2017 marks the 100th Anniversary of the publication of The Spy in Black by J. Storer Clouston.
He did not just write this one book though, he wrote many novels in his lifetime and his style was on a par with Compton Mackenzie and P.G. Wodehouse. His plays were performed in London West End theatres and The Spy in Black was made into a film, starring Conrad Veidt.
Orkney historian, Dr Hugh Marwick described him thus:
“He was primarily a teller of tales and a
master of the art of narration”
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| J. Storer Clouston |
P.G. Wodehouse wrote: "I have always been a tremendous admirer of your work. I think I have everything you have ever written."
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| Archive Reference: D23/37 part of letter from P G Wodehouse 6th Jan 1934 |
Background and birth:
Joseph Storer Clouston was born in Carlisle, Cumberland on 23rd May 1870. His father was Sir Thomas Clouston of Nisthouse, Harray, Orkney. Sir Thomas became a mental health specialist and was appointed Superintendent of Garlands, the Cumberland and Westmorland Asylum in 1863. His mother was Harriet Segur Storer who came from Connecticut in USA.
His sister Augusta Maud Clouston was born in 1872 also in Carlisle. She became Lady Wallace when she married Sir David Wallace, an Edinburgh surgeon, on 5th April 1905 in St. Giles, Edinburgh.
Early Life and Education
His father became Physician Superintendent of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum in Morningside in 1873 and moved the family to live in Tipperlinn House, Edinburgh when Storer was 3 years old.
His brother Thomas Harald Clouston was born in 1876. He later married Ada Mary Stuart and lived in a house called "Langskaill" in London and was proprietor of Gairsay.
Storer was educated at Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh and later at Magdalen College, Oxford.
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| Merchiston Castle School |
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In the 1891 census, aged 20, he was described as "student of medicine".
In 1895 he was called to the Bar and on his marriage certificate in 1903 his occupation was "Barrister at Law", although he never practised and became a writer instead.
Marriage and Home
On the 11th March 1903 at the age of 32, Storer married Winifred Bertha Clouston, aged 21, in St Andrews and St Leonards parish church in Fife. Winifred was a distant cousin whose family also originated in Orkney. Her grandfather was the Rev. Charles Clouston minister of Sandwick and Stromness and also known as a physician, botanist and meteorologist.
From 1903, Storer is recorded in the valuation rolls as the tenant of Smoogro House in Orphir. The estate was owned by his father.
In 1913, Sir Thomas Clouston transferred the ownership of the house and the estate to his son.
Joseph Storer Clouston grew up with a love of writing and history. He wrote many novels full of social commentary and light-hearted fun. Here is a small selection of his novels:
Marriage and Home
On the 11th March 1903 at the age of 32, Storer married Winifred Bertha Clouston, aged 21, in St Andrews and St Leonards parish church in Fife. Winifred was a distant cousin whose family also originated in Orkney. Her grandfather was the Rev. Charles Clouston minister of Sandwick and Stromness and also known as a physician, botanist and meteorologist.
From 1903, Storer is recorded in the valuation rolls as the tenant of Smoogro House in Orphir. The estate was owned by his father.
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| The Clouston Family on the steps of Smoogro House Adults L-R: Harriet Storer, Winifred Clouston, J. Storer Clouston, Sir Thomas Clouston Children L-R: Harold Thomas Storer Clouston, Marjorie Traill Clouston Archive reference: L1340/1 |
In 1913, Sir Thomas Clouston transferred the ownership of the house and the estate to his son.
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| Sasine Abridgement 1913 |
The family spent their time in Edinburgh and London and their summers in Orkney.
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| The Clouston Family at Smoogro House, Orphir Adults L-R: Winifred Clouston, J. Storer Clouston Their children L-R: Erlend Richard Storer, Marjorie Traill and Harald Thomas Storer. The dog's name was Hunda. Archive reference: L6697/4 |
Novelist
Joseph Storer Clouston grew up with a love of writing and history. He wrote many novels full of social commentary and light-hearted fun. Here is a small selection of his novels:
One of his first novels combined fiction with his knowledge of Norse history. It was reviewed by The Spectator in 1897:
"Mr Clouston gives in the story an abundance of the fighting, and a fair amount even of the drinking, that are generally associated with Viking stories. But he also introduces the rather uncommon elements of a feud and a spell, a hermit, a seer, and a mysterious maiden."
Here are a small selection of J. Storer Clouston's novels. We have about 38 volumes in the Orkney Room.
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| Published in 1920 |
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| Published in 1927 |
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| Published in 1932 |
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| Published in 1936 |
Storer wrote a series of novels about a 'Lunatic'. Here are some reviews for The Lunatic in Charge, published in 1926.
"Here is Mr Clouston with another riotous study in irresponsible lunacy." Sunday Express
"Furious farce, but a capital book for the sea-side at eighty-five in the shade." Observer
"It is very pleasant to have Mr Mandell-Essington at large again. He is still the charming companion that everyone seems to find him, and his adventures flit from one extravagance to another in quite the old way. " Daily Telegraph
The Spy in Black
This year marks the centenary of the first publication of The Spy in Black.
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| 1918 edition |
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| Title page of 1917 edition |
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| Republished in 2007 with added extras |
Made into a film in 1939 starring Conrad Veidt, who gives his opinion of the book here:
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“It is with pleasure I write this message
to say that I sincerely hope readers will enjoy J.
Storer Clouston’s story “The Spy in Black” as much as I enjoyed working in the
film which has been based on the book. Sincerely [sgd] Conrad
Veidt” Archive reference: D23/30/6/5
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Some reviews of the book here:
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| Field 12th Jan 1918 |
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| Glasgow Herald |
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| Morning Post Review 14th Dec 1917 |
Playwright
J. Storer Clouston wrote plays which were performed in London West End theatre, such as The Pocket Miss Hercules at the New Royalty Theatre:
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| Archive reference: D23/30/6/4 |
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| Review |
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| The Gilded Pill Handbill |
Octo-Centenary Pageant
J. Storer Clouston co-wrote the pageant script with Eric Linklater which was performed by about 600 actors as part of the St. Magnus Cathedral Octo-centenary celebrations in 1937.
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| Octo-centenary pageant performed in Kirkwall in 1937 Archive Reference: L5285/4 |
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| Octo-centenary pageant performed by Orcadians in 1937 Archive Reference: L5286/4 |
Historian
J. Storer Clouston also wrote and edited Orkney history books and contributed articles to journals. He was founder member of the Orkney Antiquarian Society and collected old Orkney documents some of which are in Records of the Earldom of Orkney 1299-1614.
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| Orkney History books which J. Storer Clouston wrote or contributed to. |
Death and Remembrance
J. Storer Clouston died on Friday 23rd June 1944. He was buried in Orphir Churchyard on Monday 26th June.
In the Orcadian the following week, Dr. Hugh Marwick published an "Appreciation" for his friend.
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| Dr. Hugh Marwick. Archive reference: L2308/1 |
"he had identified himself so intimately with Orkney public life and affairs, and his name is so indissolubly associated with the written history of these islands that it is difficult for us to think of Orkney without...thinking of him."
"A more acute, penetrating and imaginative intelligence on work in which he was interested, it has never been my privilege to meet."
"to me, at least, his death seems not unlike the blowing out of a lamp, leaving me sitting in a dark room."
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