Bill Peschel

Delivers strange but true tales of writers behaving badly, including Dylan Thomas dodging machine-gun bullets, Dashiell Hammett hiring a Chinese prostitute to break up S. J. Perelman's marriage, Richard Ford spitting on a book critic and many more stories. Original.

The Feuds, Frolics, and Follies of Literature's Great Adventurers, Drunkards, Lovers, Iconoclasts, and Misanthropes

Writers Gone Wild

Agatha Christie

Why Would People Drink Strychnine For Their Health? What Does ‘English Beef and Brawn’ Mean? What Are Land Smocks? Spill Vases? Patience Cards? What Did Agatha Christie Think Of Jews? How Did A 25-Year-Old Woman Create One Of Mystery’s Greatest Detectives? Best-selling mystery writer Agatha Christie created intricate stories of murder and mayhem that have enchanted readers worldwide. Bill Peschel, author of "The Complete, Annotated Whose Body?" (by Dorothy L. Sayers) and "Writers Gone Wild," illuminates the obscure references in Christie’s debut novel and tells the fascinating stories behind it and its creator. "The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles" contains: ● Nearly 500 footnotes describing words, idioms, people, places and contemporary events. ● Essays on Christie’s life and the world of Styles. ● A detailed chronology of her life and work. ● Lists of her novels and short-story collections, organized by year of publication and by detective. ● A bibliography of resources, including books about Christie that will delight fans. “Though this may be the first published book of Miss Agatha Christie, she betrays the cunning of an old hand.” — The New York Times, Dec. 26, 1920

The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles

Welcome to 223B Baker Street The debut of Sherlock Holmes in the pages of The Strand magazine introduced one of fiction’s most memorable heroes. Arthur Conan Doyle’s spellbinding tales of mystery and detection, along with Holmes’ deep friendship with Doctor Watson, touched the hearts of fans worldwide, and inspired imitations, parodies, songs, art, even erotica, that continues to this very day. “Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924” collects 38 pieces — short stories, poems, and cartoons — all published during this part of Conan Doyle’s literary career. Included are stories by Dashiell Hammett, Arthur Conan Doyle, and James Thurber. Also included are much of the original art and more than 340 footnotes identifying obscure words, historical figures, and events that readers were familiar with at the time. Peschel Press’ 223B Casebook series — named because they’re “next door” to the original stories — is dedicated to publishing fanfiction created by amateur and professional writers during Conan Doyle’s lifetime. Other Books by Bill Peschel and Peschel Press THE 223B CASEBOOK SERIES Sherlock Holmes Victorian Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1899 Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches I: 1900-1904 Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches II: 1905-1909 Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches I: 1910-1914 Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches II: 1915-1919 Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924 Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches II: 1925-1930 The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes THE RUGLEY POISONER TRUE CRIME SERIES The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley THE COMPLETE, ANNOTATED SERIES The Complete, Annotated Secret Adversary By Agatha Christie The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles By Agatha Christie The Complete, Annotated Whose Body? By Dorothy L. Sayers OTHER BOOKS The Casebook of Twain and Holmes Hell's Casino (Amazon Kindle Worlds) Writers Gone Wild

223B Casebook Series

Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches II: 1925-1930

THE PRINCE OF POISONERS William Palmer was known to all in Rugeley. The son from a wealthy family had trained in London as a surgeon and returned to the English village with his beautiful, respected wife to raise a family and live out his days as a country doctor. But Dr. Palmer wanted more. More money. More excitement. More women. He dove into the shady world of horse racing, gambling heavily and spending a fortune to build his stable of thoroughbreds. When money grew tight, he found that a dosed drink or two could clear the way. He got away with it, poisoning his wife, mother-in-law, his infant children, fellow gamblers and many more, until he killed one time too many. The story of Dr. Palmer’s deadly treatments at the birth of the mass media riveted the nation and spread around the world. The sensational 12-day trial in London’s Old Bailey drew the attention of royalty (Prince Albert bought one of Palmer’s horses at auction) and literature (Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins followed the case) and made legal history as the first trial in which strychnine figured and the first to be moved because of the enormous publicity. Appearing soon after Palmer’s execution in 1856, “The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer” was published to cash in on the notorious case. The anonymous author combined facts and rumors about Palmer’s crimes with sketches on debauched medical students and crooked scams in horse racing, and pious meditations on Palmer’s wife. With the help of footnotes and essays, the result is a compelling, fascinating look at life in the early Victorian era, and the criminal doctor who was placed “at the head of his profession” by none other than Sherlock Holmes! Look for these other Peschel Press books on the Palmer case: “The Illustrated Times Trial of William Palmer” and “The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley”.

