The Devil in Velvet

Today, we want to delve into the fascinating world of The Devil in Velvet. Since time immemorial, The Devil in Velvet has aroused the interest and curiosity of millions of people around the world. Whether due to its impact on society, its historical relevance or its influence in the cultural sphere, The Devil in Velvet has left an indelible mark on humanity. Throughout this article, we will explore the various aspects that make The Devil in Velvet a topic of universal interest, addressing both its past, its present and its future. Get ready to immerse yourself in an exciting journey through history, current events and the possibilities that The Devil in Velvet has in store for us.

The Devil in Velvet
First edition (US)
AuthorJohn Dickson Carr
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreMystery, Detective fiction, Historical fiction
PublisherHamish Hamilton (UK) & Harper (USA)
Publication date
1951
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages335 (1st US)
ISBN0-88184-328-8 (Carroll & Graf paperback edition, 1987)
OCLC16415074

The Devil in Velvet, first published in 1951, is a detective story by American writer John Dickson Carr. This novel is both a mystery and a historical novel, with elements of the supernatural.

Plot summary

Cambridge Professor of history Nicholas Fenton, in the England of 1925, makes a bargain with the devil and is sent back in time to Restoration London in 1675 to solve a murder that is about to take place, in the body of Sir Nick Fenton. Fenton soon finds himself in love with the intended victim, Sir Nick's wife Lydia, and resolves to alter the course of history by preventing her murder. Fenton's mastery of 20th century swordsmanship makes him a fearsome antagonist in 1675, so much so that he becomes known as "the devil in velvet". Also involved in the action is a woman who has also sold her soul to the devil and travelled back in time, and Fenton finds himself torn between the two women. He must not only solve the approaching murder before it happens, but come to terms with Sir Nick's romantic and political entanglements—and even void his deal with the devil.

Reception

Boucher and McComas lauded The Devil In Velvet as an "unbelievably perfect fusion of time travel and diabolism with historical romance and pure detection," listing it among the best imaginative novels of 1951.

References

  1. ^ "Recommended Reading," F&SF, April 1952, p.96