The First Seven Dr. Thorndykes

IF you're one of those weird people (like us) who enjoy reading the first-time publications of favorite stories even more than later reprints, then this posting might prove useful. Our subject today is R. Austin Freeman's Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke, barrister-at-law of Inner Temple and Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at St. Margaret's Hospital, one of the sharpest tools in His Majesty's box of detectives—sharper, in our humble opinion, than the great Sherlock Holmes himself.

First comes Pearson's editorial announcement of Thorndyke's impending arrival:

Pearson's Magazine, November 1908.

"Sparks from Our Anvil."

Article (2 pages; 2 illos).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE and below).

Sure enough, the December issue held the first Thorndyke adventure. We have reproduced the heading for each story. You may notice that sometimes Pearson's favored the author with an illustration to go with it, but not always.

I. "The Blue Sequin."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, December 1908.

Short story (12 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

II. "The Stranger's Latchkey."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, January 1909.

Short story (14 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

III. "The Anthropologist At Large."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, February 1909.

Novelette (12 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

IV. "The Aluminium Dagger."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, March 1909.

Short story (12 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

V. "The Scarred Finger."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, April 1909.

Novelette (17 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

VI. "The Moabite Cipher."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, May 1909.

Novelette (15 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

VII. "The Mandarin's Pearl."

By R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943).

First appearance: Pearson's Magazine, June 1909.

Novelette (17 pages).

Online at Hathi Trust (HERE).

Resources:

- ONTOS has considered Freeman's Dr. Thorndyke on several occasions: (HERE), (HERE), (HERE), (HERE), (HERE), (HERE), plus a non-Thorndyke story (HERE).

- At Roy Glashan's Library you can find splendid reprints of Dr. Thorndyke short stories (HERE) and novels (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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