Materials Toward a Bibliography of the Works of Talbot Mundy

Materials Toward a Bibliography
of the Works of Talbot Mundy

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Title: Materials Toward A Bibliography Of The Works Of Talbot
Mundy
Author: Bradford M. Day, Editor
Release Date: October 11, 2004 [EBook #13714]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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MUNDY ***

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TALBOT MUNDY
BIBLIO
MATERIALS TOWARD A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE WORKS OF
TALBOT MUNDY
Edited by BRADFORD M. DAY

A Bit of His Life
Talbot Mundy was born in London on April 23, 1879. He was educated
at Rugby, and served nearly ten years, beginning in 1900, as a
government official in Africa and India. While in India, he wandered
all over the sub-continent on horseback, and even into Tibet. Eastern
occult lore first attracted, then fascinated, his active and unorthodox
mind. Mundy absorbed all he could learn of the Indian beliefs.
Government service next brought him to Africa where he studied
first-hand the nature magic of many of the tribes and cultures of East
Africa. His quest for more information on this subject impelled him to
travel extensively through Egypt and the Near East and even into parts
of Arabia. This was truly adventurous at the time, but only in character
with the man who killed dozens of lions and successfully hunted for
ivory.
Mundy visited Australia, and Mexico as far south as Yucutan. He first
arrived in the United States in 1911, and liked the country so much that
he decided to stay and become a citizen.
Mundy quickly turned his energies to writing, and an article, "Pig
Sticking in India," was accepted and published in the April 1911 issue
of Adventure Magazine, itself only a few months old. Another article
and his first story, "The Phantom Battery" soon appeared. For years
thereafter, Adventure had short stories, novelettes, novels, and serials
by this master teller of tales in most of the issues that were printed.

The motif and locale of the stories and very infrequent articles usually
stemmed from the areas, people, and occult knowledge previously
mentioned. The manly art of self defense must have occupied some of
Mundy's attention during his early career. A series of stories about
Billy Blain, pugilist, appeared under the pen-name of Walter Gait,
beginning with the February 1912 issue of Adventure. Two articles
were also printed under this pseudonym.
Scribners of New York produced his first book, "Rung Ho" in 1914,
then apparently forgot him. In 1916, Bobbs-Merrill of Indianapolis
published one of his most famous stories, "King--of the Khyber Rifles,"
and Cassell and Company of London brought out "The Winds of the
World." Both were well received, and Mundy's career to a moderate
renown was on its way.
In succeeding years he continued to write for Adventure and other
magazines, most of the stories being snapped up by various book
publishers. Many of the books were reprinted in several editions by
different companies, and, confusing to a bibliophile, the English
publications ware often re-titled.
During the 1920's Mundy bought a part of the Point Loma estate in
California, called The Cliffs. He settled there for several years and
became a member of the Theosophical Society presided over by
Katherine Tingley. A half-dozen of his books were written there and,
"Om; the Secret of Ahbor Valley," shows the influence of this occult
society.
He contributed many articles to Tingley's theosophical magazines, her
most noted publication being the Theosophical Path. After her death in
1929, Mundy left Point Loma but always retained his interest in and
sympathy with Theosophy.
Mundy continued writing almost to the time of his death on August 5,
1940. In all, forty-nine books were produced under his name,
thirty-nine of which were original works. At least one-hundred and fifty
stories and articles appeared in magazines; most of these, perhaps
nearly all, are listed in this bibliography. None of the theosophical

articles are included here, though, as the intent of this listing is to stress
his mastery of the fantasy-high adventure tale.
It is still too soon to properly evaluate Mundy's importance in the
stream of literature. His style of writing, choice of language, is
smoothly readable. One "fault," if such it be, is a sometimes too
carefully contrived buildup to plot situations. This careful skill did
result in glowing word-pictures and living characters.
Considerable assistance was given on this project by friends and fellow
enthusiasts.