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

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 ...
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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.

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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
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