Although there is no positive proof, there is strong circumstantial evidence that this story was actually penned by Edwy Searles Brooks. Although, for obvious reasons, Brooks was bound to secrecy on this matter, it was apparently common knowledge within the family that he had written at least one Saint story, although the title is unknown.
Looking at the Charteris bibliography, it's significant to note that there was a gap in the Saint stories between 1948 and 1953. So by 1951 it had been three years since a new Saint story had appeared. That must have been a trying time for his publishers, who would have been looking for ways to entice him back to writing. The alternative was to look at ghost writers. Leo Margulies was a magazine publisher by profession and in 1953 he launched the Saint Detective Magazine, which required a stream of Saint short stories.
It is clear from a letter from Margulies to Charteris that in order to overcome Charteris's reluctance to produce new material, ghost writers were being sought to provide the stories for this magazine, and that in this quest Margulies persuaded Monty Haydon, who edited The Thriller (in which stories of both The Saint and Norman Conquest had appeared) to help in finding suitable writers.
This solution would also be the means of continuing the Saint hardback books through publication of the ghosted short stories as collections.
Monty Haydon was an admirer of Brooks’s writing. He recruited him into his stable of writers for The Thriller and is credited by Brooks with suggesting the name Norman Conquest.
On 29th December 1951 Margulies wrote, in a letter to Charteris:
"Knowing I could trust Monty Haydon – as well as you can trust me – I discussed with him (and told him it was strictly confidential) the possibility of getting one of his string of writers to ‘ghost’ some Saint material. He told me of the amusing (or was it?) of Berkeley Grey [sic] (of unhappy memory) -- when you and he discussed it many years ago. You and I made attempts in the past – but not too satisfactorily."
This may well have referred back to the period in the 1930s when Saint stories were appearing in The Thriller and, with Charteris, apparently already happier to live the high life than buckle down to actual writing, Haydon (and Margulies) were forced to look at the possibility of recruiting ghost writers. It seems that Brooks had been approached about writing Saint stories at that time but that for whatever reason, the discussions came to an acrimonious disagreement.
A further letter from Margilies to Charteris (written on 24 April 1952) follows up the ‘ghost writer’ topic:
"Now to an important item: the matter of a good ghost. I have had many a long talk with Monty Haydon: the last one this very morning. If Monty can’t find the man – I sure can’t in merrie Britain."
Monty Haydon’s ‘string of writers’ would presumably have been the contributors to the Sexton Blake Library. Brooks had bowed out of the Sexton Blake arena in 1941, having successfully made the transition to the hardback market. However, he would still almost certainly have still been in contact with Haydon and would have some loyalty to him. In fact, at this time, although the novels were selling well, Brooks seems to have been carrying the financial burden of supporting his father and other members of his wider family and as a result was always short of money. For this reason, he may well have accepted any proposition Haydon put to him.
It is not unreasonable to assume that the majority, if not all of the stories in the newly-launched Saint Mystery Magazine were ghosted by a variety of writer. If the family legend is true and Brooks did indeed contribute a story, therefore, which one would it be? Scanning the titles, the only one that fits the bill is The Talented Husband.
The story does have the characteristics of Brooks' writing. Indeed, a textual analysis of The Talented Husband, comparing Brooks’ writing with known original Charteris writing, would suggest that Brooks appears to be the likelier author.
This Saint short story is significant in being the basis for the first Roger Moore Saint episode made for TV, broadcast on October 4, 1962.
Looking at the Charteris bibliography, it's significant to note that there was a gap in the Saint stories between 1948 and 1953. So by 1951 it had been three years since a new Saint story had appeared. That must have been a trying time for his publishers, who would have been looking for ways to entice him back to writing. The alternative was to look at ghost writers. Leo Margulies was a magazine publisher by profession and in 1953 he launched the Saint Detective Magazine, which required a stream of Saint short stories.
It is clear from a letter from Margulies to Charteris that in order to overcome Charteris's reluctance to produce new material, ghost writers were being sought to provide the stories for this magazine, and that in this quest Margulies persuaded Monty Haydon, who edited The Thriller (in which stories of both The Saint and Norman Conquest had appeared) to help in finding suitable writers.
This solution would also be the means of continuing the Saint hardback books through publication of the ghosted short stories as collections.
Monty Haydon was an admirer of Brooks’s writing. He recruited him into his stable of writers for The Thriller and is credited by Brooks with suggesting the name Norman Conquest.
On 29th December 1951 Margulies wrote, in a letter to Charteris:
"Knowing I could trust Monty Haydon – as well as you can trust me – I discussed with him (and told him it was strictly confidential) the possibility of getting one of his string of writers to ‘ghost’ some Saint material. He told me of the amusing (or was it?) of Berkeley Grey [sic] (of unhappy memory) -- when you and he discussed it many years ago. You and I made attempts in the past – but not too satisfactorily."
This may well have referred back to the period in the 1930s when Saint stories were appearing in The Thriller and, with Charteris, apparently already happier to live the high life than buckle down to actual writing, Haydon (and Margulies) were forced to look at the possibility of recruiting ghost writers. It seems that Brooks had been approached about writing Saint stories at that time but that for whatever reason, the discussions came to an acrimonious disagreement.
A further letter from Margilies to Charteris (written on 24 April 1952) follows up the ‘ghost writer’ topic:
"Now to an important item: the matter of a good ghost. I have had many a long talk with Monty Haydon: the last one this very morning. If Monty can’t find the man – I sure can’t in merrie Britain."
Monty Haydon’s ‘string of writers’ would presumably have been the contributors to the Sexton Blake Library. Brooks had bowed out of the Sexton Blake arena in 1941, having successfully made the transition to the hardback market. However, he would still almost certainly have still been in contact with Haydon and would have some loyalty to him. In fact, at this time, although the novels were selling well, Brooks seems to have been carrying the financial burden of supporting his father and other members of his wider family and as a result was always short of money. For this reason, he may well have accepted any proposition Haydon put to him.
It is not unreasonable to assume that the majority, if not all of the stories in the newly-launched Saint Mystery Magazine were ghosted by a variety of writer. If the family legend is true and Brooks did indeed contribute a story, therefore, which one would it be? Scanning the titles, the only one that fits the bill is The Talented Husband.
The story does have the characteristics of Brooks' writing. Indeed, a textual analysis of The Talented Husband, comparing Brooks’ writing with known original Charteris writing, would suggest that Brooks appears to be the likelier author.
This Saint short story is significant in being the basis for the first Roger Moore Saint episode made for TV, broadcast on October 4, 1962.
However compelling the circumstantial evidence, this is not material proof. Any information or evidence that would either support or refute this claim would be gratefully received.
Extracts from the Margulies letters from the Leslie Charteris archive held by Boston University (brought to the attention of the Fictionmags forum by Arthur Lortie in 2001)