The Left Leg

The Left Leg

Infobox Book |
name = The Left Leg


image_caption =
author = Phoebe Atwood Taylor (writing as Alice Tilton)
country = United States
language = English
series = Leonidas Witherall mysteries
genre = Mystery novel / Whodunnit
publisher = Norton (1st edition, USA, 1940); Collins (1st edition, UK, 1941)
release_date = 1940 (1st edition)
media_type = Print; hardcover and paperback
isbn = 978-0881501216
preceded_by = Cold Steal
followed_by = The Hollow Chest

"The Left Leg" is a novel that was published in 1940 by Phoebe Atwood Taylor writing as Alice Tilton. It is the fourth of the eight Leonidas Witherall mysteries.

Plot summary

It's a winter day in Dalton (a New England town near Boston) and Leonidas Witherall, "the man who looks like Shakespeare", is stepping off a bus after having been accused of bothering a beautiful young woman in a scarlet wimple (who promptly becomes known as the Scarlet Wimpernel). He takes refuge in a hardware store run by a former student, Lincoln Potter. Potter is inclined to be helpful, until the Wimpernel's purse is discovered in Witherall's pocket and Witherall is incautious enough to admit that he saw Potter's cash register being emptied by a man in a green satin suit carrying a small harp. He heads for the home of a former teaching colleague, Marcus Meredith, and finds him murdered -- and missing his artificial left leg. Potter is enlisted by Witherall for help in solving the murder, along with intrepid housewife Topsey Beaton. Together they deceive an entire rummage sale, enlist the Scarlet Wimpernel to play a role, find the man in green satin, locate the left leg, and solve the murder.

Literary significance & criticism

(See Phoebe Atwood Taylor.) This is the fourth Leonidas Witherall mystery novel and it parallels the tone which was maintained in the other seven. A murder occurs under embarrassing circumstances, and Leonidas forms a motley crew of assistants together in order to track down clues, chase around the town, and solve the mystery. There is a strong vein of humor and the plot is fast-moving.

The adventures of Leonidas Witherall were a short-lived radio series at about the time of this novel. In the novels, Witherall is also the author of a radio series and novels about the adventures of stalwart Lieutenant Hazeltine. Some supporting characters continue between novels; there is always a beautiful girl, a handsome former student, and an intrepid housewife.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • United to the Left — ( Uniti a Sinistra ) is a network of leftist groups associated with the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) in Italy. It claims to have 20,000 members and 300 clubs all around Italy. [http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2006/agosto/05/Curzi… …   Wikipedia

  • The Go-ongers — The nihongo|Go ongers|ゴーオンジャー|Gōonjā are the fictional eponymous protagonists of the Japanese Super Sentai series Engine Sentai Go onger . They are chosen by fictional sentient vehicles known as Engines to battle the evil Barbaric Machine Clan… …   Wikipedia

  • The Freddie — was a short lived 1960s dance craze prompted by the release of the songs I m Telling You Now, and Do the Freddie, both by the British band, Freddie and the Dreamers. Do the Freddie had been a #18 hit in the United States in 1965, and American… …   Wikipedia

  • The Birth of Venus (Botticelli) — The Birth of Venus Artist Sandro Botticelli Year c. 1486 Type tempera on canvas Dimensions …   Wikipedia

  • The Fly (1986 film) — Infobox Film | name = The Fly caption = Be afraid. Be very afraid. director = David Cronenberg producer = Stuart Cornfield writer = Short story: George Langelaan Screenplay: Charles Edward Pogue David Cronenberg starring = Jeff Goldblum Geena… …   Wikipedia

  • The Spinning Dancer — If the foot touching the ground is perceived to be the left foot, the dancer appears to be spinning clockwise (if seen from above); if it is taken to be the right foot, then she appears to be spinning counterclockwise. The Spinning Dancer, also… …   Wikipedia

  • The King of Braves GaoGaiGar glossary — This is a glossary of terms from the anime and manga series The King of Braves GaoGaiGar and The King of Braves GaoGaiGar FINAL . Base energy sources G Stone and G Crystal The G Stone is an energy source developed on the Green Planet by the Green …   Wikipedia

  • leg — 1. noun /lɛɡ,leɪg/ a) The lower limb of a human being or animal that extends from the groin to the ankle. Dan wont be able to come to the party, since he broke his leg last week and is now on crutches. b) The portion of the lower appendage of a… …   Wiktionary

  • The Hollow Chest — Infobox Book | name = The Hollow Chest image caption = author = Phoebe Atwood Taylor (writing as Alice Tilton) country = United States language = English series = Leonidas Witherall mysteries genre = Mystery novel / Whodunnit publisher = Norton… …   Wikipedia

  • The Amazing Race — sometimes referred to as TAR, is a reality television game show in which teams of two people (with one exception), who have some form of a preexisting personal relationship, race around the world in competition with other teams. Contestants stri …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

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