The Adventures of Mabel
Children's fantasy novel published under a pseudonym in 1897.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The Adventures of Mabel is a children's fantasy novel written by Harry Thurston Peck and released in 1897. Peck published it under the alias Rafford Pyke. The plot centers on Mabel, a five-year-old girl who assists the King of the lizards and is granted the power to talk with animals. She also meets giants and brownies.
The first edition came out in 1897 from Dodd, Mead & Co., with illustrations by Melanie Elisabeth Norton and the Rafford Pyke pseudonym. At that time, Peck edited the literary journal *The Bookman*, which ran a glowing review of the book in December 1897 under the byline Nicholas Brown. The journal had earlier published an article under Peck's own name announcing the book's release by "Pyke." These conflicts of interest were not revealed. The novel was later mentioned in the *Breaking Bad* episode "Mabel" as a childhood favorite of protagonist Jimmy McGill. Commentators noted similarities between Peck's and McGill's use of false names, and drew comparisons between McGill's story arc and Peck's real-life end: he died by suicide in 1914 after being ostracized by literary peers following an alleged love affair.
*The New York Times* praised the book for young readers. *The Evangelist* called the illustrations "original and amusing." *The Critic* described its imagination as infantile, and *The Nation* faulted its story.
- author
- Harry Thurston Peck
- published
- 1897
- pseudonym
- Rafford Pyke
- illustrator
- Melanie Elisabeth Norton
- publisher
- Dodd, Mead & Co.
- genre
- Children's fantasy novel
Lore & Background
The first edition of The Adventures of Mabel was published in 1897 by Dodd, Mead & Co. under the pseudonym Rafford Pyke, with illustrations by Melanie Elisabeth Norton. At the time, Peck was the editor of The Bookman, a literary journal which published an effusive review of the book in December 1897 under the byline Nicholas Brown, and had previously published an article under Peck's name announcing the book's release by Pyke. The conflicts of interest were not disclosed.
Reader's Guide
The Adventures of Mabel is significant primarily for the controversies surrounding its publication and later cultural references. The book's release involved undisclosed conflicts of interest, as its author, Harry Thurston Peck, used his position as editor of The Bookman to publish a favorable review under a pseudonym. Decades later, the novel was mentioned in the television show Better Call Saul, where it was described as a childhood book beloved by protagonist Jimmy McGill. Commentators noted parallels between Peck's and McGill's uses of pseudonyms, and compared McGill's plot arc to Peck's real-life fate: Peck committed suicide in 1914 after being cut off by literary colleagues in the fallout from an alleged love affair. Reception of the book itself was mixed: Kirkus Reviews stated it may entertain young children, a sentiment echoed by The New York Times, while The Evangelist praised the illustrations as original and amusing. However, Kirkus criticized the book's word choice and loosely connected structure, The Critic described its imagination as infantile, and The Nation criticized its story.
Did You Know?
- The book was published under the pseudonym Rafford Pyke, while the author Harry Thurston Peck was editor of The Bookman.
- The Bookman published an effusive review of the book in December 1897 under the byline Nicholas Brown, and had previously published an article under Peck's name announcing the book's release by Pyke.
- The novel was mentioned in the television show Breaking Bad as a childhood book beloved by protagonist Jimmy McGill.
- Harry Thurston Peck committed suicide in 1914 after being cut off by literary colleagues in the fallout from an alleged love affair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Adventures of Mabel?
It is a children's fantasy novel from 1897 written by Harry Thurston Peck under the pen name Rafford Pyke. The story follows a five-year-old girl who gains the ability to speak with animals and encounters giants and brownies while helping the King of the lizards.
What special powers does Mabel have in the story?
Mabel is granted the gift of talking with animals, which becomes central to her adventures. She uses this ability while assisting the King of the lizards and interacting with giants and brownies throughout the plot.
Who illustrated the first edition of The Adventures of Mabel?
Melanie Elisabeth Norton provided the artwork for the 1897 first printing published by Dodd, Mead & Co. That edition carried the Rafford Pyke byline on the title page.
Why did Harry Thurston Peck publish the book under a pseudonym?
Peck wrote the novel as Rafford Pyke, likely to keep his children's fiction separate from his professional identity as editor of the literary journal The Bookman. The Bookman itself ran a favorable review of the book in December 1897 under a different byline.
What is the basic plot of The Adventures of Mabel?
A five-year-old girl named Mabel helps the King of the lizards and is rewarded with the power to converse with animals. Her journey carries her among giants and brownies in a fantastical world.
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