''Showdown'' is a romantic

adventure novel Adventure fiction is a type of fiction that usually presents danger, or gives the reader a sense of excitement. Some adventure fiction also satisfies the literary definition of romance fiction. History In the Introduction to the ''Encyclopedi ...

written by famous

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

n-born actor

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Olivia ...

(1909–1959). It was first published in 1946 by Invincible Press (Australia) and subsequently in the UK in 1952 and in paperback in 1961. Flynn draws on his experiences working in and around

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

when young to provide the background. Accounts of his sailing in New Guinea waters appear in his autobiographies, ''

Beam Ends ''Beam Ends'' is a 1937 novel by Australian actor Errol Flynn. It was his first novel although he had written non fiction for many years. See also References External linksReview of bookat Kirkus 1937 Australian novels New Guinea {{194 ...

'' (1937) and ''

My Wicked, Wicked Ways ''My Wicked, Wicked Ways'' is an autobiography written by Australian-born American actor Errol Flynn with the aid of ghostwriter Earl Conrad. It was released posthumously in 1959 and became immensely popular for its cynical tone and candid depic ...

'' (1959). The novel is dedicated to German-American artist John Decker, who painted Flynn's

portrait A portrait is a portrait painting, painting, portrait photography, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressions are predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, Personality type ...

, translated in the same year to Spanish as ''Un drama en los Mares del Sur'' (Renacimiento, 1946).

Background

The novel was originally called ''One Man in His Time'' and then ''Charlie Bow Tie Proceeds''. While writing it he was also reported to be working on another book, a novel about the nephew of Montezuma fighting the Conquistadores, called ''Cuautenos''.DRAMA AND FILM: Warners May Produce Two Novels by Flynn Cagney's Forthcoming Picture Titled 'Johnny Come Lately;' Asther Assigned Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 1 May 1943: 7.

References

1946 Australian novels Novels set in New Guinea {{1940s-adventure-novel-stub