Talk:Dennis Wheatley

Letter to Posterity
I got a spam-block message for lashtal.com. I was trying to add a link to the full text of DW's 'Letter' and that is the only source I could find. I don't want to use this site if there is a problem, but could someone tell me the best way to get the info into Wikipedia? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.146.141.240 (talk) 22:20, 28 June 2013 (UTC)

Untitled
I am sure Forbidden territory was published first. 3 inquisitive people was merely set beforehand. --SqueakBox 23:16, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC).

Yes, Forbidden territory was published first, he wrote 3 inquisitive people first but it wasn't published till 1940, as the article makes clear in the publication list. --SqueakBox 23:25, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC)

Could somebody add something about the film adaptations?Notreallydavid 14:31, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

anti-communism
Why in the world would anti-communism sound "jarring" to anyone in the 21st century? It's like saying anti-feudalism is jarring.
 * Indeed! This seems particularly silly in context: "racism, anti-semitism, and anti-communism." Hardly a parallel series. Not caring for the neologism "classism," am altering to "racism, anti-semitism, and clubland snobbery" -- a better reflection of Wheatley's prejudices. 66.241.72.85 14:52, 2 September 2006 (UTC)


 * contains a level of racism, anti-semitism, and clubland snobbery that are, to say the least, jarring to the modern ear.. Well they aren't "jarring" to my modern ear. What a ridiculous, opinionated, statement. I'll remove it unless anyone has particularly strong views to the contrary. Arcturus 21:45, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Perhaps just say it is dated, though what book isnt, there must indeed be a better way of putting this, gives a good insight into the values of the time etc, SqueakBox 22:03, 16 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, gives a good insight into the values of the time summarises the tone of The Devil Rides Out, which I'm currently reading. I've not read anything else of Wheatley's, but no doubt this applies to his other works as well. I'll give it a couple of days to collect any other comments, then change the text, if agreed. Arcturus 22:50, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

I've read most and many multiple times and The Forbidden Territory is my favourite. Unfortunately along with my old Bagley and Innes thrillers they are currently 5000 miles away but I hope to get them here eventually by which time I am sure they will read better than ever, SqueakBox 23:09, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

I'm not convinced by the contention that he was anti-semitic and xenophobic either. The main characters in his De Richleau series are French (de Richleau), and American (Rex), and Simon Aron (another 'good' character) is Jewish. Vortinax 10:27, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

It's hard to pin Wheatley down on race. In some books he exhibits anti-semitic and colonialist opinions re blacks and others(through his characters). In others, he seems fair-minded for the time. He was very knowledgeable about European history. His "snobbery" and feelings about socialism and other "isms" is more apparent. He disapproved of the post-war Attlee government and it's attempts at social/economic equality, feeling they hampered the wheels of industry and wealth that a nation depended on. In one novel ("The Ka of Gifford Hillary") his ghostly title character roams amongst the metropolitan poor and does seem to understand why those living as such might be justifiably disatisfied with their lot. One could say that though he'd knocked about in life, he couldn't understand why those who came from a less privileged position might want change.Flake11Flake11 14:31, 23 October 2007 (UTC).

I think it is more that he did not see this change as a change for the better. See his 'Letter to Posterity' in the article. 12.149.136.2 (talk) 22:11, 16 January 2012 (UTC)

MI5
No mention of MI5 or Alastair Crowley connections... Does this article need expanding?

Fair use rationale for Image:Gatewaytohell.JPG
Image:Gatewaytohell.JPG is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

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Fair use rationale for Image:Gatewaytohell.JPG
Image:Gatewaytohell.JPG is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 20:37, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Allan Warren portrait
...is quite clearly a mirror image. The row of miniatures and the pocket handkerchief are on the wrong side, and the waistcoat buttons the wrong way. Opera hat (talk) 00:17, 28 January 2011 (UTC)

Duc de Richleau dates wrong?
I don't have a reference handy, but the text contradicts the timeline of publications in the bibliography. It suggests Three Inquisitive People introduced a character that is also in books listed in the bibliography as earlier publications (e.g. The Devil Rides Out). And given the plots of the books that's also the only order that makes sense --- Three Inquisitive People concerns the meeting of the three principle characters of the Duc de Richleau series, and the others involve those characters already knowing each other. Can somebody with a suitable reference check this is right, and preferably add a citation to the article? JulesH (talk) 21:20, 8 August 2012 (UTC)
 * As is mentioned in the "Untitled" section above, Three Inquisitive People was written before, but published after, other novels featuring de Richleau and his friends. RGCorris (talk) 10:28, 9 August 2012 (UTC)

Bloomsbury reissues
"Many of these will be censored and abridged", the article says. What is the source of this information? It's not in the supplied reference. Paul Magnussen (talk) 17:04, 12 July 2016 (UTC)

Politics
I've added an 'essay-like' template to the Politics section. Although the analysis is interesting and probably accurate, it reads like personal opinion. Please rewrite or add some citations, such as critics or academics writing for reliable sources. Thanks. -- Meticulo (talk) 12:44, 26 February 2017 (UTC)

Influence
Someone removed the claim of an influence from the opening. I recreated it at the end as an influence, but only claimed. It seemed worth mentioning. GwydionM (talk) 08:18, 5 March 2024 (UTC)