And Five Were Foolish

And Five Were Foolish is a 1924 collection of short stories by the English author Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer), first published in The Windsor Magazine.[2] The title is a reference to the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

And Five Were Foolish
1943 dustjacket
AuthorDornford Yates
GenreNovel
PublisherWard Lock & Co[1]
Publication date
1924[1]
Media typePrint
Pages311[1]

Plot

The book consists of ten short stories, several of which were inspired by incidents and places known to Mercer.[3] The title of each is the name of a significant female character.[4]

Background

The stories were written for The Windsor Magazine, whose readers had been clamouring for more.[4]

Chapters
Chapter Book Title Windsor Title Date Volume Issue Pages Illustrator
I Sarah False Pretences November 1922 LVI 335 591-684 Henry Coller
II Madeleine Fine Linen October 1922 LVI 334 463-473 E G Oakdale
III Katharine Three's Company October 1923 LVIII 346 493-506 Norah Schlegel
IV Spring Groom Of The Chambers November 1923 LVIII 347 587-600 Norah Schlegel
V Elizabeth A Drink Divine December 1923 LIX 348 3-14 Norah Schlegel
VI Jo Private Papers January 1924 LIX 349 115-127 Norah Schlegel
VII Athalia A Fool's Errand February 1924 LIX 350 233-246 Norah Schlegel
VIII Ann Mesalliance April 1924 LIX 352 505-523 Norah Schlegel
IX Eleanor A Private Scandal March 1924 LIX 351 347-359 Norah Schlegel
X Susan Noblesse Oblige May 1924 LIX 353 573-578 Norah Schlegel

Critical reception

The collected volume was a significant success, and was reprinted seven times before the coming of war in 1939.[5]

The original dustjacket had the following quote -

  • The Daily Telegraph - "The reader may decide for himself which five of Mr. Dornford Yates's virgins were foolish. Opinions will probably vary, and perhaps not one of the host of readers which the book deserves will compile a list tallying exactly with that which the author has drawn up in his own mind. But there will at least be unanimity on the point that here are ten extraordinary powerful and intriguing stories."

References
  1. "British Library Item details". primocat.bl.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. Smithers 1982, p. 103.
  3. Smithers 1982, pp. 118–125.
  4. Smithers 1982, p. 118.
  5. Smithers 1982, p. 122.

Bibliography
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