''Shadow of Doctor Syn'' is the seventh and last 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 1944, it follows the events of '' Amazing Quest of Doctor Syn''. Though it is the last book written in the series it acts as a prequel for the first novel. Thorndike dedicated it to Emma Treckman, with whom he co-wrote the stage play ''The Return of Doctor Syn''.

Plot

Set in 1793 during the events of the French Revolution, Syn travels to France amidst the

Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror (French: ''La Terreur'', literally "The Terror") was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the French First Republic, First Republic, a series of massacres and Capital punishment in France, nu ...

. He has fallen in love with young Cicily Cobtree and hopes his actions against

Robespierre Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (; ; 6 May 1758 – 28 July 1794) was a French lawyer and statesman, widely recognised as one of the most influential and controversial figures of the French Revolution. Robespierre fer ...

will earn him a pardon from the King. When Cicily dies, Syn gives up his ideas of pardon and nearly loses his sanity. This sets the stage for the fiendish character he becomes in '' Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh''.

Critical reception

Critics praised the exciting story but the sudden romantic subplot was less favorably received.

Publication

Originally published by

Rich & Cowan Rich & Cowan Ltd was a book publisher, based at 37 Bedford Square, London WC1. They specialized in literary books. Books * '' A Ghost in Monte Carlo'' by Barbara Cartland, (1951) * ''Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – ...

in 1944, it has been reprinted many times, including by Arrow Books (1959), Jarrolds (1966) and other recent small presses.

Adaptations

In 1989, the novel was adapted into a stage play by Philip Dart. Produced by the Channel Theatre Company, the traveling production performed in numerous locations in England. In 2007, an abridged version of the novel was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Comprising half of a ten-part series titled ''The Further Adventures of 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

1944 British novels Novels set in the French Revolution Novels about smugglers Doctor Syn novels Rich & Cowan books {{1940s-hist-novel-stub