Perishable Goods


Perishable Goods is a 1928 novel by the English author Dornford Yates, the second in his Chandos thriller series and a sequel to Blind Corner. The story features the recurrent characters Richard Chandos, Jonathan Mansel and George Hanbury, with their respective servants Bell, Carson and Rowley.

Plot

While on holiday at Poganec in Carinthia with Berry, Daphne and Boy, Adèle is kidnapped by the villain 'Rose' Noble and is held captive at the Castle of Gath near Lass. A ransom is demanded. She is rescued by Chandos, Mansel, Hanbury and their servants.

Background

According to Mercer's biographer, AJ Smithers, the author took inspiration from Anthony Hope: "Perishable Goods is The Prisoner of Zenda, with variations." The author himself, commenting in 1958 through his character Boy Pleydell, acknowledged resemblances between his work and that of Hope, but mentioned specifically not this novel but the next two, Blood Royal and Fire Below.
The book was such a success that the author concentrated on Chandos in the years to come, reducing his work on light romantic material.

Critical reception

Perishable Goods was warmly-reviewed when it appeared in July 1928, and sold very well - being reprinted five times before the year-end.
The original dustjacket included the following quotes -
The story Letters Patent in Yates' book Maiden Stakes refers to the plot and publishing of Perishable Goods and a letter received from an unhappy reader.