The Mystery of John Jasper

In blank verse, the author, Mr. Leaver, proceeds to make a case that Jasper was the killer in Charles Dickens' EDWIN DROOD. In his FOREWORD, Leaver explains that by placing the confession of John Jasper at the beginning, the mystery of Edwin Drood is solved, thus with its solution the greater mystery of John Jasper in particular, and crime in general, is thrust forward for the imagination to dwell upon. "The second observation is that the book is offered not as a completion to the Dickens' story, but as a series of comments by the major characters." Leaver's "third remark is in anticipation of criticism respecting the medium of expression. No writer could copy Dickens' style. Any other prose style would lack the true attachment. Metrical form involves an elevation of the subject, and whether such elevation has been achieved is a matter for the reader to judge."

On the right-hand page of the front endpapers, Mr. Leaver endorses this copy to "Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Green on W. 13th, Vancouver with the compliments of H.R. Leaver. August 1935."

T.H. Green's stamp is on the left-hand endpaper referring to their home on W. 13th Ave. as "Copperfield Cottage". Just thought that was interesting.