The Happy Highwayman
Encyclopedia
The Happy Highwayman is a collection of short stories
by Leslie Charteris
, first published in 1939 by Hodder and Stoughton in the United Kingdom
and The Crime Club
in the United States
. This was the 21st book to feature the adventures of Simon Templar
, alias "The Saint". The 1963 Hodder and Stoughton paperback edition erroneously gives 1933 as the book's original publishing date.
This was the last set of Saint short stories until the publication of Saint Errant
nine years later. It is also the first Saint book since Thieves' Picnic
in which Templar's girlfriend and partner, Patricia Holm
, does not appear. Also absent is Hoppy Uniatz, Templar's sidekick. However, the story "The Charitable Countess" does include the return of Inspector Fernack, last seen in 1935's The Saint in New York
.
In his introduction to the 1963 Fiction Publishing Corporation edition of 1930s Enter the Saint
, Charteris writes that he had no intention of updating his early stories as they were republished, preferring them to remain as period pieces. When Hodder & Stoughton republished The Happy Highwayman in 1963, however, some updates were done to parts of the texts. This is most noticeable in the story "The Star Producers". When originally published in 1939, several major stars of the day were referenced, specifically William Powell
, John Barrymore
and Greta Garbo
. For the 1963 edition, these names were replaced with 1960s stars William Holden
, Marlon Brando
, and Brigitte Bardot
, respectively. (However, a reference to Charles Laughton
is left unaltered.) Another story, "The Man Who Was Lucky", makes reference to the Atomic Age in the 1963 edition, a term not in use when it was first published in 1939.
The Happy Highwayman collection marked the end of an era in the Saint series. Beginning with the next book, The Saint in Miami
, Charteris relocated Templar to the United States where most of the 1940s adventures would take place; afterwards, Templar's adventures became more international in scope. The Happy Highwayman, as a result, was the last Saint book for many years to be primarily set in Great Britain. In addition, beginning with The Saint in Miami Templar's adventures became primarily World War II
-focused. Aside from a few subtle references, the character of Claud Eustace Teal
disappears from the series after this book, not to return for a number of years.
Some editions of this book omit the stories "The Charitable Countess" and "The Mug's Game".
.
"The Man Who Was Lucky" and "The Charitable Countess" were both adapted during the show's first season, on December 13 and December 20, 1962, respectively. "The Well-Meaning Mayor" and "The Benevolent Burglary" aired during the second season on December 5 and December 26, 1963, respectively. "The Smart Detective" was adapted during The Saint's abbreviated fourth season on July 22, 1965. "The Man Who Liked Ants" was adapted as "The House on Dragon's Rock" which aired on November 24, 1968, as an episode of the sixth season.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
by Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
, first published in 1939 by Hodder and Stoughton in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and The Crime Club
The Crime Club
The Crime Club was an imprint of the Doubleday publishing company, which later spawned a 1946-47 anthology radio series.Many classic and popular works of detective and mystery fiction had their first U.S. editions published via the Crime Club, including all 50 books of The Saint by Leslie Charteris...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This was the 21st book to feature the adventures of Simon Templar
Simon Templar
Simon Templar is a British fictional character known as The Saint featured in a long-running series of books by Leslie Charteris published between 1928 and 1963. After that date, other authors collaborated with Charteris on books until 1983; two additional works produced without Charteris’s...
, alias "The Saint". The 1963 Hodder and Stoughton paperback edition erroneously gives 1933 as the book's original publishing date.
This was the last set of Saint short stories until the publication of Saint Errant
Saint Errant
Saint Errant is a collection of short stories by Leslie Charteris, first published in 1948 by The Crime Club in the United States and in 1949 by Hodder and Stoughton in the United Kingdom. This was the 28th book to feature the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint", and the first Saint...
nine years later. It is also the first Saint book since Thieves' Picnic
Thieves' Picnic
Thieves' Picnic is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris featuring his Robin Hood-inspired crime fighter, Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". The book was first published in the United Kingdom in 1937 by Hodder and Stoughton, and in the United States by The Crime Club the same year...
in which Templar's girlfriend and partner, Patricia Holm
Patricia Holm
Patricia Holm is the name of a fictional character who appeared in the novels of Leslie Charteris from the 1920s to the 1940s. She was the on-again, off-again girlfriend and partner of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint" and shared a number of his adventures....
, does not appear. Also absent is Hoppy Uniatz, Templar's sidekick. However, the story "The Charitable Countess" does include the return of Inspector Fernack, last seen in 1935's The Saint in New York
The Saint in New York
The Saint in New York is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United Kingdom by Hodder and Stoughton in 1935. It was published later that year in the United States by Doubleday...
