The golden age of murder, the mystery of the writers who invented the modern detective story, Martin Edwards
Type
Label
The golden age of murder, the mystery of the writers who invented the modern detective story, Martin Edwards
Language
eng
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 449-457) and indexes
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
Literary Form
non fiction
Main title
The golden age of murder
Nature of contents
bibliography
Oclc number
889165831
Responsibility statement
Martin Edwards
Sub title
the mystery of the writers who invented the modern detective story
Summary
"A real-life detective story, investigating how Agatha Christie and colleagues in a mysterious literary club transformed crime fiction, writing books casting new light on unsolved murders whilst hiding clues to their authors' darkest secrets."--Publisher's description
Table Of Contents
Part one: the unusual suspects. The ritual in the dark ; A bitter sin ; Conversations about a hanged woman ; A Bolshevik soul in a Fabian muzzle ; Wearing their criminological spurs ; The art of self-tormenting -- Part two: the rules of the game. Setting a good example to the Mafia ; The Fungus-story and the meaning of life ; Wistful plans for killing off wives ; The least likely person ; The best advertisement in the world -- Part three: looking to escape. "Human life's the cheapest thing there is" ; Echoes of war ; Murder, transvestism and suicide during a trapeze act ; A severed head in a fish-bag ; "Have you hear of sexual perversions?" ; Clearing up the mess ; What it means to be stuck for money ; Neglecting Demosthenes in favour of Freud -- Part four: taking on the police. Playing games with Scotland Yard ; Why was the shift put in the boiler-hole? ; Trent's very last case ; A coffin entombed in a crypt of granite -- Part five: justifying murder. Knives engraved with "Blood and honour" ; Touching with a fingertip the fringe of great events ; Collecting murderers ; No judge or jury but my own conscience -- Part six: the end game. Playing the grandest game in the world ; The work of a pestilential creature ; Frank to the point of indecency ; Shocked by the brethren -- Part seven: unravelling the mysteries. Murder goes on forever