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11-19-2003, 07:17 PM | #1 |
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Dorothy Sayers
This is a new thread dedicated to Dorothy Sayers and the books she wrote, where we can discuss specifically but not limited to those with the Lord Peter Wimsey (and Harriet Vane).
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Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries. Last edited by Mercutio : 04-26-2004 at 05:21 PM. |
11-19-2003, 07:27 PM | #2 |
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If you haven't read any of these books, I highly recommend them. They are murder mysteries that take place in the beginning of the 20th century in, usually, England. The main character, Lord Peter Wimsey, and his butler Bunter are absolutely fabulous. In my opinion, Sayer's best book was the Nine Tailors and the longest (but still extremely good) was Gaudy Night. If you do decide to read these, you should start with Whose Body or The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. They may not be quite like the Nine Tailors, but that one is pretty hard and complicated reading. Try to read those containing Harriet Vane in order beginning with Strong Poison, then Gaudy Night, and then Busman's Honeymoon. There is another involving her, Have his Carcase that can be read anytime after Strong Poison.
An excellent website that lists the books chronologically and gives brief reviews on all of them is: http://www.spies.com/~rawdon/books/mystery/sayers.html Hope someone takes up on this idea! Mercutio
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Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries. |
11-20-2003, 08:39 PM | #3 |
Hobbit
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I've read all of the Lord Peter books and really enjoyed them. I think they are some of the best mysteries that I've ever read, and I'm sure that I'll reread them in the future.
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11-22-2003, 11:03 PM | #4 |
Elf Lord
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I've skimmed a few of the Peter Whimsey's, but my main knowledge of them is a fairly old adaptation shown on PBS. How would those who know DS better compare her work to Agatha Christie's, since I believe they wrote/and set their tales in about the same time period? I've liked AC since I had to read "Ten Little Indians" in highschool. Also, I really like the movie adaptation "Death on the Nile."
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11-24-2003, 01:20 AM | #5 |
Hobbit
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I like both Agatha Christie's and Dorothy Sayers' works. Agatha Christe's works have a wider following, but I think Sayers' work is of a higher literary quality. I think that it is better written and more interesting to read.
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11-28-2003, 10:24 PM | #6 |
Elf Lord
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Mercutio, thank you for the link.
I'm a Sayers fan from waaay back. Was introduced to her books in a Christian Lit class my sophomore year in college. We also read some CS Lewis, Tolkien and Williams. Apparently, though not an "official" Inkling, she was on the periphery of the group. The Lord Peter Wimsey books are on my short list of stories I reread every year or so. I especially like the Wimsey/Vane books showing the development of a relationship between 2 intelligent and honest adults. Gaudy Night and Busman's Honeymoon are the 2 I like best, but all of the books are definitely worth reading. I like Agatha Christie also, but more for the mystery. Sayers has both the mystery and character development. |
11-30-2003, 08:15 PM | #7 |
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What else did you read in Christian Lit? Sounds like an interesting class. Was this at a Christian college? I've read a few articles on the Inklings; haven't read all of them, though. If you want i can direct you to a bunch of really good articles on J.R.R. Tolkien and/or Lord of the Rings written from a Christian perspective about Christian ideas. No matter what people try to say, LoTR is definitley Christian.
Mercutio
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Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries. |
11-30-2003, 08:34 PM | #8 |
Elf Lord
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originally posted by Mercutio
I've read a few articles on the Inklings; haven't read all of them, though. If you want i can direct you to a bunch of really good articles on J.R.R. Tolkien and/or Lord of the Rings written from a Christian perspective about Christian ideas. No matter what people try to say, LoTR is definitley Christian. _____________________________________- There's a biography of the Inklings by Humphrey Carpenter, cleverly titled The Inklings but it may be out of print. I have a paperback copy printed 1978. Also, if you haven't read it, there's a brief account in Humphrey Carpenter's Tolkien biography of his part in bringing CSL back to Christianity. Also, I've always thought there was something hopeful, sad, touching, etc. about the way an Ulster Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Anglican (I think Charles Williams was) interacted, were sympathetic, were good friends, but never seemed able to be entirely on the same wavelength.
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Democrat for Kerry-Edwards! Take Back America Aure entuluva! Last edited by Tuor of Gondolin : 11-30-2003 at 08:40 PM. |
12-01-2003, 07:45 PM | #9 |
Elf Lord
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Mercutio, the class was at a Christian college but I honestly can't remember what else we read. It was about 30 years ago.
