The Defender (Thwaites novel)

AuthorF. J. Thwaites
LanguageEnglish
PublisherJackson & O'Sullivan
Publication date
1936
Publication placeAustralia

The Defender is a 1936 novel by F. J. Thwaites.[1] It was his eighth novel.[2]

In 1937 the novel was reprinted in the United Kingdom.[3]

In 1937, it was announced a film version of the novel would be made at National Studios, following production of The Flying Doctor, but the movie did not eventuate.[4][5]

There were allegations Thwaites plagiarised from a story in Master Detective magazine, "The Startling Mystery Aboard the SS Chinese Prince". This was in addition to plagiarism accusations made by Thwaites about his earlier novel Flames of Convention.[6] Smith's Weekly commented "It must be very discouraging to Mr. Thwaites that whether he lifts slabs from a best seller by an author who was murdered over 25 years ago before he finished his book, or carves slices out of one of thousands of American crime magazine publications, the theft is still detected by someone. "Smith's" almost feels like apologising to him about it."[7]

The novel was adapted for the radio in 1936.[8] Sections of the novel were read out over a number of episodes four days a week.[9]

Premise

A Sydney barrister defends downtrodden women.

References

  1. ^ "BOOK TALK". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 24 October 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 1 November 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Australian Author". Daily Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 2 April 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Four Thwaites Novels To Be Reprinted". News. Vol. XXIX, no. 4, 399. South Australia. 28 August 1937. p. 5. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "AUTHOR PUBLISHES OWN BOOKS". The News. Adelaide. 13 February 1937. p. 3. Retrieved 1 November 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "SENDS GREETINGS". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. Parramatta, NSW. 23 December 1936. p. 16. Retrieved 1 November 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Ron Blaber, 'Thwaites, Frederick Joseph (1908–1979)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/thwaites-frederick-joseph-8810/text15453, published first in hardcopy 1990, accessed online 9 March 2024.
  7. ^ "NOVEL WRITING MADE EASY". Smith's Weekly. Vol. XVIII, no. 35. New South Wales, Australia. 31 October 1936. p. 3. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "SWITCHGIRL'S FOLLIES AT 2SM", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, 27 (19 (May 8, 1936)), Sydney: Wireless Press, nla.obj-712038814, retrieved 9 March 2024 – via Trove
  9. ^ "SERIAL STORY". Sunday Mail. No. 342. Queensland, Australia. 8 November 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 9 March 2024 – via National Library of Australia.