The Triumphs of Eugene Valmont

The Triumphs of Eugene Valmont is a collection of the stories and exploits of French detective turned rogue Eugene Valmont including parody of Sherlock Holmes. Barr set the standard for the genre with an even mix of light-hearted sardonics and cunning sleuth. Barr also added his own flair of commentary on the then standard English values. The dashing Valmont takes on dastardly English noblemen, jewel thieves and con-men. He's sophisticated and confident in his own abilities but not without an amount of self-effacing humour. Robert Barr (1849-1912) Scottish-born Canadian teacher, journalist, editor, humourist, and prolific author, best known for The Triumphs of Eugene Valmont: (1906) Barr would accompany his long-time friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1894 when he gave a lecture tour of Canada and the United States of which Barr had helped arrange. They had an infamous quarrel at Niagara Falls over Sherlock Holmes's death at Reichenbach Falls. Barr wrote a parody of this incident in 'Sherlaw Kombs' The Great Pegram Mystery (1894). Often with an ironic twist or colourful narration, Barr was an accomplished short story writer, one collection being Revenge! (1896) He had an exceptional sense for the popular topics of the day and applied his characteristic swagger to narration ranging from romantic-adventure to detective thriller. He was well-travelled and well-liked. Ever the raconteur Barr was acquainted with many other respected writers of the time including Horatio Gilbert Parker and Joseph Conrad. In 1899 Barr wrote of Canada's preference for whiskey than books in the amusing two-part Literature in Canada which was really more of a gentle chastisement to Canadians to give more appreciation to their own home-grown writers. He received an honorary degree from the University of Michigan in 1900 for his accomplishments and skill in writing.