Review: The Secret of the Old Clock (1930)
I normally read books in the strict sense of the word, which is to say I don’t do a lot of audiobooks. That’s not prescriptive, it’s just the way I generally prefer to engage with books. But Nate DiMeo who does The Memory Palace, read the 1930 version of the The Secret of the Old Clock when it entered the public domain this year. I’d heard him read Walt Whitman’s Song of Myself as a bonus episode of the Memory Palace before the 2016 election. That so entranced me that I pretty much listen any time he wants to read a long form piece. So, Nancy Drew.
I quite liked it. The mystery is twisty enough that it keeps you engaged, even if the title gives a bit away. The characters are for kids, so there’s only so much going on there. But everything worked and was engaging enough without talking down too far.
What I really did enjoy was seeing how 1930 the whole book was. There’s a plot point about the fact that many roads are still unpaved. One of the characters is an elderly woman whose health is declining rapidly and without a family around her, there’s really no hope of health care without having substantial means. And the depiction of a black caretaker is right out of Amos and Andy. Nate read the book cold and his surprise at this portrayal is a thing. He presses on, but he’s outright apologetic at several points.
It was also interesting to see what people put in children’s books at the time. The strict gender roles are in effect, but Nancy is depicted as being very self-sufficient. I remember a line to the effect of “Of course, Nancy Drew could change a tire, but didn’t relish the task.” She also fixes a boat engine. Great stuff. There’s some evidence pilfering and illegal liquor as well. I think I support all of that when needs must.
I see there was a 1959 rewrite, which I expect sanded some of those edges off, but having a look at the original was good fun.
Recommended.