Thursday 23 May 2019

Duke Robert?

For information about David Falkayn's family on Hermes and Avalon, see:

The Falkayn Domain
A Little Goes A Long Way
Children Of League And Empire
Falkayns And Holms
Wingless
The Richness Of "Lodestar"

Satan's World adds the name of David's father:

"Mere chance had put [Leslie Charteris' Saint books] in the library of Duke Robert for an inquisitive boy to find, and thus discover that ancient languages weren't all classics and compositions but were sometimes fun -..." (XIV, p. 473)

- or does it? Hermes is a Grand Duchy but the Falkayns, although aristocratic, are not the Ducal family. Is this an error?

11 comments:

David Birr said...

Paul:
Without looking it up — my copy of Satan's World is standalone, so the page number from the omnibus tells me nothing about where to find the passage in the book — perhaps Duke Robert put together a personal library which was later opened to the public, and young Falkayn visited that.

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

David,
The passage is in Chapter XIV.
Paul.

David Birr said...

Paul:
Hmmmm. Reading it in context, it neither contradicts nor supports my suggestion.

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

David,
I took it to refer to David Falkayn's father but maybe I took it wrong.
Paul.

Nicholas D. Rosen said...

Kaor, Paul and David!

Perhaps the Falkayn family paid occasional visits to the Grand Duke in the capital, and while his father discussed adult stuff with the head of state, young David was allowed to amuse himself in the library.

Best Regards,
Nicholas D. Rosen

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Nicholas,
Of course. My initial assumption was not necessarily a right one.
Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Nicholas!

You beat me to making a very similar suggestion! And it makes sense, Lady Sandra's uncle Duke Robert would indeed be visited by the presidents of the Hermetian domains. And it's reasonable to expect some of their children to accompany them. So, while the adults talked about boring things like politics, customs dues, the Navy budget, etc., young David Falkayn was probably told by Duke Robert to enjoy himself in his library.

Regards! Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,
Well, if we are told that Sandra's uncle is called Robert, then that clinches it.
Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I am convinced of that. I know I saw mention in MIRKHEIM of Duchess Sandra's predecessor being named Robert.

Sean

paulshackley2017@gmail.com said...

Sean,
There you are then.
Paul.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

I suppose I should have first checked MIRKHEIM for that mention of Duke Robert. Except, I am fairly well convinced my memory is correct here.

Sean