Helen Vardon's Confession (1922) by R. Austin Freeman
A melodrama with Thorndykean interludes
Readers unfamiliar with Helen Vardon's Confession may wish to read my notes only after reading the novel.
A reader consulting Helen Vardon's Confession (1922) by R. Austin Freeman on Goodreads would conclude it is an also-ran for devotees of the genius of Number 5A, King’s Bench Walk. Freeman is not present frequently enough for fans to savor the domestic minutiae of the homely menage. Instead, Helen Vardon's Confession is reported by Vardon herself as she confronts family crisis, marital crisis, and the weird angles to reality that emerge from a suspicious and perhaps loaded seance.
Here is a list of characters, settings, and chapter summaries for the novel "Helen Vardon's Confession" by R. Austin Freeman.
Characters
Helen Vardon: The protagonist of the story. She is a young woman who is devoted to her father.
William Henry Vardon: Helen's father. He is a solicitor who finds himself in a difficult situation.
Lewis Otway: A financier and connoisseur of precious stones. He is an acquaintance of Helen's father.
Mr. Jackson: The managing clerk at Helen's father's office.
Jessie: The housemaid at Helen's house.
Mrs. Gregg: Mr. Otway's housekeeper.
Dr. Bury: A doctor who is called to the scene of Mr. Vardon's death.
Dr. Thorndyke: A criminal lawyer and medical jurist. He is a friend of Helen's father.
Miss Polton: A woman who runs a boarding house for women who work at handicrafts.
Miss Blake: A mystic and fashion plate artist.
Miss Finch: A potter.
Jasper Davenant: An architect and old friend of Helen's.
Mr. Campbell: An art dealer and connoisseur of precious stones.
Mr. Quecks: A student of the occult.
Miss Morgan: Mr. Quecks’ assistant.
Mr. Hawkesley: A collector of modern pottery.
Settings
Maidstone, Kent: The story begins in Maidstone, where Helen and her father live.
Wellclose Square, Ratcliff: Helen moves to Wellclose Square after her father's death.
London: Helen visits London on several occasions, and eventually moves there.
Chapter Summaries
Prologue: Helen finds a white hair and is reminded of the troubled past. She decides to write the history of her experiences.
Book I, Tragedy:
Chapter I, The Crack of Doom: Helen overhears a conversation between her father and Mr. Otway, in which she learns that her father is in danger of being prosecuted for misappropriation of trust funds.
Chapter II, Atra Cura: Helen reflects on the conversation she overheard and the possible consequences for her father. She fears that he may commit suicide.
Chapter III, The Covenant: Helen goes to Mr. Otway's house and agrees to marry him in exchange for him dropping the charges against her father.
Chapter IV, The Eleventh Hour: Helen delivers a letter from Mr. Otway to her father, which she believes will relieve him of his anxieties.
Chapter V, On the Brink: Helen struggles with the thought of the upcoming marriage to Mr. Otway.
Chapter VI, A Meeting and a Parting: Helen marries Mr. Otway.
Chapter VII, The Terms of Release: Helen learns that her father has died of a heart attack.
Chapter VIII, "Whom God Hath Joined—": Helen and Mr. Otway agree to a separation.
Chapter IX, Testimony and Counsel: Helen gives evidence at the inquest into her father's death.
Chapter X, The Turning of the Page: Helen consults with Dr. Thorndyke about her legal options.
Book II, Romance:
Chapter XI, A Harbour of Refuge: Helen moves into a boarding house in Wellclose Square.
Chapter XII, The Hidden Hand: Helen receives a letter from Mr. Otway, in which he expresses his concern about some anonymous letters he has received.
Chapter XIII, A Crystal-Gazer and Other Matters: Helen meets with Mr. Campbell, an art dealer, who agrees to sell some of her work.
Chapter XIV, Jasper Davenant: Helen meets with Jasper Davenant, an old friend, who is now an architect.
Chapter XV, The Magic Pendulum: Helen tries to use a magic pendulum to see into the future.
Chapter XVI, The Sweated Artist: Helen learns that Mr. Otway is being blackmailed.
Chapter XVII, The Apotheosis of the Titmouse: Helen and Peggy visit Mr. Hawkesley, a collector of modern pottery, who is very impressed with Peggy's work.
Chapter XVIII, Among the Breakers: Helen sells her Zodiac spoons to Mr. Campbell for a good price.
Chapter XIX, Illusions and Disillusion: Helen and Peggy attend a séance, where they are both tricked by the medium.
Chapter XX, Cloud and Sunshine: Helen learns that Mr. Davenant has been injured in an accident.
Chapter XXI, A Dreadful Inheritance: Helen visits Mr. Otway, who tells her about his family's history of suicide.
Chapter XXII, The Catastrophe: Mr. Otway commits suicide.
Book III, Crime:
Chapter XXIII, The Dead Hand: Helen is subpoenaed to give evidence at the inquest into Mr. Otway's death.
Chapter XXIV, The Gathering Clouds: Helen attends the inquest, where she is questioned about her relationship with Mr. Otway and her knowledge of his affairs.
Chapter XXV, Suspense — and a Discovery: Helen learns that Mr. Otway has left her a large sum of money in his will.
Chapter XXVI, The Adjourned Inquiry: The inquest is adjourned to allow for further investigation.
Chapter XXVII, The Indictment: The coroner delivers a scathing indictment of Helen Otway, accusing her of procuring her husband's suicide.
Chapter XXVIII, The Verdict: Dr. Thorndyke arrives and gives evidence that exonerates Helen Otway. The jury returns a verdict of wilful murder against Rachel Goldstein.
Epilogue: Helen and Jasper are married.
E. H. Carr termed the period 1919-1939 in European history “The Interregnum.”
In those two decades, popular fiction, particularly long and short crime and horror tales, shone: counterposing a period of proletarian nemesis and counterrevolutionary hubris.
Book-length crime and horror hit its stride, especially in Europe. (Both had more aging to perform on pulp before they conquered the mainstream).
Helen Vardon's Confession (1922) provides thrills aplenty as it braids had-I-but-known crime fiction with a superb chapter of weird and uncanny terror for its titular protagonist.
In her last meeting with estranged husband Lewis Otway, Helen seeks to console his growing depression – which flows from increasingly threatening poison pen letters naming both he and Helen with covering up the true facts about her father's death on their wedding day.
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