The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer

This fully annotated edition of “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” includes: * Nearly 15,000 words in the footnotes describing words, historical events, and cultural references * Essays on Agatha Christie’s life and how she found love again, what to look for when rereading Ackroyd, the controversy over a claimed Scandinavian inspiration, what you’ll find in a doctor’s black bag, Christie’s legacy as a fictional character, a review of the Poirot episode, and what the reviewers thought of the book at the time * Maps and illustrations of objects and places mentioned in the novel * Character list, cover gallery, and a full bibliography * More than 30 photos and illustrations <h4>Agatha Christie’s most controversial novel </h4>In this annotated edition of the groundbreaking Agatha Christie novel, Hercule Poirot retires to the village of King’s Abbot to raise vegetable marrows. But when his friend Roger Ackroyd is found stabbed to death in his study, Poirot is asked to investigate. Many people would benefit from the death of the country squire, but none of them could have done it, except for the man who vanished!With the help of Dr. Sheppard, who narrates the tale, Poirot examines the evidence, but each clue raises more questions. Whose finger wore the wedding ring before it was tossed into the lake? Who visited the summer-house in the middle of the night? Who left muddy footprints on the window sill? What secrets are being kept from Poirot by the Ackroyd family and servants? Published in 1926, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd established Christie as the premiere mystery novelist of her time, and her 11-day disappearance after its publication spread her name worldwide. This new annotated edition, edited by Bill Peschel, contains an additional 30,000 words in footnotes and essays describing unfamiliar words, expands on the story, and delves into the novel’s background and the life of its author. The Complete, Annotated Murder of Roger Ackroyd, the seventh book in Peschel Press’ Complete, Annotated series, will entertain, educate, and enlighten you. Learn about Agatha Christie during her greatest crisis and how she rebuilt her life and found a second chance at love.

The Complete, Annotated Murder of Roger Ackroyd

For Anne Beddingfeld, Southern Africa holds the key to a mystery, if she lives! Young Anne Beddingfeld came to London with a small inheritance and a taste for travel and adventure. She gets more than she bargained for when a stranger falls from the tube platform and is electrocuted on the rails. A man in a brown suit examines the body, but flees before the police arrive. It was an accidental death, but Anne is intrigued. Why did the dead man startle? Why did he have a note regarding an empty house owned by a high-ranking government official? Who was the man in the brown suit who examined him and fled? What is the secret in the cryptic message he left behind: “17-122 Kilmorden Castle”? The mystery deepens when a woman is found strangled in the official's empty house. Anne’s investigation leads her to a cruise ship heading for sunny South Africa, followed by a treacherous journey into Rhodesia. Anne encounters danger, daring escapes, romance, and uncovers a conspiracy that could shake the foundation of the British Empire. Published in 1926, The Man in the Brown Suit was praised for its ingenious plotting and unique narrative structure. This new annotated edition, edited by Bill Peschel, comes with more than 40,000 words in footnotes and essays that delves into the background of the story and the life of its author. The Complete, Annotated Man in the Brown Suit, the sixth book in Peschel Press’ Complete, Annotated series, will entertain, educate, and enlighten you. You’ll see an Agatha Christie at her wittiest and in a way you’ve never seen her before.

The Complete, Annotated Man in the Brown Suit

Welcome to 223B Baker Street The debut of Sherlock Holmes in the pages of The Strand magazine introduced one of fiction’s most memorable heroes. Arthur Conan Doyle’s spellbinding tales of mystery and detection, along with Holmes’ deep friendship with Doctor Watson, touched the hearts of fans worldwide, and inspired imitations, parodies, songs, art, even erotica, that continues to this very day. “Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924” collects 38 pieces — short stories, poems, and cartoons — all published during this part of Conan Doyle’s literary career. Included are stories by Dashiell Hammett, Arthur Conan Doyle, and James Thurber. Also included are much of the original art and more than 340 footnotes identifying obscure words, historical figures, and events that readers were familiar with at the time. Peschel Press’ 223B Casebook series — named because they’re “next door” to the original stories — is dedicated to publishing fanfiction created by amateur and professional writers during Conan Doyle’s lifetime. A lifelong fan of mysteries, and Sherlock Holmes in particular, Bill Peschel is a former award-winning journalist living in Hershey. He is the annotator of novels by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, three books about poisoner William Palmer, and author of “Writers Gone Wild” from Penguin. Other Books by Bill Peschel and Peschel Press THE 223B CASEBOOK SERIES Sherlock Holmes Victorian Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1899 Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches I: 1900-1904 Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches II: 1905-1909 Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches I: 1910-1914 Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches II: 1915-1919 Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924 Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches II: 1925-1930 The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes THE RUGLEY POISONER TRUE CRIME SERIES The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley THE COMPLETE, ANNOTATED SERIES The Complete, Annotated Secret Adversary By Agatha Christie The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles By Agatha Christie The Complete, Annotated Whose Body? By Dorothy L. Sayers OTHER BOOKS The Casebook of Twain and Holmes Hell's Casino (Amazon Kindle Worlds) Writers Gone Wild

