Rattenbury: The Life And Tragic End of Pap's Greatest Architect

by Sauerwein, Stan

• ISBN13: 9781551539812
• ISBN10: 1551539810
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-06-10
• Publisher: Heritage Group Dist

Summary

Driven to leave a legacy, Francis Rattenbury designed some of BC's greatest landmarks. Monumental buildings such as the Empress Hotel drew their memorable form from his pen, but his incredible life was marred by failure and infidelity. It ended in bloody murder, scandal and suicide.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chosen for Greatness

A Job Well Done

The Klondike Risk

Northern Honeymoon

Rescued by CPR

Dressing the Empress

Grave Errors

The Meddling Madonna

Chauffeur and Lover

A Mallet and a Murder

Trial of the Century

Death on the Avon

Epilogue

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

PrologueAlma watched as her cigarette slid away in the current. The River Avon barely seemed to move, but beyond the three arches of the railway bridge, near where she sat, she knew it mixed gently with the sea. It was inevitable. Just like this moment.Relaxing in the fragrance of the wild iris blossoms that surrounded her, she caught sight of someone on the bridge. He stared, probably wondering how she had managed to navigate through the mud and bulrushes to get to the riverbank.She had been on the train to Bournemouth from London, intending to see her boys. At Christchurch she suddenly realized they wouldn't be home. Villa Madeira was empty now.In the fading light, she pictured Stoner in his cell, waiting for the noose, and slowly began to write."It must be easier to be hanged than to have to do the job oneself," she scrawled. "I tried this morning to throw myself under a train at Oxford Circus. Too many people about. Then a bus. Still too many people about. One must be bold to do a thing like this."She set the pen and paper down, picked up a dagger, then purposefully marched into the water. With a last look towards the bridge, she stabbed her left breast again and again. On the sixth thrust the dagger's blade sliced her heart.