Mandeville Roe, E.G. "The Place Tourists Miss. The Robinson Crusoe House"

Manuscript script for an article in pen, 4 lvs, 23 x 18 cm, recto only, signed at the end (middle-fold, stain in blank lower r. corner). "Enterprizing travel agents have led flocks of our American cousins to almost every literary and historical shrine in these islands, yet, strange to say, there is one place within thirty miles of Charing Cross which remains unlionized. Probably many a motorist has stopped to quench his thirst at the "Black Lion", at Hartly, in Kent, without ever realizing he had parked his car beside the house where "Robinson Crusoe" was written! It is a very small cottage, over two hundred years old, and was probably selected by Defoe for a number of reasons." An important reason was that the house was "fairly safe from the pursuit of the authorities"; a prize of 50 pounds was offered for Defoe's capture. The manuscript also contains a description of the features of the wanted man.

Biographical information on added printed slip: "Mandeville Roe had been a member of the British Fascists, leaving at the same time as Francis Hawkins to join Mosley in the BUF. Mandeville Roe is thought to have taken with him copies of the British Fascist membership and subscription lists. He is thought to have worked closely with the Board of Deputies of British Jews, reporting to them on both Mosley, and was said to have been MI5's major source of information within the Mosley movement." [sic]