Vendetta for the Saint
1964 American hardback
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| Author |
Harry Harrison (based upon characters created by Leslie Charteris) |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Saint |
| Genre | Mystery novel |
| Publisher | The Crime Club |
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Publication date
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1964 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Preceded by | The Saint in the Sun |
| Followed by | The Saint on TV |
Vendetta for the Saint is a 1964 mystery novel featuring the character of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint". The novel is credited to Leslie Charteris, who created the Saint in 1928, but the book was actually authored by Harry Harrison, a noted science fiction author who also wrote the syndicated Saint comic strip. Although Harrison wrote the majority of the book as a ghost writer, he indicates in an interview that Charteris did contribute to the final book (albeit in a very minor way).[1].
The reference work The Saint: A Complete History by Burl Barer, however, indicates that Charteris was heavily involved in editing the book. This was the first Saint volume published after Charteris chose to step back from actively writing the adventures and would be followed by a number of books credited to Charteris but actually written by other authors. Charteris remained as editor of the books, approving stories and revising material when needed. These books would be mostly based upon teleplays from the TV series or scenarios from the comic strip; the next wholly original Saint literary stories wouldn't be published until the novella collection Catch the Saint more than a decade later.
Vendetta for the Saint was the first full-length Saint novel published since The Saint Sees it Through was published 18 years earlier.
In 1969 a television adaptation of the novel (see below for details) was released as a theatrical film, also entitled Vendetta for the Saint.
This story is set on the Island of Sicily, where the Saint is confronted with the Italian Mafia. The story shows a slightly older, more mature Saint. Although still a formidable opponent for any criminal, he will not storm into action but choose his moments more carefully.
At the beginning, Simon Templar is on holiday in Naples when a small uproar on a lunch table draws his attention. An English tourist attempts to greet an Italian businessman as an old friend, but the Italian refuses to acknowledge the greeting and claims never to have met him. When the bodyguard of the businessman attacks the Englishman, the Saint intervenes and immobilizes the bodyguard. The Italians make their retreat and the Saint and the Englishman make their introductions to each other. The Englishman, Euston, claims that the Italian Businessman was his old friend Dino Cartelli. When Euston takes his leave, the Saint gives the incident no second thought.
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Wikipedia