Phillpots, Daniel Sweetland (Novel) (1906)
Synopsis
- Wrongful Accusation: Daniel is falsely accused of a serious crime: often identified as embezzlement or involvement in a tragic incident/murder—that threatens his reputation and his impending marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Ruth (or Sylvia/Minta in varying theatrical or alternate edition summaries).
- Imprisonment and Escape: Following his conviction, Daniel is sent to prison. While there, he befriends a group of convicts who assist him in a daring escape.
- Quest for Redemption: Now a fugitive, Daniel embarks on a journey to clear his name and prove his innocence. This quest takes him from the rural English countryside to London, and in some versions of the narrative, as far as America to start a new life before eventually returning to face his past.
- Themes: The novel masterfully explores themes of loyalty, justice, and betrayal, set against the atmospheric backdrop of early 20th-century rural England.
Main Characters
- Daniel Sweetland: A determined, hardworking, but rebellious young man caught between his love for nature and the constraints of the law.
- Ruth: Daniel’s love interest, whose engagement to another man adds emotional weight to Daniel’s struggle.
- The Gamekeeper: Daniel’s father, representing the traditional order and law that Daniel frequently flouts.
(pp64)
” An’ so strong as you’m big, by the looks of it.”” Well, I’ve yet to meet my master,” said the huge ‘ Infant.’ He had one little vanity, and that was his biceps.
” Be you any relation to Alf Corder, the champion of Devon wrestling, then? ”
” I am the man,” said Mr. Corder. ” Never been thro wed since I was twenty-two, an’ now I’m thirty-four.”
Daniel nodded.
” A very famous hero. I should have thought you’d make more money wrestling in London than ever you would doing cop’s work to Plymouth.”
The giant was interested at this intelligent remark.
” I’ve often been tempted to try; but I’m not a man that moves very quick in mind; though I can shift my sixteen stone of carcass fast enough when it comes to wrestling or fighting. Once my hand gets over a limb, it sticks— like a bull-dog’s teeth. ‘Tis the greatest grip known in Plymouth —to say it without boasting.”
Daniel nodded and relapsed into silence. He was thinking hard now. All his ideas centred on the wild hope to escape. Scheme after scheme sped through his brains. Once a shadow enter-(pp65)prise actually developed, but he dismissed it as vain.
Then Luke Bartley spoke to Mr. Corder and suggested another line of action.
” This here is the man who had that cute thought that the burglars to Westcombe got away in a motor car— didn’t he, Gregory? ”
The inspector admitted it.
” Yes; I gave you all credit for that, Sweetland. ‘Twas a clever opinion, and the right one. I’m sure of that. Hue an’ cry was so quick that they never could have got clear off with any slower vehicle.”
Daniel made no answer; but he jumped at the topic of the recent burglary and turned it swiftly in his mind. Here, perhaps, was the chance he wanted. For half an hour he kept silence; then he spoke to Bartley,
” ‘Twas you who first thought as I might have a hand in that business myself, Luke? ”
” No, no; Mr, Gregory here,”
” Of course, I hope you hadn’t; but you might had. Anyhow, that will be a mystery for evermore, I reckon,” said the inspector.
” Five thousand pounds’ worth of plate they took,” explained Daniel to his driver; but Mr. Corder knew all about it.
Phillpots, E. (1906). Daniel Sweetland. Toronto: McLeod & Allen. Available via Archives.org.