The 223B Casebook Series

Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924

Meet Doctor Death, the First Modern Serial Killer In 1856, Dr. William Palmer made history when he was hanged for poisoning his gambling partner. But it was not his first ride at the murder rodeo. He had also murdered: * His wife * Five of his six children * His mother-in-law * His brother * And numerous others. He murdered for the insurance money. He murdered to avoid paying his gambling losses. He murdered so he wouldn’t have to support his children. Palmer’s trial made legal history. It was the first moved because of publicity, the first to feature expert witnesses, and the first to run 12 days (at a time when murder trials rarely lasted more than a day). “William Palmer, the Rugeley Poisoner Collection,” gathers three books published by Peschel Press in one low price: “The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer” was the first “quickie book” published to capitalize on the hottest news story of 1857. Published before the advent of libel laws, it’s full of gossip about Palmer’s family. His father built his fortune by swindling timber from the local lord while his widowed mother had a reputation as a slut. Palmer lived a riotous life as a medical student in London and consorted with criminals and gamblers in the crooked world of horse racing. This book is an eye-opening journey into the seedy underbelly of Victorian Britain. “The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer” prints the testimony from Palmer’s 12-day trial, with original footnotes that explain draws on other sources (including the Old Bailey transcript) to explain obscure legal issues and tell you who’s lying, who’s fudging the facts, and who’s telling the truth. Many books simply republish badly-scanned PDF versions of the first edition. The Peschel Press edition gives you all the words, and all the facts. “The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley” is the 1925 biography of Palmer, the first in more than six decades. Written by a Rugeley doctor who interviewed many of the principals in the case, his book adds new facts never seen before, and rounds out the picture of the country doctor who killed. This collected edition contains hundreds of footnotes, reprints of memoirs and essays involving Palmer, and original essay that look at Palmer’s impact on culture. With these three books, true-crime fans can experience early Victorian Britain where money was king, reputations ruled, and where evil lurked in the heart of a benign doctor.

William Palmer: The Rugeley Poisoner Collection

James Thurber

In 1923, the young reporter James Thurber was given a half a page in the Sunday Evening Dispatch of Columbus, Ohio, every week to fill with anything he wanted. For most of that year, he turned out book reviews, humorous commentary, jokes, stories, and even literary criticism. He also wrote a series of 13 short Sherlockian parodies — 10,000 words in all — starring Blue Ploermell, a “psychosocial” detective with a fondness for animal crackers. Aided (and occasionally impeded) by his Chinese manservant, Gong Low, Ploermell investigates cases marked by his cock-eyed deductions, loopy logic, and a knack for leaping to the wrong conclusion. These juvenilia represents Thurber’s first attempts at learning the craft of humor writing. Looking back at this work years later, he even considered publishing the Ploermell stores. The Cases of Blue Ploermell, for the first time in a century, collects the 13 stories. Edited and annotated by Bill Peschel, they show Thurber trying his hand at characterization, story structure, ethnic humor, and serial writing in a style rarely seen at any newspaper. In addition to the annotations, Peschel wrote essays on Thurber’s years in Columbus, Ohio; journalism in the 1920s; the state of Sherlockian parodies; and depictions of Chinese men and women in American popular culture. Note: The 13 stories are very short, and take up 40 pages of this 200-page book. The rest of the book consists of these essays: “Becoming James Thurber” (39 pages); “Journalism in Thurber’s Time” (4 pages); “Sherlockian Parodies in the 1920s” (8 pages); “The Ancestors of Gong Low” (13 pages); “The Chinese in Popular Culture” (35 pages); movie reviews (19 pages); chronology (9 pages); lists (7 pages). SHORT DESCRIPTION: In 1923, a young James Thurber wrote 13 short Sherlockian parodies (10,000 words) for his newspaper in Columbus, Ohio. They starred Blue Ploermell, a “psychosocial” detective with a fondness for animal crackers. Aided by his Chinese manservant, he solves cases with his cock-eyed deductions and a knack for leaping to the wrong conclusion. This book contains the stories plus essays about Thurber.

