Is this man a caver?

[Ian Adams]

I was wondering if anyone knows of the author “Edward Morris” and, more particularly, if he is (or was) a caver?

I am also wondering if that is “him” on the front cover of the book (below) …

(I can't find anything on Google or ChatGPT)

The book is a novel based on the fictional cave “Pilgrim’s Hole” in Derbyshire. Notwithstanding it is fiction, his description of pot-holing (techniques, equipment, dangers, difficulties et al) are all bang on the nail. Published in 1952, I was surprised to see he correctly knew current caving protocols (such as SUD – if you don’t know what that is and you are reading this, you probably should think about armchair caving) and I was unsurprised to see some that haven’t made it to the current day (brandy in the first aid pack, berets instead of helmets etc). It was interesting to note that a character who broke off a piece of stalagmite for a souvenir was warned not to do it again as it was an “offence”. Not bad for 1952!

There was a “scene” that frightened the living heebie-jeebies out of me near the end. Notwithstanding my years of experience of caving, the author’s description of a character struggling to get through a tight crawl (a “creep” as he calls it) and getting into difficulties ran a cold river of fear through me. I may never go near another one ever again …

Ian

 

[AR]

I don't recognise the name, but the lettering on the plan looks similar to that on other 1940s-1950s surveys of Derbyshire mines and caves I've seen. So, it is possible that the author was a caver, though perhaps they were using a pen-name? The one source I can think of that might turn something up is Nellie Kirkham's records, though they're not the easiest of archives to search. I'll see if I can find mention of title or author in the index spreadsheets.

 

[spelfish]

The section you show looks like the survey from a 'hole in the ground' involving a left wing MP with Russian sympathies (and an objection to Calder Hall which he wanted to blow up). Published in the 50s (I think). Can't remember the author. Not a bad book - the only major inaccuracy was that Eastwater was 600 feet deep and over 2 miles long. As a book, it's not bad...

 

[pwhole]

The shading style on that elevation looks very familiar - possibly Les Salmon or Eli Simpson. I'm sure there's one of the Peak Cavern entrance section that looks very much like that. The plan has more than a passing resemblance to a (simplified) Giants Hole.

 

[mikem]

Apparently it was adapted for BBC radio! Pseudonyms were commonly used by authors, especially if working for another publisher - 3 within 2 years suggests that they may have been refused by his usual. Other books were "The five fowlers" (shooting on a Scottish island) and "the small hotel" (no further info). Link also mentions that they think photos were used on covers as cheaper than artwork:

Edward Morris Bibliography - A full list of First Edition Books

Edward Morris list of books in order - Checklist of books.

www.classiccrimefiction.com

As that shows the second cover, here is the third:

The Small Hotel by Morris, Edward: Very Good Red hardback cloth cover (1953) First Edition. | Barter Books Ltd

First Edition. - Red hardback cloth cover - Geoffrey Bles, London - 1953 - Condition: Very Good - Dust Jacket Included - VG: in very good condition with rubbed and chipped dust jacket. Page edges browning. 190mm x 130mm (7" x 5"). 222pp. - The Small Hotel

www.abebooks.co.uk

BEC reviewed it at the time - although showing some knowledge, they didn't think he was a regular caver:

https://bec-cave.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Belfry-Bulletin-Number-062.pdf

Followed by review of underground adventure, where morris also gets an unfavourable mention

 

[Martin Laverty]

Trade journal 'The Bookseller' reported this on May 23, 1959:

Pot-holing
In view of the interest that has been aroused in pot-holing as a result of the recent tragedy in Derbyshire, Geoffrey Bles have put out a cheap edition of one of their 1952 titles which is entirely concerned with a treasure search in a North Country pothole, This is A Plume of Smoke (3s. 6d.), by Edward Morris, who is described in the blurb as "a ferocious pot-holer' and a strategist and tactician of a high order".

Not sure if the change from The to A was a mistype, but presumably that is a paperback, and if you find it you could give it to the British Caving Library as it doesn't have a copy. In fact, neither does the British Library!

 

[Cantclimbtom]

Is anyone else scared to ask what SUD stands for?

 

[alanw]

Is anyone else scared to ask what SUD stands for?

Blasts on a whistle: Stop Up Down

At the BPC winch meet the Marshall at the bottom still uses two presses on the button by the chair to signal the winch driver to start hauling it up, and one beep would mean emergency stop.

 

[rm128]

Is anyone else scared to ask what SUD stands for?

Looks like I'm ready for armchair caving too. Probably not a bad call.

 

[caving_fox]

Blasts on a whistle: Stop Up Down

At the BPC winch meet the Marshall at the bottom still uses two presses on the button by the chair to signal the winch driver to start hauling it up, and one beep would mean emergency stop.

If you've ever had to belay a ladder pitch with a waterfall in the background it's very helpful to know. Less commonly used with SRT trips.

 

[mikem]

Although the inside front cover of Five Fowlers just says that Plume of Smoke "was featured by the B.B.C.":

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314455346241

The Small Hotel seems to be about a man taking money from women with false intent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/398057515149

The blurb mentioned above is straight from the first edition inside cover (says county rather than country):

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/398053313925

 

[mikem]

Geoffrey Bles was bought out by William Collins in 1953, but it was still known for its hardback editions then. He was most famous for originally publishing C.S.Lewis' chronicles of Narnia. Name dropped in 1970s.

"True vintage paperbacks under the direct Bles name are scarce, as mass-market paperbacks of their titles were frequently licensed to or printed by subsequent publishers (like Fontana or Puffin) later on."