The Carpet From Bagdad
(A.L. Burt, 1911)
George Percival Algernon Jones is a shy young man who owns an elite Oriental Rug and Carpet company. While on business in Cairo, he falls for an attractive girl named Fortune Chedsoye. It so happens that George knows Fortune's mother from a spree in Monte Carlo, and has found her to be a deceitful and unscrupulous person. Unknown to the daughter, Mrs. Chedsoye and her scheming brother, Major Callahan, are actually seasoned smugglers, who mask their operations behind a bogus firm named the United Romance and Adventure Company, Ltd. A professional rogue named Horace Ryanne, who represents the company, approaches George and offers to sell him the Sacred Yhiordes, a carpet of immense value, recently stolen from the Pasha of Bagdad. George, against his better judgment, makes the purchase for one thousand pounds. However, a vengeful Arab named Mohammed El-Gebel has been pursuing Ryanne, in an attempt to get back the carpet. He succeeds in kidnapping George, Ryanne, and Fortune Chedsoye, and carries them along on a desert caravan against their will, hoping to induce them to send back for the carpet as their ransom. They agree to do this, and a courier is dispatched to retrieve the sacred rug. But when he returns, a grave problem arises. The carpet is missing.
This entertaining novel is a subtle and ingenious blend of adventure, romance, and criminal intrigue. As an artistic effort, it is probably one of MacGrath's finest works. The prose contains an economy of literary style, which is kept snug to level of the average reader. It never ceases to amaze me how MacGrath could turn out so many works of genuine merit, and yet attain such massive popularity among the general readership. I think his secret lies in the fact that he never speaks down to the reader. His tells his stories in an affable, pat-on-the-back manner, which makes us feel better for having read him. His characters, even the villains, are likeable, and a real interest is inspired in their affairs. As well, the pace is kept moving right along-- there isn't a lag or drag throughout the whole book. We take these elements for granted, as marks of literary merit. And yet they are too often conspicuously absent in the modern book-churning racket.
The novel was filmed in 1915, and, interestingly enough, was one of the reels discovered on board the sunken Lusitania in 1982. One can easily see what a great movie this would have made. However, dealing with Carpet from Bagdad as a literary work alone, I find it one of the better examples of its kind. It is one which I'll probably find myself reading again in the not-so-distant future. Some of the scenes are unforgettable. There is a particular episode between Ryanne and his sniveling older brother-- a veritable prince of banking-nerds-- which impresses one strongly with the equivocal nature of "respectability." We're reminded that all too often the renegades of this world are the real heroes, whilst the sanctimonious mass rests content in playing the rich man to society's Lazaruses. All in all, we find ourselves enjoying the bad guys a bit too much. But it's only a story after all, and whatever social commentary MacGrath makes is superficial and non-judgmental. The mystery element of this tale is, of course, pronounced. It was a channel into which MacGrath steered deeper as the years progressed. In fact, he is primarily a mystery and crime writer, albeit he receives very little tribute for his work in that field.
Thankfully, early editions of The Carpet from Bagdad can be tracked down easily, and prices usually won't go much higher that $10 for a good, clean copy. If you can, try getting the edition with Andre Castaigne's color illustrations. My web space won't allow me to reproduce any of the drawings here, but there is a good grab of one of them at http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/castaigne.htm. I was unable to find any contemporary criticism concerning this book. But judging from the sales, it would appear that it was quite well received. When all is said and done, Carpet of Bagdad is a fine novel worthy the attention of all who enjoy a good story. If you include yourself among that number, my guarantee is that you won't be let down. Get yourself a copy as soon as you can.
--B.A.S.
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