The Cases of Blue Ploermell

Arthur Conan Doyle

P.G. Wodehouse

R.C. Lehmann

C.L. Graves

E.V. Lucas

Bernard Partridge

E.T. Reed

F.D. Grierson

Ralph Wotherspoon

N.R. Martin

Genius. Braggart. Scientist. Fraud. Sherlock Holmes has been portrayed as all that and more. “The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes” brings together the major stories, reviews, briefs and illustrations that appeared in the legendary British humor magazine during Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s lifetime. Annotated and presented in chronological order, this scrapbook charts the rise of Conan Doyle as a writer and public figure and the meteoric popularity of the world’s greatest consulting detective. “The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes” contains: • All of the 17 stories in R.C. Lehmann’s “The Adventures of Picklock Holes.” • P.G. Wodehouse’s Sherlockian parodies “Dudley Jones, Bore-Hunter” and “The Prodigal.” • Briefs and article excerpts that praise and poke fun at Conan Doyle’s work and beliefs. • Five complete Holmes parodies including two that haven’t been seen for a century. • Cartoons by Punch artists E.T. Reed, Bernard Partridge and others. • Reviews of Conan Doyle’s books, including two of the “Sherlock Holmes” play starring William Gillette. • Notes on the historical background of the articles and writers, essays on Lehmann, Wodehouse and Punch, plus a new short story featuring Mark Twain and John H. Watson! More than a collection of humorous stories, “The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes” shows how Sherlock Holmes shaped the culture, and how the culture shaped our view of Sherlock Holmes. The 223B Casebook Series from Peschel Press reprints the Sherlock Holmes parodies and pastiches published during Arthur Conan Doyle’s lifetime. In addition to being fun to read, the books show how contemporary writers reacted to Conan Doyle’s life and works, and how they reshaped Holmes for their own uses. The result is valuable insight into the “history behind the mystery” of the great detective‘s popularity and endurance.

The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes

Welcome to 223B Baker Street! The debut of Sherlock Holmes in the pages of The Strand magazine introduced one of fiction’s most memorable heroes. Arthur Conan Doyle’s spellbinding tales of mystery and detection, along with Holmes’ deep friendship with Doctor Watson, touched the hearts of fans worldwide, and inspired imitations, parodies, songs, art, even erotica, that continues to this very day. “Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches: 1900-1904” collects more than 55 pieces — short stories, poems, newspaper clippings, and cartoons — all published during the opening years of Conan Doyle’s literary career. Included are works by Mark Twain, P.G. Wodehouse, Bret Harte, and more. Also included are many of the original illustrations and more than 200 footnotes identifying obscure words, historical figures, and events that readers were familiar with at the time. Peschel Press’ 223B Casebook Series is dedicated to publishing the fanfiction created by amateur and professional writers during Conan Doyle’s lifetime. Each book covers a particular era, publication, or writer, and includes lively mini-essays containing insights into the work, Conan Doyle, and those who were inspired by him.

Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches I: 1900-1904

Welcome to 223B Baker Street! The debut of Sherlock Holmes in the pages of The Strand magazine introduced one of fiction’s most memorable heroes. Arthur Conan Doyle’s spellbinding tales of mystery and detection, along with Holmes’ deep friendship with Doctor Watson, touched the hearts of fans worldwide, and inspired imitations, parodies, songs, art, even erotica, that continues to this very day. “The Best Sherlock Holmes Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1930” collects 33 pieces — short stories, poems, and cartoons — published during the whole of Conan Doyle’s literary career. Also included are much of the original art and 340 footnotes identifying obscure words, historical figures, and events that readers were familiar with at the time. Peschel Press’ 223B Casebook series — named because they’re “next door” to the original stories — is dedicated to publishing the fanfiction created by amateur and professional writers during Conan Doyle’s lifetime. Each book covers an era, publication, or writer, and includes lively mini-essays containing insights into the work, Conan Doyle, and those who were inspired by him. A lifelong fan of mysteries, and Sherlock Holmes in particular, Bill Peschel is a award-winning former journalist living in Hershey. He is the annotator of novels by Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, publisher of the three-volume Rugeley Poisoner series, and author of “Writers Gone Wild” (Penguin). Other Books by Bill Peschel and Peschel Press THE 223B CASEBOOK SERIES Sherlock Holmes Victorian Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1899 Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches I: 1900-1904 Sherlock Holmes Edwardian Parodies and Pastiches II: 1905-1909 Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches I: 1910-1914 Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches II: 1915-1919 Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches I: 1920-1924 Sherlock Holmes Jazz Age Parodies and Pastiches II: 1925-1930 The Early Punch Parodies of Sherlock Holmes THE RUGLEY POISONER TRUE CRIME SERIES The Illustrated Life and Career of William Palmer The Times Report of the Trial of William Palmer The Life and Career of Dr. William Palmer of Rugeley THE COMPLETE, ANNOTATED SERIES The Complete, Annotated Secret Adversary By Agatha Christie The Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles By Agatha Christie The Complete, Annotated Whose Body? By Dorothy L. Sayers OTHER BOOKS The Casebook of Twain and Holmes Hell's Casino (Amazon Kindle Worlds) Writers Gone Wild

The Best Sherlock Holmes Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1930

Sherlock Holmes Victorian Parodies and Pastiches: 1888-1899

Sherlock Holmes Great War Parodies and Pastiches I: 1910-1914

Bill Peschel

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