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Roads by Seabury Quinn and illustrated by Virgil Finlay
01/08/2005 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Red Jacket Press. 110 page slipcased hardback. Price: $29.95 (US) . ISBN: 0-9748895-8-X. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.redjacketpress.com
This story originally appeared in the January 1938 issue of 'Weird Tales', then in a pamphlet edition from publisher Conrad H. Ruppert before becoming a hardback from Arkham Press in 1948 which this Red Jacket facsimile is based on.
Quite why Red Jacket is releasing this book this time of year is debatable cos it really deserves a December release. On the hand, if you're after Yuletide presents, there's no time like the present than to buy early. Seabury Quinn wrote 'the greatest adult Christmas story written by an American'' according to Sam Moskowitz. I don't think I can dispute that sentiment. I'm also left in a little bit of a quandary to explain too much of the plot cos I promised to leave some surprises for new readers coming to this story.
Claus is a Nordic gladiator in Judea, recently released from service who rescues a family from soldiers and is granted an immortal life. We then follow some of his adventures as a Roman centurion before he returns to his homeland. If you can't work out who he finally becomes from his name then go to the back of the class. Saying that, this is not the whole aspect of the story but doesn't account for who he meets on his journey.
I have to confess to not really being a Christmassy person but I like the way Quinn brings together the various elements of this story into a cohesive whole around a single character who gets a just reward for a single act of kindness.
In many respects, this book could be classed as a non-genre book but really it encompasses them all because any reader in the western hemisphere will recognise something in here for them no matter their age. It's also the kind of book that you're also likely to pass from generation to generation. I think I've praised it enough. For art lovers, don't forget there is some work of the fabulous Virgil Finlay to cap this particular cake.
GF Willmetts
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