth Goddard as Lady Caroline, Desmond Keith as Sir Anthony Cobtree. It was directed by John Counsell. Set in 1775, the plot follows the novel of ''Doctor Syn Returns''. ''The Stage'' praised the production's acting and design, with appreciation for the dramatic spectacle, though noted that "pruning is needed." In 2006, an abridged version of the novel was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Comprising half of a ten-part series titled ''Doctor Syn'', it was read by

Rufus Sewell Rufus Frederik Sewell (; born 29 October 1967) is a British actor. In film, he has appeared in ''Carrington (film), Carrington'' (1995), ''Hamlet (1996 film), Hamlet'' (1996), ''Dangerous Beauty'' (1998), ''Dark City (1998 film), Dark City'' (1 ...

References

1935 British novels Historical novels Novels about smugglers Novels set in Kent Doctor Syn novels Rich & Cowan books {{1930s-hist-novel-stub