The Datchet Diamonds

"The Datchet Diamonds" by Richard Marsh is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around a complex interplay of relationships and intrigue following the theft of valuable diamonds from the Duchess of Datchet. The characters include Mr. Cyril Paxton, a man with a troubled past and uncertain future, who, after a series of misadventures, comes into possession of the stolen diamonds, setting the stage for a moral dilemma that will put his character to the test. At the start of the novel, we meet Miss Strong, who reflects on her uneasy encounters with Mr. Lawrence, whom she met during a chance meeting at Devil's Dyke. Their relationship grows as they navigate societal expectations and romantic tensions, with Cyril Paxton looming on the periphery. The narrative swiftly pulls in themes of love, ambition, and duplicity, as Mr. Paxton overhears critical information regarding the robbery of the Datchet diamonds while on a train, complicating his already precarious financial situation. As he grapples with the allure of suddenly acquired wealth, the intertwining fates of the characters promise a gripping exploration of ethics, desire, and the dire consequences of ambition. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Richard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".