The Illustrious Prince 1910

THE ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE (1910)

The Illustrious Prince is an exquisitely mannered Japanese, currently resident in London. An American, Hamilton Fynes, leaves the Lusitania and is found, mysteriously, murdered on a private train to London. Fynes has some government position, we learn, and has been travelling through Europe.

In London an American Miss Penelope Morse is waiting at the Carlton for Fynes, she had received a Marconigram from the Lusitania inviting her to lunch at the Carlton.

A Marconigram

Inspector Jacks of the Yard questions her and to throw off the police she jumps out of a taxi and disappears into Harrods.

Harrods 1910

She goes to a club and there meets a fellow American Dicky Vanderpole, a diplomat. On leaving the club Dicky is found murdered in a cab...
The background to this story is the rivalry between the USA and Japan as Pacific powers. Written before the first world war but after Japan's deafeat of Russia Oppenheim shifts his normal European perspective.
The Prince is a fascinating character and is presented in a most sympathetic way. Oppenheim will later do a similar portrait for a Chinese hero in The Great Prince Sham.
Romance, politics, spying, murder and detection.
6/10