Maiden Stakes
| Company type | Anthology |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1929 |
| Founder | Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer) |
| Products | Short story collection |
Maiden Stakes is a 1929 anthology of short narratives penned by the English writer Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer), initially serialized in The Windsor Magazine.
Plot
This anthology predominantly consists of independent tales, with the story "Letters Patent" featuring Yates' well-known 'Berry' characters and making allusions to his 1928 novel Perishable Goods.
Background
Each story was originally published in The Windsor Magazine, which catered to a wide-ranging audience.
Chapters
| Chapter | Title | Windsor Date | Volume | Issue | Pages | Illustrator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Childish Things | July 1925 | LXII | 366 | 121-133 | Albert Bailey |
| II | St. Jeames | August 1927 | LXVI | 392 | 265-277 | Lindsay Cable |
| III | Aesop's Fable | October 1927 | LXVII | 394 | 513-524 | Lindsay Cable |
| IV | Vanity Of Vanities | January 1928 | LXVIII | 397 | 170-180 | Norah Schlegel |
| V | Force Majeure | March 1928 | LXVIII | 399 | 386-398 | Henry Coller |
| VI | Bricks Without Straw | December 1927 | LXVIII | 396 | 21-31 | Lindsay Cable |
| VII | 'Service' | April 1929 | LXIX | 412 | 593-608 | P B Hickling |
| VIII | In Evidence | February 1929 | LXIX | 410 | 289-302 | J Dewar Mills |
| IX | Maiden Stakes | March 1929 | LXIX | 411 | 451-465 | R Allen Shuffrey |
| X | "Letters Patent" | "January 1929" | "LXIX" | "409" | "157-169" | "Lindsay Cable" |
Several of these stories were also featured in major American periodicals: "Childish Things" and "Aesop's Fable" appeared in The Saturday Evening Post, while "St Jeames" was published in Ladies' Home Journal, thereby broadening the author's presence internationally.
Critical reception
Composed during a difficult phase in Mercer's life, Maiden Stakes embodies a spirit of endurance through hardship. The initial dedication was addressed to his American spouse Bettine but was subsequently modified to honor tranquil summer evenings spent amidst the mountains, highlighting a more contemplative tone.
Bibliography
- Smithers, AJ. Dornford Yates. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1982. ISBN 0-340-27547-2
External links
- Full text of Maiden Stakes at Faded Page