Percy James Brebner (March 24, 1864 – July 31, 1922) was an English writer of adventure and detective fiction.
Early life and career He was the eldest son of James Brebner, manager of the National Provincial Bank of England, Piccadilly. He was educated at King's College School and worked in the Share & Loan Department of the Stock Exchange before he began his writing career.Who Was Who in Literature 1906-1934, Gale Research Company, 1979 He published his early novels under the name Christian Lys.
Writing career Mystery fiction One of Brebner's most popular creations was Professor Christopher Quarles, a master detective of the Sherlock Holmes variety.The Edwardian Detectives: Literary Sleuths of the Edwardian Era, Resurrected Press, 2012 Quarles is an elderly professor of philosophy with a keen deductive mind. He is aided by Murray Wigan, a young policeman who narrates the adventures akin to Dr. Watson from the Holmes stories.
Adventure fare Brebner also wrote several historical novels.Baker, Ernest A., A Guide to Historical Fiction. London : G. Routledge and Sons, 1914.(pgs. 144, 281) His Lost World title The Fortress of Yadasara also known as The Knight of the Silver Star was described as "a highly romantic lost-race adventure in the mode of the contemporary historical novel.".Science-fiction, the Early Years, By Everett Franklin Bleiler, The Kent State University Press (March 1, 1991 It was serialized in ItalianLa fortezza di Yadasara, Il romanzo mensile Issues 1-9, 1903 and SpanishLa Fortaleza de Yadasara en revista Zig-Zag,(4 nov. 1906) pulp adventure journals in the early 20th century and was listed in 333: A Bibliography of the Science-Fantasy Novel a collection of the best efforts in Science-Fantasy up to and including 1950.
Additionally, he wrote for various British and American newspapers and magazines including the Weekly Tale TellerWeekly Tale Teller, No 188, December 7, 1912 and The Sunday Star and publications like The Ilfracombe Chronicle War Supplement during the First World War.Patriotism and Propaganda in First World War Britain, David Monger, Liverpool University Press, 2012
Works The Crucible Of Circumstance, 1906 Princess Maritza, 1906 The Knight Of The Silver Star, 1907 (American edition of The Fortress Of Yadasara, published under the name Percy Brebner) Vayenne, 1908 A Royal Ward, 1909 Novel set during the Regency era The Testing of Olive Vaughan, 1909 A Gentleman of Virginia, 1910 Novel set during the French Revolution and featuring as Lafayette a character The Brown Mask, 1910 Novel about Monmouth's Rebellion The Light That Lures, 1911 The White Gauntlet, 1912 Novel about the First Duke of Marlborough and Queen Anne The Little Gray Schoe, 1913 The Turbulent Duchess, 1915 A Gallant Lady, 1919 The Ivory Disc, 1920 The Gate of Temptation, 1920
Christopher Quarles mysteries Christopher Quarles: College Professor and Master Detective, 1914 The Master Detective: Being Some Further Investigations of Christopher Quarles, 1916
Written as Christian Lys Suspicion, 1889 A London Cobweb, 1892 The Doctor's Idol, 1894 The Dunthorpes of Westleigh, 1896 The Hepsworth Millions, 1898 The Fortress Of Yadasara, 1899 The Black Card, 1899 The Mystery of Ladyplace, 1900
References
External links Percy James Brebner at the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.