Dennis Wheatley

[figurered]

Has anyone heard of Dennis Wheatley?

Was he a good writer?

Has any of his writings literary merit?

Thx.

[prendrelemick]

I read a couple of his black magic adventure books years ago. (40 years !) "To The Devil a Daughter" was one of his. I remember a right wing under-tow to them and not much literary merit. They were not too bad though, a combination of horror and sex - perhaps he was ahead of his time.

[Emil Miller]

Denis Wheatley was a kind of precursor to Dan Brown, who dealt with the occult, and, like Dan Brown. need not be taken seriously.
This extract from a filmed version of his novel 'The Devil Rides out' should be sufficient indication as to why he should be ignored except by aficionados of the less-than-mediocre.

http://youtu.be/-zoSCn0XR1I

[figurered]

I just saw today his "The Devil rides out" in the bookstore with this motto "the best thing of its kind since Dracula" and many promises of black magic and horror.

Well, done some research, your answers being very helpful, not worth any more digging.

I think the Dan Word is the one to keep me away but the Hammer film, I think, can be a lot of fun!

(Perhaps La-bas by Huysmans is much better anyway)

[The Atheist]

Great subject - one of my favourite writers, and not for his Satanic novels.

Wheatley had a real bee in his bonnet about Satan and Satanism, no doubt brought on by his lapsed Catholicism, and his occult books, while entertaining, are formulaic. They did keepm Hammer in film fodder for a decade or so, and the movie of To the Devil a Daughter kicked off the career of the magnificent Nastassja Kiski.

What he could do, however, was write accurate historical fiction. He had several series of books - the Roger Brook novels, the Geoffrey Sallust novels and a couple of less-worthy series. The Brook series was written for his wife's benefit, but being research-mad, Wheatley managed to cram in an enormous amount of factual historical data into them.

In particular, the Brook series contains vast amounts of reputable information on Napoleon and European geopolitics of the time, offering rare insights into Catherine the Great, the royal families of Europe and the French Revolution, among other subjects.

The Sallust novels are quite dull and repetitive in parts, but contain an extraordinary - and accurate - account of early WWII.

Wheatley's ability to understand geopolitical situations actually led to his recruitment by the War Office in WWII, where he was commissioned to write on various scenarios including the potential invasion by Germany. He brought the concept of total war to domestic Britain and was involved in planning for D Day, ultimately being awarded the Bronze Star by US forces.

His most memorable character is actually a bit-player in the Sallust novels - Sir Pellinore Gwaine-Cust - who appears to be everything Wheatley himself wanted to be.

[Emil Miller]

His most memorable character is actually a bit-player in the Sallust novels - Sir Pellinore Gwaine-Cust - who appears to be everything Wheatley himself wanted to be.


:lol: I was going to say that you couldn't make it up, except that it obviously was.

[Paulclem]

I read quite a few Dennis Wheatley's when I was a lad including The Irish Witch and They Found Atlantis. I found them interesting when I was young but the Old Uncle lent me one about Napoleon's invasion of Russia - The Ravishing of Lady Mary Ware. The stories are formulaic and the characters are very clearly defined as good and bad with the good very much adhering to upper class stereotypes. He's one of those authors where you very quickly begin to recognise the simple style which he employs.

[prendrelemick]

Ha! That brought back memories, of sneaking "The Ravishing of Lady Mary Ware" from my mother's bookshelf when I was about 12. I don't know about literary merit, but I read and re-read certain parts of that one.

[MANICHAEAN]

Some fascinating facts from The Atheist that I was unaware of. Like others of a certain age, I dipped into his books. They seemed to be quite popular with young ladies that used to take them to bed at night, then hide under the covers.

[Emil Miller]

Some fascinating facts from The Atheist that I was unaware of. Like others of a certain age, I dipped into his books. They seemed to be quite popular with young ladies that used to take them to bed at night, then hide under the covers.

I would prefer to take young ladies to bed at night and hide under the covers.

[MANICHAEAN]

There, there my dear, nothing to be frightened of.

[wreade1872]

I've read 'the Devil Rides Out', its pretty awful. It just has so many cliches, everything you could imagine from a blackmagic kind of story. Of course its entirely possible it invented most of the cliches but that didn't help it any in my opinion.

[Emil Miller]

There, there my dear, nothing to be frightened of.

I'll have to remember that.

[Seasider]

I read "The Devil Rides Out" when I was about 14 and though I have forgotten the plot I still remember the overwhelming fear I felt when they were in the pentagram.So whatever literary qualities it may have lacked, I have to say that for me it was memorable

[Paulclem]

Ha! That brought back memories, of sneaking "The Ravishing of Lady Mary Ware" from my mother's bookshelf when I was about 12. I don't know about literary merit, but I read and re-read certain parts of that one.

Yes I remember it being on the shelf at home but I didn't get round to it. Of course I am reading it now for the historical aspect...