The Intriguers

"The Intriguers" by William Le Queux is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in late 19th century London and follows the lives of Nello Corsini, a talented young violinist, and his sister Anita, who struggle to make ends meet as impoverished musicians. Their fortunes begin to change when they encounter Papa Péron, a kind-hearted old man with a mysterious past, who takes them under his wing and encourages Nello's musical aspirations. At the start of the novel, the scene is set in the chilly streets of Soho during a snowy winter night in 1888, where Nello and Anita are performing for donations. They encounter the renowned Russian Ambassador and his sister, which stirs compassion in the young princess, leading her to consider helping them. Soon after, they meet Papa Péron, who recognizes Nello’s musical talent and invites them in to warm up and share a meal, signifying a turning point in their struggles. The opening lays the groundwork for themes of kindness, the pursuit of success against adversity, and the exploration of the characters' backstories, hinting at deeper connections and possibly hidden identities that will unfold throughout the story. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Tufnell Le Queux was an Anglo-French journalist and writer. He was also a diplomat, a traveller, a flying buff who officiated at the first British air meeting at Doncaster in 1909, and a wireless pioneer who broadcast music from his own station long before radio was generally available; his claims regarding his own abilities and exploits, however, were usually exaggerated. His best-known works are the anti-French and anti-Russian invasion fantasy The Great War in England in 1897 (1894) and the anti-German invasion fantasy The Invasion of 1910 (1906), the latter becoming a bestseller.