City and Shore: The Function of Setting in the British Mystery

Be the first to write a review

Overview

Certain settings have long been a common element in British mystery and detective fiction: the quaint village; the country manor; the seaside resort; the streets of London. More than simply providing background, physical setting-in particular the city of London and the British seashore-takes on an added dimension, in a sense becoming a player in the mysteries, one that symbolizes, intensifies, and illuminates aspects of the British mystery ...
See more details below
Paperback
$32.00
BN.com price
Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (4) from $29.99   
  • New (2) from $40.50   
  • Used (2) from $29.99   
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Certain settings have long been a common element in British mystery and detective fiction: the quaint village; the country manor; the seaside resort; the streets of London. More than simply providing background, physical setting-in particular the city of London and the British seashore-takes on an added dimension, in a sense becoming a player in the mysteries, one that symbolizes, intensifies, and illuminates aspects of the British mystery novel.

The first section examines 18 British mystery novels set in the city of London; the second covers 15 novels set by the sea. The novels span the twentieth century; among the authors whose works are included are Agatha Christie, Graham Greene, G.K. Chesterton and P.D. James. The book includes a short biography and listing of primary works for the authors covered, and appendices offer suggested fiction utilizing the two settings, and critical nonfiction covering the genre.

About the Author
Gillian Mary Hanson is a native of Sussex, England and teaches English at the University of Houston Downtown. She is also the author of a number of books of literary criticism, and has written a mystery novel series set on the Texas Gulf Coast. She lives in Texas.

Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780786418442
  • Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
  • Publication date: 5/28/2004
  • Pages: 203
  • Product dimensions: 5.90 (w) x 9.00 (h) x 0.60 (d)

Table of Contents

Pt. 1 The city 11
The old man in the corner (1901-1905) by Emma Orczy 13
The club of queer trades (1905) by G. K. Chesterton 18
The secret agent (1907) by Joseph Conrad 24
The man who was Thursday (1908) by G. K. Chesterton 28
The charing cross mystery (1923) by J. S. Fletcher 35
Strong poison (1930) by Dorothy Sayers 39
Hangover square (1942) by Patrick Hamilton 43
The ministry of fear (1943) by Graham Greene 47
Murder by matchlight (1945) by E. C. R. Lorac 54
Bodies in a bookshop (1946) by R. T. Campbell 58
More work for the undertaker (1949) by Margery Allingham 63
The tiger in the smoke (1952) by Margery Allingham 69
Tether's end (1958) by Margery Allingham 75
The port of London murders (1958) by Josephine Bell 79
At Bertram's hotel (1965) by Agatha Christie 86
The glass cage (1966) by Colin Wilson 90
Inspector Ghote hunts the peacock (1968) by H. R. F. Keating 95
Black out (1995) by John Lawton 100
Pt. 2 The shore 105
The blotting book (1908) by E. F. Benson 107
Death walks in Eastrepps (1931) by Francis Beeding 111
The saltmarsh murders (1932) by Gladys Mitchell 116
Have his carcass (1932) by Dorothy Sayers, The boomerang clue (1933) by Agatha Christie, and A shilling for candles (1936) by Josephine Tey 120
Brighton rock (1938) by Graham Greene 127
N or M? (1941) by Agatha Christie 133
Murder in retrospect (1941) by Agatha Christie 137
The west pier (1951) by Patrick Hamilton 139
The singing sands (1953) by Josephine Tey 143
Unnatural causes (1967) by P. D. James 146
Mad Hatter's holiday (1973) by Peter Lovesey 150
The pier (1986) by Raynor Heppenstall 158
Devices and desires (1990) by P. D. James 162
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)