John Dene of Toronto: A Comedy of Whitehall

"John Dene of Toronto: A Comedy of Whitehall" by Herbert George Jenkins is a narrative that follows John Dene, an inventor from Toronto, as he goes to England with a military design that he believes will defeat German U-boats during World War I. Dene's blunt personality clashes with the traditional British officials he meets at the Admiralty. The story starts with John Dene's arrival at the Admiralty in London, where he's determined to show his ideas to the First Lord of the Admiralty. His lack of formality confuses the staff, showcasing the differences between Dene's direct Canadian style and the formal British ways. After some pushback, he gets an audience, sharing his confidence in his submarine technology. This leads to more interactions as Dene challenges the typical bureaucratic rules and shows his confidence while dealing with the complexities of British bureaucracy and military methods during wartime.