Mr Bob Williamson of Antigua has stated on his “website” that Mr. Wynne-Tyson encouraged him to “claim” the Title of King of Redonda, to prevent it passing to a “rich Spaniard” (Javier Marias of Madrid, who happens to be a well-known, respected and celebrated author). In consequence, Mr. Williamson now calls himself “King Robert the Bald”.
However, in 1997, Mr Wynne-Tyson passed on his Literary Executorships to this same Javier Marias, and, apparently gave him the impression that the Title of King of Redonda was included with them.
Javier Marias has accordingly described himself as “King Xavier I of Redonda” in one of his books. Since the Title is, in law, Intellectual Property, owned by somebody else, this represents a serious breach of copyright.
One can only conclude that Mr Wynne-Tyson has, therefore, grossly misled Javier Marias in this matter (doubly so, because he has been advised many times that he possesses no legal rights in the Title at all). May one also conclude that Javier Marias, a respected, renowned and highly successful author and academic, has become, unwittingly, the latest Member of The Impostor’s Club of Redonda ?
The following letters have been sent to the publishing company concerned; to date, neither has been acknowledged, nor answered. We await clarification with interest.
OUTSTANDING WORK OF FICTION !!
“JAVIER MARIAS AND THE KINGDOM OF REDONDA “
by VERITY SANSPEUR
This extraordinary volume lifts the lid, literally, on the tangled and, frankly, unsavoury world said to be inhabited by certain publishers, writers and Literary Executors, all apparently suffering from delusions of grandeur. Miss Sanspeur reveals a web of deceit, misinformation and denigration of the dead, going back over thirty-five years, aimed at gaining unlawful control of that unique, charming and harmless quirk of history, the Kingdom of Redonda in the West Indies.
It shows up the alleged machinations of wealthy American industrialist Arthur Reynolds Morse, and his unsuccessful attempt to deny and pervert the perfectly-legal and genuine efforts of John Gawsworth, Third King of Redonda, to preserve the future of his Kingdom. We learn how Morse set out to deliberately undermine the legally-valid transfer of the Title of King to Arthur John Roberts in 1966, which included an Irrevocable Covenant drawn up by a university Professor of Law, and two boxes of Royal Archives dating back over sixty years. As self-appointed arbiter, Morse pretended that Mr Jon Wynne-Tyson was the “real” King of Redonda, by virtue of a so-called “death-bed wish” by Gawsworth to Wynne-Tyson in September, 1970, when Mr Roberts had been reigning for three years, but this was only made public ten years later. Mr Wynne-Tyson has since admitted, in writing, that the “wish” was untrue, and he was in Versailles when Gawsworth died in Kensington. This, however, did not prevent him from claiming to be the “real” King later on. On Gawsworth’s death in 1970, Mr Wynne-Tyson was named as one of two joint Literary Executors in Gawsworth’s Will, and inherited ten boxes of Gawsworth’s private papers, already in his safe-keeping. He was not named as the next King of Redonda.
In 1995, when Wynne-Tyson came to sell these private papers by auction at Sotheby’s in London, they were described in the catalogue as “Royal Archives”, being sold by the “King of Redonda”. It is said that they were purchased for £10,000 by a “rich Spaniard” (the well-known author Javier Marias) who also took over the Literary Executorship. It is said that Mr Wynne-Tyson also gave him the impression that the Kingship of Redonda was included in the deal, thereby passing on his impostorship to Javier Marias. What a bargain ! (See “Negra Espalda del tiempo” by Javier Marias (Alfaguara, 1998 ) page 365).
Furthermore, to compound the deception, both impostors Wynne-Tyson and “King Javier” have published recently lists of “dignities and Titles” bestowed on others, by virtue of their so-called powers and prerogatives as “Kings”. (See appendices in “La Mujer de Huguenin ” by M.P.Shiel (trans. Antonio Ariarte), Reino de Redonda, Barcelona, 2000). The recipients of these empty honours have every right to feel insulted, as do all true Redondans, together with the present true King of Redonda , concerning the apparent conversion of his Kingdom into a publishing company !
The hilarious but deplorable deceits thus described in the searing pages of this book extend far beyond the personalities involved. It has spread to the world press and media, and the internet, and has spawned a rash of minor impostors, including an eccentric author in Alaska, a female descendant of the second King living in the north of England, a rumoured godson of the third King dwelling in Canada, an admitted non-legitimist Montserrat barrister living in London who failed to do his homework, and a sycophant of Jon Wynne-Tyson living on a boat in the Caribbean.
Verity Sanspeur is to be congratulated on telling so vividly this extraordinary and unusual story, basing her researches on the genuine Royal Archives, and also on the biased and often contradictory evidence provided by the impostors themselves. Whilst a sad indictment of the shameful parts apparently played by the impostors and their agents, it also provides us with a humorous catalogue of human folly and inflated egos, revealing not only the strength of the case today for the true Kingdom of Redonda, its Monarch and its Members, but also the curious effect on other people’s minds of the fascination of this unique, charming and harmless quirk of history.
