The Cripple in Black

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| image = File:The Cripple in Black.jpg

| caption = Issued as a Free Supplement to the Australian Women's Weekly in 1938

| author = E. V. Timms

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| country = Australia

| language = English

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| release_date = 1930

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The Cripple in Black is a 1930 Australian novel by E. V. Timms set in seventeenth century Italy and England.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4094604 |title=FICTION OF THE DAY. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=20 June 1930 |accessdate=19 October 2014 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58391068 |title="THE CRIPPLE IN BLACK.". |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location=Perth |date=29 June 1930 |accessdate=19 October 2014 |page=5 Section: THE MOTORING SECTION |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Premise

Kindly Genoese merchant Balsamo becomes the vengeful "cripple in black" when a girl under his protection is abducted by an arrogant English aristocrat.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald said that "Here and there one might wish for a little more skilful handling, but any shortcomings are amply compensated for by the work at the end. It Is an eminently readable story, with excellent characterisation."{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16672243 |title=MAXIM GORKI'S NEW WORK. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 June 1930 |accessdate=19 October 2014 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

The Argus criticised the conclusion.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4096117 |title=FICTION OF THE DAY |newspaper=The Argus (Melbourne) |issue=26,168 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=27 June 1930 |accessdate=11 March 2024 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Radio version

The novel was adapted for the radio in 1939.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25609572 |title=BROADCASTING STATIONS. |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=1 August 1939 |accessdate=19 October 2014 |page=8 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} It was read out by "Scribe" in fifteen minute episodes.{{Citation

| title=TUESDAY . . . .JULY 25

| journal=The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal

| volume=34| issue=17 (July 19, 1939)

| location=Sydney

| publisher=Wireless Press

| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-725870696

| id=nla.obj-725870696

| access-date=11 March 2024

| via=Trove

}}

References

External links

[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52256967 Complete copy of novel] printed in 1938 Australian Woman's Weekly
[http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/7589864 The Cripple in Black radio play] at AustLit

Category:1930 Australian novels

Category:1939 Australian radio dramas

Category:1930s Australian radio serials

Category:Australian historical novels

Category:Australian novels adapted for radio

Category:Novels about businesspeople

Category:Novels by E. V. Timms

Category:Novels set in Liguria

Category:Novels set in England

Category:Novels set in the 17th century