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12-12-2003, 03:47 PM | #10 |
Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth
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I love all of the Lord Peter novels, not so much the short stories. My absolute fave is Busman's Honeymoon, which I have read about 20+ times, with Gaudy Night second. Boy was I shocked when I read in Tolkien's Letters that he disliked DLS and Gaudy Night both.
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12-15-2003, 11:54 PM | #11 |
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How could Tolkien dislike Sayers? Wasn't she sort of an honorary Inkling (joined them on occassion to discuss whatever they discussed...)
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Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries. |
12-16-2003, 01:09 PM | #12 | |
Elf Lord
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Originally posted by Mercutio
How could Tolkien dislike Sayers? Wasn't she sort of an honorary Inkling (joined them on occassion to discuss whatever they discussed...) _________________________________________ He didn't dislike her. He liked the first Peter Whimsey's but not the later ones, esp. Gaudy Night. As for the Inklings: Quote:
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12-16-2003, 01:13 PM | #13 |
Elf Lord
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(post mistakenly repeated, so repeat mesage was deleted).
(tried deleting post, but "Delete Post" wouldn't work.)
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Democrat for Kerry-Edwards! Take Back America Aure entuluva! Last edited by Tuor of Gondolin : 12-16-2003 at 01:23 PM. |
04-26-2004, 05:21 PM | #14 | |
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Quote:
Sayer's works are more "deep", for lack of a better term...oh wait....Complex I'd say. I also like better that Sayer's books all focus almost all on what Lord Peter Wimsey is doing, seeing, hearing, etc, where Christe's jump around from one person to another.
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Mike nodded. A sombre nod. The nod Napoleon might have given if somebody had met him in 1812 and said, "So, you're back from Moscow, eh?". Interested in C.S. Lewis? Visit the forum dedicated to one of Tolkien's greatest contemporaries. |
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04-27-2004, 12:21 AM | #15 |
Word Santa Claus
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I would say hands down that I enjoy Sayers much more than Christie... and that Sayers' mysteries are much more intriguing (and Lord Peter is sooo well developed). For some reason, against my will I keep coming back to Have His Carcass as favorite... even though it gave me nightmares as a younger child.
Harriet Vane is excellent too, but I think Lord Peter is (to use an anachronism for Sayers' time) da bomb.
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05-02-2004, 11:30 PM | #16 | |
Elven Warrior
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Quote:
While we're on the subject of detective fiction contemporary with Sayers.....anyone here read any Margery Allingham? And what is your favorite Wimsey novel? (Someone already said Have His Carcass) Forkbeard |
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05-11-2004, 07:26 PM | #17 |
Elf Lord
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I've started rereading the Wimsey/Vane books and am having a great time. Finished Strong Poison and Have His Carcase last week and am now starting on Gaudy Night. All this working up to Busman's Honeymooon which is my favorite of the four. I alwys enjoy reading the Dowager Duchess' diary entries and correspondence at the beginning. And the transition from courtship to married life is well-developed and seems realistic for this couple.
A few weeks back I was at the library and found 2 more books with Peter and Harriet. Apparently there was an unfinished manuscript which was competed by Jill Paton Walsh. And then she went on by herself and wrote another in the style of Sayers. The first was Thrones, Dominations and the second was A Presumption of Death. I liked them both very much and thought she captured the style quite well, especially the further development of Peter's and Harriet's emotional relationship. But I'm not a very careful reader. If anyone else has read them, I'd be interested in your thoughts. Forkbeard, I've not heard of Margery Allingham but will look her books up. |
05-12-2004, 12:20 AM | #18 |
Elven Warrior
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Re: The Paton bits...I haven't read the second one, but I did read her "completion" of Thrones, Dominations. It was ok, in my opinion. Naturally the break between where Sayers left off and Paton begins is shattering, but ah well. It was still good to have those beloved characters one more time........
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05-12-2004, 12:50 AM | #19 |
Word Santa Claus
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I liked Thrones, Dominations a lot - didn't notice quite as sharp a Sayers/Walsh division. Which is partly my swift reading of it (just ate it up). It's well worth reading though.
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05-12-2004, 04:29 PM | #20 |
Elf Lord
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I "ate" them up too! And I agree, it was good to have the characters back.
Planning to add them to my Sayers collection and when I do I'll have more time for a leisurely reading. |