Title: Peter Steele, the Cricketer
Author and Title: Horace Gordon Hutchinson. Peter Steele, the Cricketer
First Edition: Bristol: Arrowsmith, 1895. 1 volume, post 8vo., 3s. 6d.
Summary: Volume 21 in Arrowsmith's 3/6 Library. Peter Steele is the second son of a country squire near the town of Swivel-pipkin. A bit dull but athletic, he attends Eton and Oxford where he rises quickly through the cricketing ranks as an excellent batsman: first becoming the youngest boy in his school's eleven and second captaining Oxford to victory over Cambridge at Lord's (his score of 179 being the deciding factor). Peter's bachelor uncle, Charles "Bunny" Steele, indulges his love for cricket and includes his nephew in his own team, the Gitanos. As a member of his uncle's team, Peter has other cricketing adventures, including a gentlemen-players match at the Oval, county cricket matches, and a village match between Swivel-pipkin and Padstock. Away from cricket, Peter falls in love with Lady Emily Nipperkin, the youngest daughter of the Lord Tankerdine, a neighbouring earl. Lord Tankerdine refuses the match due to Peter's lack of fortune until Bunny quietly reassures the earl that Peter is his heir. The novel ends with the untimely death of Bunny (due to a heart attack while playing cricket) and the marriage of Peter and Lady Emily. (TJB)
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References: BL; EC
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