This novel-turned-to-television play is set in the late 1870s. At that time pugilism, which was about to be organized by the Marquis of Queensbury's rules, was turning away from the old fashioned style of boxing called "bare-knuckled" boxing. Before one boxed with boxing gloves the boxers hit each other without any protective gear. It was very bloody as a result - in fact the boxers had a good chance of doing permanent damage to each other's faces, as well as to their hands. So it was considered very dangerous and forbidden by law. But there were boxing fans who were willing to pay a great deal of money to see the old fashioned "bare-knuckled" fights.
This is the background of THE DETECTIVE WORE SILK DRAWERS. Cribb and Thackeray are sent by Jowett to investigate the discoveries in the Thames of the beheaded bodies of several men - who appear to be pugilists. From the states of their bodies they have been involved in bare-knuckled fighting. So Cribb is disguised as a fight manager - promoter. Assigned to help him is Constable Henry Jago, a new police officer who is the champion amateur boxer of Scotland Yard. He is to be Cribb's pug, whom Cribb is to try to get into the illegal fights. Hopefully he will find who is putting on the illegal fights, and is responsible for the murders.
The twist in this story is that Jago is under Cribb in this investigation, but is treated with more deference than Cribb by Jowett. It seems Jago is from the upper middle class, and (as I have mentioned in other reviews of this series) Cribb is lower class. This will have an effect at the end of the story that is natural for the age of Victorian England, but certainly less than fair to the fans of the Sergeant.
This is the background of THE DETECTIVE WORE SILK DRAWERS. Cribb and Thackeray are sent by Jowett to investigate the discoveries in the Thames of the beheaded bodies of several men - who appear to be pugilists. From the states of their bodies they have been involved in bare-knuckled fighting. So Cribb is disguised as a fight manager - promoter. Assigned to help him is Constable Henry Jago, a new police officer who is the champion amateur boxer of Scotland Yard. He is to be Cribb's pug, whom Cribb is to try to get into the illegal fights. Hopefully he will find who is putting on the illegal fights, and is responsible for the murders.
The twist in this story is that Jago is under Cribb in this investigation, but is treated with more deference than Cribb by Jowett. It seems Jago is from the upper middle class, and (as I have mentioned in other reviews of this series) Cribb is lower class. This will have an effect at the end of the story that is natural for the age of Victorian England, but certainly less than fair to the fans of the Sergeant.
