Prelude for War

Prelude for War

infobox Book |
name = Prelude for War
also The Saint and the Sinners
also The Saint Plays with Fire
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = 1967 paperback edition with alternate title
author = Leslie Charteris
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = The Saint
genre = Mystery, Novel
publisher = Hodder and Stoughton
release_date = 1938
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = NA
preceded_by = Thieves' Picnic
followed_by = Follow the Saint
:"For the documentary film by Frank Capra, see Prelude to War."

"Prelude for War" is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris featuring his Robin Hood-inspired crime fighter, Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". The book was first published in the United Kingdom in 1938 by Hodder and Stoughton, and in the United States by The Crime Club the same year. Previously, the novel had been serialized in the American magazine "Cosmopolitan". Publication of the book marked the 10th anniversary of the Simon Templar character.

Later editions of the book were retitled "The Saint and the Sinners" and "The Saint Plays with Fire". This was the last time a Simon Templar novel or short story collection would be published under different titles (although a later novella, "The Saint and the Sizzling Saboteur" from "The Saint on Guard" would later be published individually).

tory summary

A peaceful moonlight drive in the English countryside is interrupted when Simon Templar and Patricia Holm listen to a disturbing radio broadcast from France by a would-be dictator who plans to make France the latest in a growing number of European dictatorships under a ruling party called the Sons of France. This broadcast disturbs Patricia, and Templar makes a dire (and, as events were to unfold in real life in the next few years, accurate) prediction that the future of Europe will be one of invasions and concentration camps.

The two adventurers are interrupted in their worries when they spot a house on fire in the distance. Rushing to help, Templar enters the burning building but is unable to rescue a man trapped inside. Later, he and Patricia learn that one of the occupants of the house is a known war profiteer who is expected to make millions off both sides should a new European war erupt.

Templar, examining the facts of the fire and the man's death, comes to the conclusion that he was murdered. When he is subsequently called to testify at a coroner's inquest into the death, Templar is disturbed to see an obvious whitewash underway, attempting to label the death accidental. Templar launches his own investigation into the death, which gets off to a bad start when one of his targets is murdered and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Claud Eustace Teal catches Templar leaning over the dead body.

Now firmly intrigued, Templar continues his investigations, which leads him on the trail of an assassination plot designed to spark a Second World War, a clue to which is provided from beyond the grave.

"Prelude for War", in retrospect, can be seen as a prelude for Templar's later work on behalf of the war effort, as chronicled in "The Saint in Miami" and succeeding books written and set during World War II.

Television adaptation

"Prelude for War" was adapted as an episode of the "The Saint" entitled "The Saint Plays with Fire". The episode aired on November 28, 1963 during the second season. It is one of only a few full Saint novels to be adapted for the series.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Prelude to War — For the similarly titled novel by Leslie Charteris, see Prelude for War. Infobox Film name = Why We Fight: Prelude to War caption = director = Frank Capra; Anatole Litvak producer = Office of War Information writer = Julius Epstein; Philip… …   Wikipedia

  • War of the Spanish Succession — Philip V of Spain and the Duke of Vendôme commanded the Franco Spanish charge at the Battle of Villaviciosa by Jean Alaux (1840) …   Wikipedia

  • war crime — war criminal. Usually, war crimes. crimes committed against an enemy, prisoners of war, or subjects in wartime that violate international agreements or, as in the case of genocide, are offenses against humanity. [1940 45] * * * Any violation of… …   Universalium

  • prelude — noun 1 short piece of music ADJECTIVE ▪ instrumental, orchestral ▪ the orchestral prelude to the cantata ▪ organ, piano ▪ brief …   Collocations dictionary

  • War Machine — This article is about the superhero. For other uses, see War Machine (disambiguation). War Machine Promotional art for Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. #33 Art by Adi Granov. Publica …   Wikipedia

  • War correspondent — A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents. Contents 1 Methods 2 History 2.1 Crimean War 2.2 …   Wikipedia

  • War in Vietnam (1945–1946) — War in Vietnam (1945 1946) Part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War A Japanese off …   Wikipedia

  • War of the League of Cognac — Part of the Italian Wars Charles I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire the victor of the war …   Wikipedia

  • Origins of the American Civil War — For events following South Carolina s declaration of secession from the Union, see Battle of Fort Sumter and American Civil War. The Battle of Fort Sumter was the first stage in a conflict that had been brewing for decades. The main explanation… …   Wikipedia

  • Prelude in G minor (Rachmaninoff) — The first measure introduces the prelude s idiosyncratic jumps. Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5, was a music piece by Sergei Rachmaninoff, completed in 1901.[1] It was included in his Opus 23 set of ten preludes despite having been written two… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”