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TALBOT MUNDY
BIBLIO
MATERIALS TOWARD A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE WORKS OF TALBOT MUNDY
Edited by BRADFORD M. DAY
A Bit of His Life
Talbot Mundy was born in London on April 23, 1879. He was educated at Rugby, and served nearly ten years, beginning in 1900, as a government official in Africa and India. While in India, he wandered all over the sub-continent on horseback, and even into Tibet. Eastern occult lore first attracted, then fascinated, his active and unorthodox mind. Mundy absorbed all he could learn of the Indian beliefs.
Government service next brought him to Africa where he studied first-hand the nature magic of many of the tribes and cultures of East Africa. His quest for more information on this subject impelled him to travel extensively through Egypt and the Near East and even into parts of Arabia. This was truly adventurous at the time, but only in character with the man who killed dozens of lions and successfully hunted for ivory.
Mundy visited Australia, and Mexico as far south as Yucutan. He first arrived in the United States in 1911, and liked the country so much that he decided to stay and become a citizen.
Mundy quickly turned his energies to writing, and an article, "Pig Sticking in India," was accepted and published in the April 1911 issue of Adventure Magazine, itself only a few months old. Another article and his first story, "The Phantom Battery" soon appeared. For years thereafter, Adventure had short stories, novelettes, novels, and serials by this master teller of tales in most of the issues that were printed.
The motif and locale of the stories and very infrequent articles usually stemmed from the areas, people, and occult knowledge previously mentioned. The manly art of self defense must have occupied some of Mundy's attention during his early career. A series of stories about Billy Blain, pugilist, appeared under the pen-name of Walter Gait, beginning with the February 1912 issue of Adventure. Two articles were also printed under this pseudonym.
Scribners of New York produced his first book, "Rung Ho" in 1914, then apparently forgot him. In 1916, Bobbs-Merrill of Indianapolis published one of his most famous stories, "King--of the Khyber Rifles," and Cassell and Company of London brought out "The Winds of the World." Both were well received, and Mundy's career to a moderate renown was on its way.
In succeeding years he continued to write for Adventure and other magazines, most of the stories being snapped up by various book publishers. Many of the books were reprinted in several editions by different companies, and, confusing to a bibliophile, the English publications ware often re-titled.
During the 1920's Mundy bought a part of the Point Loma estate in California, called The Cliffs. He settled there for several years and became a member of the Theosophical Society presided over by Katherine Tingley. A half-dozen of his books were written there and, "Om; the Secret of Ahbor Valley," shows the influence of this occult society.
He contributed many articles to Tingley's theosophical magazines, her most noted publication being the Theosophical Path. After her death in 1929, Mundy left Point Loma but always retained his interest in and sympathy with Theosophy.
Mundy continued writing almost to the time of his death on August 5, 1940. In all, forty-nine books were produced under his name, thirty-nine of which were original works. At least one-hundred and fifty stories and articles appeared in magazines; most of these, perhaps nearly all, are listed in this bibliography. None of the theosophical articles are included here, though, as the intent of this listing is to stress his mastery of the fantasy-high adventure tale.
It is still too soon to properly evaluate Mundy's importance in the stream of literature. His style of writing, choice of language, is smoothly readable. One "fault," if such it be, is a sometimes too carefully contrived buildup to plot situations. This careful skill did result in glowing word-pictures and living characters.
Considerable assistance was given on this project by friends and fellow enthusiasts. My grateful thanks to all as they come to mind:
Dr. J. Lloyd Eaton--Berkeley, California John C. Nitka--Richmond Hill, New York James A. Strand--Portland, Oregon Walter A. Carrithers, Jr.--Fresno, California Robert Resch--Reading, Pennsylvania Richard Witter, Donald Grant, and some others for appreciated words of caution and advice.
The following list must not be supposed the final and authoritative word on this subject.
A list of his books
ALL FOUR WINDS: FOUR NOVELS OF INDIA
Hutchinson London 1934 1232
King--of the Khyber Rifles Jimgrim Om; the Secret of Ahbor Valley Black Light
Cover Black--yellow letters
BLACK LIGHT
Bobbs-Merrill Indianapolis 1930 315 A.L. Burt
Cover maroon--black letters
THE BUBBLE REPUTATION
CAESAR DIES
Hutchinson London No date 206
Cover red
THE CAVES OF TERROR
Hutchinson London No date 255 Doubleday, Page New York 1924 118
Cover light blue--rose letters
Century New York 1932 280 Hutchinson London 1932 288
Cover yellow--black letters with red and black Oriental Figure
COCK O' THE NORTH
Bobbs-Merrill Indianapolis 1929 340
Cover orange--black letters
THE DEVIL'S GUARD
Bobbs-Merrill Indianapolis 1926 335 Oriental Club Wells & Shakespeare
Cover maroon--green letters
DIAMONDS SEE IN THE DARK
Hutchinson London No date 287
Cover red
EAST AND WEST
Appleton-Century New York 1937 310
Cover yellow--black letters with red and black Oriental Figure
THE EYE OF ZEITOON
Bobbs-Merrill Indianapolis 1920 354 McKinley, Stone & McKenzie A.L. Burt
Cover reddish-brown--brown letters on black background
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