Title: Tyron the Shrine-Maker
Alternate Titles: Tyron the Shrine-Maker of Pompeii, Tyron the Shrinemaker of Pompeii
Author: Sylvanus Cobb Jr.
Published: 1869, London, serialised in Young Folks Weekly Budget and New York Ledger then released as a volume by James Henderson
Language: English
Genre: Dime novel, historical
A forgotten dime novel from the age of story papers. Written by Sylvanus Cobb Jr., a celebrity of his time who wrote an immense number of dime novels under various pen names. Serialised before being released as a book, but likely impossible to obtain in physical form.
Where to Read:
- The Orkney Herald reprint (13th April 1904 – 7th September 1904) is available at British Newspaper Archive, excluding 27th April 1904, meaning chapter 3 is missing.
- Despite being printed in at least three newspapers and one book, this title has not been fully digitised.
Publication History
Originally published (serialised?) in Young Folks Weekly Budget, London, 1869(?). Volume/s unknown.
Also serialised in The New York Ledger starting 26th June, 1869 (according to the Boston Daily Evening Transcript 14th June 1869 and corroborated by another story also debuting in the same issue).
Later released as a book in 1869(?) as part 9 of the People’s Pocket Story Books series (later renamed Budget Story Books), published by James Henderson who ran the Young Folks Weekly Budget and released many of its stories as volumes.
Reprinted in The Orkney Herald over 24 issues from 13th April 1904 – 7th September 1904 (all issues are available online except for 27th April 1904, meaning chapter 3 is unavailable to read online).
Author
Sylvanus Cobb Jr. (June 5, 1823 – July 20, 1887) was an American writer of popular fiction, born in Waterville, Maine. He was a prolific writer, and wrote under many pseudonyms. His most well-known work is The Gunmaker of Moscow.
Cobb is not directly credited as the author – at least not in the Orkney Herald reprint – but he is mentioned in the Boston Daily Evening Transcript 14th June 1869 and an identical advert in the Providence Morning Herald 15th June 1869):
“In the same number of the [New York] Ledger we begin the publication of a story of STRANGE ADVENTURE by SYLVANUS COBB, JR., entitled TYRON THE SHRINE-MAKER. Mr. Cobb himself thinks this is one of the best stories he has ever written, and we think so too. It is in his best and most popular vein.”