.
In his introduction to the 1963 Fiction Publishing Corporation edition of 1930s Enter the Saint
Enter the Saint
Enter the Saint is a collection of three interconnected adventure novellas by Leslie Charteris first published in the United Kingdom by Hodder and Stoughton in 1930, followed by an American edition by The Crime Club in 1931....
, Charteris writes that he had no intention of updating his early stories as they were republished, preferring them to remain as period pieces. When Hodder & Stoughton republished The Happy Highwayman in 1963, however, some updates were done to parts of the texts. This is most noticeable in the story "The Star Producers". When originally published in 1939, several major stars of the day were referenced, specifically William Powell
William Powell
William Horatio Powell was an American actor.A major star at MGM, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the popular Thin Man series in which Powell and Loy played Nick and Nora Charles...
, John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
and Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
. For the 1963 edition, these names were replaced with 1960s stars William Holden
William Holden
William Holden was an American actor. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1954 and the Emmy Award for Best Actor in 1974...
, Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, and Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot is a French former fashion model, actress, singer and animal rights activist. She was one of the best-known sex-symbols of the 1960s.In her early life, Bardot was an aspiring ballet dancer...
, respectively. (However, a reference to Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton was an English-American stage and film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.-Early life and career:...
is left unaltered.) Another story, "The Man Who Was Lucky", makes reference to the Atomic Age in the 1963 edition, a term not in use when it was first published in 1939.
The Happy Highwayman collection marked the end of an era in the Saint series. Beginning with the next book, The Saint in Miami
The Saint in Miami
The Saint in Miami is the title of a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris featuring his creation, Simon Templar, alias The Saint. As with an earlier release, Follow the Saint, the order of publication for this book was changed...
, Charteris relocated Templar to the United States where most of the 1940s adventures would take place; afterwards, Templar's adventures became more international in scope. The Happy Highwayman, as a result, was the last Saint book for many years to be primarily set in Great Britain. In addition, beginning with The Saint in Miami Templar's adventures became primarily World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
-focused. Aside from a few subtle references, the character of Claud Eustace Teal
Claud Eustace Teal
Claud Eustace Teal is a fictional character who made many appearances in a series of novels, novellas and short stories by Leslie Charteris entitled The Saint, starting in 1929...
disappears from the series after this book, not to return for a number of years.
Stories
The book consisted of 9 stories (the order of these stories varies between editions):- The Man Who Was Lucky - The Saint steps in to save the life of a murder witness who is marked for death by a gangster.
- The Smart Detective - Upon returning to England from a sojourn abroad, The Saint becomes interested in a stash of emeralds owned by a sweat shop owner, not realizing an ambitious Scotland YardScotland YardScotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
detective is watching his every move. - The Wicked Cousin - When Simon discovers an old friend has been unfairly treated by a will, he sets out to make things right.
- The Well-Meaning Mayor - During a visit to a small American city, Simon avenges the suicide of a police commissioner by going after the corrupt civic leader responsible.
- The Benevolent Burglary - Templar makes a bet with a mean-spirited art collector that his collection will be stolen within a week of a gala opening, which sets Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Claud Eustace TealClaud Eustace TealClaud Eustace Teal is a fictional character who made many appearances in a series of novels, novellas and short stories by Leslie Charteris entitled The Saint, starting in 1929...
after the Saint in order to prevent the crime. - The Star Producers - After a young woman loses $4,000 in a fake acting school scam, Templar decides to enrol.
- The Charitable Countess - Simon engages in a battle of wits with a less-than-charitable society figure.
- The Mug's Game - With the aid of a pair of trick glasses, Templar turns the tables on a pair of poker cheats.
- The Man who Liked Ants - Charteris takes The Saint into science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
territory when Simon meets a scientist who has bred giant-sized ants in order to replace humans as the dominant species.
Some editions of this book omit the stories "The Charitable Countess" and "The Mug's Game".
Television adaptations
All but three of the stories from this collection formed the basis for episodes of the 1962-69 TV series, The SaintThe Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
.
"The Man Who Was Lucky" and "The Charitable Countess" were both adapted during the show's first season, on December 13 and December 20, 1962, respectively. "The Well-Meaning Mayor" and "The Benevolent Burglary" aired during the second season on December 5 and December 26, 1963, respectively. "The Smart Detective" was adapted during The Saint's abbreviated fourth season on July 22, 1965. "The Man Who Liked Ants" was adapted as "The House on Dragon's Rock" which aired on November 24, 1968, as an episode of the sixth season.