The Secret of the Old Clock

infobox Book |
name = The Secret of the Old Clock
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Carolyn Keene
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Nancy Drew Mystery Stories
genre = Mystery novel
publisher = Grosset & Dunlap
release_date = 1930
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = NA
preceded_by =
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The Secret of the Old Clock is the first book in the "Nancy Drew" mystery series by Carolyn Keene. Nancy Drew is a young detective, about 16 years old when the series starts, and her father is a well-known lawyer in River Heights, where the Drew family lives. The housekeeper, Mrs. Hannah Gruen, lives with the family. In early original text stories, she is a servant. Later in the series, she is treated more as a member of the family, and this is the role she plays in revised stories.

As of the year 2001, it ranked 53rd on a list of the all-time best-selling hardcover children's book in English; according to "Publishers Weekly", it had sold about 2.7 million copies. [http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA186995.html] .

Plot introduction

In the "original" released in April 1930, Nancy is a 16 year-old high school graduate, who desires to help the poor, struggling relatives of recently deceased Josiah Crowley. She is spurred on by her dislike for his "heirs," snobbish, wealthy members of the community. A clue to the whereabouts of Crowley's will are hidden in an old clock. Nancy interviews various relatives and friends of Crowley, and has a run-in with thieves in trying to recover Crowley's mantle clock. Along the way, Nancy is briefly aided by Helen Corning, a chum.

In the "1959 version", Nancy is 18, and is prompted to help the Crowley kin by her affection for a young child who is a distant relative. The Horners are now the Hoovers, and Nancy helps to discover musical talent in their family. This Nancy is more refined and sedate, the gun chase is toned-down, her rivals are depicted as very undeserving of wealth, and Helen is older (in preparation for her initial "write-out," after volume 4 of the revised series---no explanation is made in the original series to introduce Bess and George.)

Artwork: In 1930, this volume was published with the white-spine dust jacket shown, and four glossy black and white illustrations. In 1937, three of the illustrations were eliminated, leaving only a frontispiece. In 1943, this art was updated to fit current 1940's style. In 1950, the dust jacket was re-done as a wraparound jacket, with the picture continuing onto the spine of the book, with 1950's era appearance. When the new text was published in 1959, five illustrations were added. In 1962, dust jackets were eliminated by the publisher, and the books were issued with the art directly on the cover with yellow spines and backs. In 1965, the art was updated on the cover, but all of the other illustrations remained the same.