ABSTRACT
The year is 1909; the setting a school chapel. It is a Sunday in November, with the whole school assembled for evensong. As the hymn draws to a close, the preacher mounts the steps to the pulpit, places his prepared address on the lectern, and finally looks out at the congregation of boys and masters. But this week there are no yawns of anticipation, no games of sermon-cricket have been prepared, and no thoughts drift off into daydreams – for this is a favourite preacher. He is a famous old boy of the school; not a bishop, nor a politician, nor a soldier, nor a colonial administrator – but a popular novelist, and much read by the boys of the school. His annual sermon at his old school is awaited with interest, for it is always a winner: this year his theme is ‘The Old School List’. 1
