[2] Of it, the Bookseller wrote: "This is not a Cookery book, but a gossip about all sorts of Cookery, from real turtle to snails; all sorts of drinks, from Champagne to small beer eau-de-voie to nettle tea; with anecdotes culled from all sources, and presented with the sauce of a true literary caterer.

"[3] It was followed by a series of food articles entitled Snacks for the Hungry, in the Tattler, then in 1879 by Magic Morsels: Scraps from an Epicure's Table, Gathered, Garnished and Dished by Harry Blyth, published by T.H.

[4] In 1879, Mr Blyth's life story was told in an early number of the Biograph, a monthly magazine devoted to contemporary biography.

Of the experience he wrote: "I printed it on green paper partly because of the title, but mainly to give the eyes of my readers a rest.

"[6] In 1883 he co-founded The Chiel with Robert Arthur (who built the Kennington Theatre), a Scottish Punch-style paper based in Glasgow.

A reviewer in Fun wrote "This is one of the thrilling romances by a deservedly popular author, now in course of publication, and is worthy of wide circulation.

[13] In 1893, after writing a series of thirteen articles entitled Third Class Crimes for The Sunday People, he came to the attention of publisher Alfred Harmsworth who was looking for writers to contribute to his newly launched boys' periodicals.

The story goes that when publisher and author met for the first time, Harmsworth greeted Blyth by saying: "So you are the crime merchant?

Harmsworth who was always impressed by people who stood up to him, commissioned him to write adventure and detective stories for The Halfpenny Marvel.

He wrote prolifically for the Amalgamated Press papers over the next four years, under his pen-name and his own name, in Pluck, Popular, Chums and the Union Jack.

His obituary in the North Devon Journal (Barnstaple, England) on 10 February read: The death is announced of Mr. Harry Blyth, editor of The Chiel, Glasgow.

Deceased was the younger brother of Dr. Wynter Blyth, the famous analyst, who some years ago resided at Barnstaple, and was then the Medical officer of Health for a group of North Devon Unions.

He was also considered an authority on food, and among the books written by him are "Magic Morsels, Scraps for the Hungry, and Eat, Drink, and be Merry.

Action for Alleged Libel In the Court of Queen's Bench, London, yesterday, Mr Justice Hawkins and a special jury were engaged in hearing the case Marks v. Blyth.

The plaintiff claimed damages for a libel published by the defendant, who pleaded that he had made an apology and paid £10 into Court to satisfy Mr. Marks's demand.

In October of last year a publication was about to appear called the Society Herald, which was to be devoted to financial, theatrical, literary, and other matters.

The defendant, Mr. Harry Blyth, is the editor and proprietor of a weekly serio-comic paper called the Chiel, which circulates in and about Glasgow, and in this publication he published on 22 October the paragraph complained of.

The attention of the defendant was called to the statements contained in the libel, all of which Mr. Marks denied, and on 10 December—six weeks after the publication—an apology was inserted.

[17] Blyth had originally given Blake a partner, French detective Jules Gervaise, his senior and mentor.

Perhaps noting the success of Sexton Blake, Blyth created his own detective, Gideon Barr, to whom he retained the rights.

He made his last appearance in Christmas Clues, the first Sexton Blake/Nelson Lee crossover, a story he co-wrote with Maxwell Scott.

Blyth's Blake stories, though they included traditional crimes like theft and murder, also had the detective engage with master criminals, gangs and conspiracies.