FLOREAT REDONDA ! H.H.
KING JAVIER MARIAS??
King Leo’s Reply
The following information is in reply to a guest book entry posted on the 25 September 2000 by Jordi Font-Agustí to Mr William Leonard Gates (Barcelona (Spain)).
Original GuestBook Entry
Después de buscar, encontrar y leer atentamente las páginas y documentos de su web, creo que he de pedirle que reconozca a Javier Marías como Rey de Redonda. Usted enseña muchos documentos, pero nunca muestra el documento que acredita que John Roberts es el legítimo heredero del título. ¿Porqué no lo reproduce en su página? En cualquier caso, mientras usted se limita a ostentar el título de rey, Javier Marías está creando todo mundo literario de altísima calidad entorno a él. Más allá de sus propias obras (especialmente Negra espalda el tiempo, que marca el camino a seguir por la novela del siglo XXI), ha iniciado un trabajo de rey competente y generoso publicando en español la obra de MP Shiel. Temas legales a parte (que no están nada claros), si he de escoger entre la pompa y la creación literaria, no tengo duda alguna: Viva Javier Marías, rey de Redonda!
English Translation: After reading your web I decided to ask you to recognise Javier Marías as a King of Redonda. I consider that you don’t show enough evidences (why don’t you reproduce the document transferring the kingdom to John Roberts?) Meanwhile you are just making a show of the title of King, Javier Marías has created a literary universe with Redonda. He wrote the magnificent Negra espalda del tiempo (a novel that indicates the way for novels in the XXI century) and now is working as a responsible and good king translating to Spanish the novels by MP Shiel. Glory to Javier Marías, King of Redonda!
-Jordi Font-Agustí Escritor / Writer
King Leo has sent the following reply to Jordi Font-Agusti
From: The Redondan Foundation
To: jordi_font@wanadoo.es
Date: 28 September 2000 12:45
Subject: REX REDONDAE v. JAVIER MARIAS
Dear Sir, Thank you for your entry on our Kingdom of Redonda website. You say you have read it, but it seems that you have not understood it. You appear to confuse Javier Marias’ role as Literary Executor (for the Estates of M.P.Shiel and T.I.F.Armstrong, passed on to him by the previous Executor, Mr. Wynne-Tyson) with the entirely separate legal entity known as the Kingdom of Redonda (of which I am the sole and current owner). Why is that?
As it happens, I recognise Javier Marias as a distinguished author and academic, with a world-wide reputation and appeal. and I applaud his appointment as Literary Executor. An excellent choice. At that time, I wrote to him, pledging my Kingdom’s support in his role as Literary Executor (as I am bound to do, by my Deed of Office), and have since published articles in our Kingdom’s Newsletter, drawing Members’ attention to his books, as well as including him in my last Honours List.
It follows that I cannot possibly recognise him as “King of Redonda”, simply because he has no legal or other claim to the Title I possess, and of which I am guardian for posterity. You appear to be challenging me to produce further evidence of proof for myself; may I suggest that you first approach Javier Marias for his own “proofs”? I also beg leave to draw your attention to the fact that Javier Marias has no need to call himself “King”, to bring M.P.Shiel’s works to the attention of the public, in Spain or anywhere else. Anyone will tell you that he already has total authority to do that, by virtue of his office as Literary Executor.
I consider your remarks that “I don’t show enough evidence” and that I am “making a show of the title of King” to be not only untrue but also insulting, as my loyal and keen Members all over the world would agree. The key legal documents I possess, of considerable monetary value, are held at my lawyer’s offices for security reasons, and to avoid any misuse. Javier Marias has already been offered access to see them, either personally or by his accredited representative, if he still doubts the truth. To date he has not responded to this open-hearted and generous offer. Why is that?
I suggest that you try to consider the facts of this matter, rather than offer opinions. As M.P.Shiel said (at least twice), “Opinions have no value.” In other words, I regret to inform you that Javier Marias has been grievously misled in this matter by his predecessor, Mr. Wynne-Tyson. I have ample proofs,( going back at least thirty years, in my Royal Archives, which I alone inherited from my predecessor John Roberts, when he abdicated in my favour in 1989.)of Mr Wynne-Tyson’s intransigence and its sad consequences. As a result, a highly-renowned literary genius, with respected international academic connections and a high public profile, has become embroiled in a matter of deception amounting to fraud. I suggest you should investigate for yourself the Spanish truth behind my remarks, before the entire matter of Javier Marias’ impostorship becomes even more widely known. If you think so much of him (and rightly so) it is the least you can do. I have done, and am doing, all I can in this matter, but Javier Marias and his agents and publishers appear to be taking no notice. Why is that? I trust sincerely that I have said nothing untrue or unfair above: indeed I seek the opposites. I shall look forward to a positive reply, with great interest.
In all truth, Sincerely, Leo, 5th King of Santa Maria la Redonda, in the West Indies.
