The Slave of Silence

"The Slave of Silence" by Fred M. White is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Beatrice Darryll, a young woman facing the impending marriage to a man she loathes for the sake of her family’s reputation, as her father, Sir Charles Darryll, is involved in a scandal. Beatrice grapples with her deep discontent, mourning her lost honor while caught in a web of familial duty and financial desperation. At the start of the novel, Beatrice experiences a mix of emotions while preparing for her wedding dinner at the lavish Royal Palace Hotel. Her inner turmoil is evident as she wears black mourning attire, signifying her sorrow for selling herself into a marriage devoid of love. The narrative introduces her father, Sir Charles, who seems indifferent to the pressures surrounding him, as he manipulates circumstances to secure financial stability through Beatrice's marriage to the wealthy Stephen Richford. As the tension builds, Beatrice longs for true love and freedom, hinting at her unresolved feelings for Mark Ventmore, whom she believes she could have married under different circumstances. The opening sets the stage for a drama filled with emotional conflict and social intrigue, suggesting that Beatrice's struggles will lead to significant consequences for her and those around her. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fred Merrick White (1859–1935) wrote a number of novels and short stories under the name "Fred M. White" including the six "Doom of London" science-fiction stories, in which various catastrophes beset London. These include The Four Days' Night (1903), in which London is beset by a massive killer smog; The Dust of Death (1903), in which diphtheria infects the city, spreading from refuse tips and sewers; and The Four White Days (1903), in which a sudden and deep winter paralyses the city under snow and ice. These six stories all first appeared in Pearson's Magazine, and were illustrated by Warwick Goble. He was also a pioneer of the spy story, and in 2003, his series The Romance of the Secret Service Fund was edited by Douglas G. Greene and published by Battered Silicon Dispatch Box.