The Book of Syn: Russell Thorndike, Doctor Syn & the Romney Marsh
The Reverend Christopher Syn, Doctor of Divinity, was a man of many parts: Vicar of Dymchurch; swordsman and duellist; ruthless pirate; smuggler; and murderer. His exploits are so embedded in the culture of Dymchurch and the wider Romney Marsh that many people are unaware that he was a fictional character, the creation of Russell Thorndike, brother of Dame Sybil Thorndike.
Thorndike himself lived a life almost as full as that of his chief character. He was a Shakespearian actor, raconteur and bon viveur, as well as a prolific writer and historian. That many belief that Syn once walked the earth is down to Thorndike’s ability to weave so much reality into his tales. Syn’s existence, however, extends beyond Thorndike’s seven novels. No less than three films (including versions by both Disney and Hammer) have graced the screen and Syn has appeared on the stage, in musicals and in comics. There is also a bi-annual “Day of Syn” held in Dymchurch – the largest free festival in the South of England.
This book discusses all these areas and separates the fact from fiction. It explores the life, times and influences of author Russell Thorndike and details the real-life incidents and characters on which he draws. It also considers the realities of smuggling at the time when the Dr Syn books are set and describes the places on Romney Marsh that so captured Thorndike’s imagination.
