​ 130 years ago today ‘The Raiders’ was published. It was Crockett’s first published novel, following on from the overwhelming success of his short story collection of March 1893 ‘The Stickit Minister and some common men’ which was now in multiple editions. At the time of The Raiders publication Crockett was preparing for an Illustrated edition of ‘Stickit’ as well as working with his publisher T. Fisher Unwin on three other manuscripts which which would be published in 1894. ‘The Lilac Sunbonnet’ was being serialised (to be published in novel form in the autumn of 1894 in Britain and America) while ‘The PlayActress’ and ‘Mad Sir Uchtred,’ both short novellas, were in production.


Crockett was making waves in the London literary scene. It was, as we say, a dog eat dog world. Without some knowledge of publishing history it’s hard to contextualise the legacy we’ve been given of Crockett – which is key to answering a question I’m asked a lot ‘why have I never heard of S.R.Crockett?’


Let’s start unpacking this bigger story by looking at the actual publication of ‘The Raiders’ Crockett’s breakthrough novel.


‘The Raiders’ was due to be published on March 1st. Publishing rules at the time meant that no one should review a book until it was actually in print. Publication slipped from March 1st to March 10th and somewhere during the confusion a review came out in The Scotsman on March 5th. This caused Crockett’s publisher (T.Fisher Unwin) some consternation and there are some testy letters between author and publisher. Remember that at this time it’s in Crockett’s best interest to keep his ‘new’ publisher on side. And that said publisher had some history of disagreements with both Crockett’s agent A.P.Watt and his ‘champion’ W. Robertson Nicoll. One cannot take personalities out of this picture.


It was finally released to the world on March 10th to great acclaim. Crockett went on to write over 60 other works which were usually published in serial magazine form before being released as novels. Ironically, ‘The Raiders’ is one of a few which were not serialised and now, 130 years on, it is about to be serialised on Radio 4 (June this year) for the first time. Let’s hope you wait 130 years for one radio serial of Crockett and then multiple turn up. There’s certainly a lot of mileage in Crockett’s work for both Radio and screen adaptations – that’s a drum I’ve been banging for decades. Not long to wait now…  

 Feb 28 1894.
Crockett receives his first author copy of The Raiders which is due to be published in March. This follows a period of several months of proofing back and forth with his publisher, detailed in a series of letters. There was quite a lot of press interest in the publication throughout February. In a letter to his publisher, T.Fisher Unwin, Crockett requests for author copies to be sent to various contacts. It’s an interesting list.

Feb 28th
Dear Unwin,
As I said in my telegram, I heartily congratulate you one the format of the book. I do not see a single possible improvement except omission of the list of publications at the end, which being printed for a larger publication is cut into the margin and looks out of keeping with the book. Otherwise the printing, paper, binding of the book, are all that I could wish. You have most certainly done your part admirably, and I am grateful for your great care.
The book opens nicely, which is to my mind the be-all of good binding and it is very agreeable to handle. I asked you to send me another copy for Dr Whyte, who is not a critic but my very dear friend of many years. You would probably send it yesterday… if not you might do so at once. I am going to Edinburgh to see him on Friday and I should like to take him a copy as Dedicatee.
It is very generous of you to suggest that I should send a list of reviews, critics etc. You are so judicious with your own sending that if you send somewhat liberally to the Scottish Local papers, of which Wylie has a better knowledge than I (and of which you can get a list from W) that would be for Scotland. I do not know many critics which makes the Stickit criticisms the more remarkable.
But you might send copies, with, I think, advantage to:

1. Robert Louis Stevenson, Esq Vailima, Samoa
2. Andrew Lang Esq – Directory or at Saville Club and Care of Longmans
3. Richard de Gallienne Esq – Directory or Authors club
4. James M. Barrie Esq Kirriemuir N.B
5. Robert Mcclure Esq, 33 Bedford Street Covent Garden
6. Barry Pain Esq, v Directory or Authors Club
7. And early copy to the Daily chronicle would do good. They gave me a great lift last time.
8. D.R. Somerville Esq Christian Leader Office, Glasgow
9. Editor at Dumfries Standard, Dumfries N.B.
10. Editor at Dumfries Herald, Dumfries N.B.
11. J.H.Maxwell Esq, Kirkcudbrighshire ‘advertiser’ Castle Douglas N.B.
12. Rev W. I Dawson, Ed Young Man
13. T.A Atkins Esq, Ed young Woman 2 amen Corner E.C
14. Frank George esq 8 Randall Road, Clifton, Bristol
15. Robert Wildgoods esq, The Gables, Matlock, Derby

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