"Turn to the Volumes Which Bear His Name, and You Find Not Merely a Few Occasional Murders: You Discover a Holocaust"

"Violent Death in Fiction."

Unsigned.

First appearance: T.P.'s Weekly, May 22, 1903.

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE and below).

It seems to our commentator that the brightest lights in the literary firmament (of the early 20th century, at any rate) could be found focusing their efforts on the task of disposing of some of their characters in macabre ways, resulting in an unintentional competition of sorts as to who might be the most prodigious and effective in killing off their "darlings." While it may surprise you to see these authors' names in this context, you probably won't be surprised at which one takes the prize.

Passing references:

~ Dickens (HERE) and Lawyer Tulkington (HERE)

~ Montague Tigg (HERE), Carker (HERE), Dombey and Son (HERE), Quilp (HERE), The Old Curiosity Shop (HERE), Bill "Sykes" (sp.) (HERE), Bradley Headstone (HERE), Krook (HERE), and Bleak House (HERE)

~ Thackeray (HERE), Frank Esmond (HERE), the Duke of Hamilton (HERE), Lord Mohun (HERE), Catherine (HERE), Dumas (HERE), D'Artagnan (HERE and HERE), and Sue (HERE)

~ Conan Doyle (HERE), Sherlock Holmes (HERE), and "spectral hounds" (HERE).

Unless otherwise noted, all bibliographical data are derived from The FictionMags Index created by William G. Contento & edited by Phil Stephensen-Payne.

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