Percy James Brebner (March 24, 1864 – July 31, 1922) was an English writer of adventure and detective fiction.

Early life and career

He was the eldest son of James Brebner, manager of the National Provincial Bank of England, Piccadilly. He was educated at King's College School and worked in the Share & Loan Department of the Stock Exchange before he began his writing career. He published his early novels under the name Christian Lys.

Writing career

Mystery fiction

One of Brebner's most popular creations was Professor Christopher Quarles, a master detective of the

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

variety. Quarles is an elderly professor of philosophy with a keen deductive mind. He is aided by Murray Wigan, a young policeman who narrates the adventures akin to

Dr. Watson Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character in the Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Along with Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson first appeared in the novel ''A Study in Scarlet'' (1887). "The Adventure of Shosc ...

from the Holmes stories.

Adventure fare

Brebner also wrote several historical novels. Baker, Ernest A., ''A Guide to Historical Fiction''. London : G. Routledge and Sons, 1914.(pgs. 144, 281) His

Lost World The lost world is a subgenre of the fantasy or science fiction genres that involves the discovery of an unknown Earth civilization. It began as a subgenre of the late- Victorian adventure romance and remains popular into the 21st century. The ...

title ''The Fortress of Yadasara'' also known as ''The Knight of the Silver Star'' was described as "a highly romantic lost-race adventure in the mode of the contemporary historical novel.". It was serialized in Italian and Spanish pulp adventure journals in the early 20th century and was listed in '' 333: A Bibliography of the Science-Fantasy Novel'' a collection of the best efforts in Science-Fantasy up to and including 1950. Additionally, he wrote for various British and American newspapers and magazines including the ''Weekly Tale Teller'' and The Sunday Star and publications like ''The Ilfracombe Chronicle War Supplement'' during the First World War.''Patriotism and Propaganda in First World War Britain'', David Monger, Liverpool University Press, 2012

Works

*''The Crucible Of Circumstance'', 1906 *''Princess Maritza'', 1906 *''The Knight Of The Silver Star'', 1907 (American edition of ''The Fortress Of Yadasara'', published under the name Percy Brebner) *''Vayenne'', 1908 *''A Royal Ward,'' 1909 Novel set during the

Regency era The Regency era of British history is commonly understood as the years between and 1837, although the official regency for which it is named only spanned the years 1811 to 1820. King George III first suffered debilitating illness in the lat ...

*''The Testing of Olive Vaughan'', 1909 *''A Gentleman of Virginia,'' 1910 Novel set during the French Revolution and featuring as Lafayette a character *''The Brown Mask'', 1910 Novel about

Monmouth's Rebellion The Monmouth Rebellion in June 1685 was an attempt to depose James II, who in February had succeeded his brother Charles II as king of England, Scotland and Ireland. Dissident Protestants led by James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, eldest ill ...

*''The Light That Lures'', 1911 *''The White Gauntlet'', 1912 Novel about the First Duke of Marlborough and Queen Anne *''The Little Gray Schoe'', 1913 *''The Turbulent Duchess'', 1915 *''A Gallant Lady'', 1919 *''The Ivory Disc'', 1920 *''The Gate of Temptation,'' 1920 Christopher Quarles mysteries *''Christopher Quarles: College Professor and Master Detective'', 1914 *''The Master Detective: Being Some Further Investigations of Christopher Quarles'', 1916

Written as Christian Lys

*''Suspicion'', 1889 *''A London Cobweb'', 1892 *''The Doctor's Idol'', 1894 *''The Dunthorpes of Westleigh'', 1896 *''The Hepsworth Millions'', 1898 *''The Fortress Of Yadasara'', 1899 *''The Black Card'', 1899 *''The Mystery of Ladyplace'', 1900

References

External links

Percy James Brebner at the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brebner, Percy James. 1864 births 1922 deaths British writers English crime fiction writers English detective fiction writers English mystery writers English male novelists English science fiction writers English historical novelists Writers of historical fiction set in the early modern period English adventure novelists 19th-century English novelists 20th-century English novelists Writers from the London Borough of Islington