The Turnstile

The Turnstile
Author A. E. W. Mason
Country England, Argentina
Language English
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Publication date
 1912[1]
Media type Print
Pages 344[1]

The Turnstile is a 1912 political novel by the English author A. E. W. Mason.

Plot

Cynthia Daventry, the heroine of the story, grows up in Argentina as the adopted daughter of Robert and Jane Daventry, an English couple. Unable to have children themselves, they had adopted Cynthia at the age of three from a foundling hospital where she had been left by her dissolute father, James Glanville, following her mother's death in an earthquake. Cynthia is unaware of her parentage, and is horrified when on her 17th birthday her natural father arrives unannounced to claim her, intending to force her into prostitution in Buenos Aires and live off the proceeds. The Daventrys flee back to England, where they live comfortably although Cynthia never shakes off her deep-rooted fears.

After the Daventrys’ death, Cynthia marries Captain Harry Rames, an up-and-coming politician whom she had first admired years earlier when as a naval officer he had led an expedition to the Antarctic. She realises that Rames does not love her but hopes that he will in time. Meanwhile, she throws herself into furthering his political career, while secretly regretting that his activities are driven not by any inner conviction but by his desire to win power and influence.

Some years later, in spite of Rames’ increasing success he quite suddenly loses interest in politics, though he hides the fact from Cynthia whom he has now started to love. For her part, Cynthia recognises a change and suspects that he might have taken a lover. When Rames eventually admits that his long-sublimated passion for the Antarctic has reasserted itself, Cynthia consents to his abandoning politics and leading a new expedition south. During the three years that Rames is away Cynthia goes back to live in her childhood home in Argentina. Ultimately, Rames returns safely to her.

Background

The Turnstile arose out of Mason's experiences as a Liberal Member of parliament between 1906 and 1910.[2]

The novel was first published in 1912, shortly after the press had published news of Amundsen’s success in beating Scott to the South Pole.[3] In an introductory note dated May 1912, Mason said "In view of recent events, I think it proper to say that this book was planned and the writing of it begun by the spring of the year 1909".[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "British Library Item details". primocat.bl.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  2. ↑ Herbert, Rosemary (2003). Whodunit?: A Who's Who in Crime & Mystery Writing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 126. ISBN 0-19-515761-3. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. ↑ "Captain Amundsen's Achievement". The Times. 9 March 1912. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Mason, AEW (1912). The Turnstile. Hodder & Stoughton. Introductory note.
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