When Harriet Vane attends her Oxford reunion, known as the "Gaudy," the prim academic setting is haunted by a rash of bizarre pranks: scrawled obse...
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Oct 29, 2011
Sparrow
rated it: 
A couple of years ago I thought (as a gesture to God saying something like, “Hey, we don’t disagree about everything and anyway what do I know about life?”) that I would start going to a certain church where the pastor was an ex-football star. When I say it now it doesn’t sound like a very good idea, but I did a lot of things at that time that sound stupid now. Sometimes it’s better to go with what you know, even if it’s very little. I say all of this because the ultimate falling-out I had wi
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15 comments
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Jun 08, 2008
Elizabeth
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Dorothy Sayers, where have you been all my life? There is nothing better than a "genre" book that takes your brain on a serious ride without compromising the genre. Having read many books by British women from the twenties and thirties, it was fascinating to see how Sayers was able to incorporate discussions about feminism, women's education, women's community, politics, morality, and violence. Virginia Woolf did this too, but Gaudy Nights is a lot more fun to read than A Room of One's Own
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11 comments
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(20 people liked it)
May 27, 2010
David
rated it:
What is the deal with lady detective fiction writers? Why create a brilliant, memorable central female protagonist, totally capable of bringing teh awesome, only to undermine her by having her mope around after some overbred aristocratic prat? Case in point: that whole Havers-Linley dynamic would be infinitely healthier had detective Havers given pompous-assed golden boy Linley a good kick in the yarbles the very first time he tried to pull the whole tired aristo-boy superiority trick to put her
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6 comments
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(12 people liked it)
Dec 16, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Are you in love with dashing, fastidious, brilliant, Bach-performing, manuscript-collecting, sonnet-writing, puzzle-solving, Dickens-quoting, cricket-playing, fabulously wealthy, well-traveled, aristocratic detectives? Then this is the book for you...
Although this is really the third book in the Harriet Vane/Lord Peter Wimsey series (after Strong Poison and Have His Carcase), it is my favorite. Anyone who has been to Oxford will appreciate the detailed descriptions. Anyone who has ev More...
Although this is really the third book in the Harriet Vane/Lord Peter Wimsey series (after Strong Poison and Have His Carcase), it is my favorite. Anyone who has been to Oxford will appreciate the detailed descriptions. Anyone who has ev More...
Dec 28, 2008
Lightreads
rated it:
I hesitate to call this ‘a Lord Peter book.’ Peter is here, certainly, though in lesser proportion than you might expect, considering he changes in quiet but extraordinary ways. But this book is rightly and greatly Harriet Vane’s, as she returns to the Oxford college of her education to do some academic work, write her next novel, and investigate some nasty disturbances around the college.
Oh. For Oxford alone, which I love, I could love this book. Luckily, however, there are any numb More...
Oh. For Oxford alone, which I love, I could love this book. Luckily, however, there are any numb More...
Jun 15, 2008
Dfordoom
rated it:
Oxford has provided the background to many detective stories, and it’s a great setting for a crime novel. What interesting about Gaudy Night is that Sayers doesn’t just use it as background - the human and professional dramas afflicting the women of Shrewsbury College are the real meat of the book. You could argue that the detective story in this case is merely the background detail! Sayers is attempting something quite ambitious for 1936 - this is a detective story, a love story, and a serious
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 17, 2009
Anne
rated it:
This is the 2nd Dorothy Sayers book I have read and I must say I am completely in love with her writing. On top of the intriguing plot which is fun to follow, you are treated to witty dialogue, some fascinating relationships between all kinds of people, and best of all, in this book, some of the most bitingly real observations about the value of work and marriage, and about academia vs the 'real world'. I can't gush enough about this author, and I am guessing this will be my favorite book becaus
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(2 people liked it)
Apr 05, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
One of my favorite mystery writers. Intriguing stories with rich characters - Harriet Vane and Lord PEter Wimsey.
8 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Jan 28, 2012
Themis-Athena
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 16, 2008
The very best of the Wimsey books! When a nasty, anonymous note is slipped into the sleeve of Harriet Vane's gown when she attends the Shrewsbury College Gaudy, she thinks it is a reference to her personal history. But it soon turns out that the animus is directed at the College, and Vane is asked to investigate. In the course of so doing, she begins to wonder if she should return to the scholarly life.
Sayers' great strength as a mystery writer, particularly apparent in the Wimsey-Van More...
Sayers' great strength as a mystery writer, particularly apparent in the Wimsey-Van More...
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Sep 08, 2010
Margaret
rated it:
Gaudy Night is easily my favorite of Dorothy L. Sayers's beloved series of Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. It's one of the last in the series and thus hard to talk about without spoiling earlier books, as it deals with the resolution of the relationship between Lord Peter and Harriet Vane, the mystery writer first introduced in Strong Poison and seen again in Have His Carcase. (If you've read no Sayers, please read at least those two books before reading Gaudy Night, as otherwise you'll be missing
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Jan 17, 2008
Samantha
rated it:
I found Dorothy Sayers and her Wonderful Wimsey only about 2 years ago and I spent a week reading all of the books with Harriet Lane, because as you see I am SUCH a romantic. This of course is the best of the books for that particular interest because here we have some real romance combined with the inevitable mystery. In this book Harriet comes alive to us and it is through her eyes we learn about her adoring Sir Peter and just when it should all far apart...
I love Dorothy Sayer's w More...
I love Dorothy Sayer's w More...
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Apr 30, 2007
Karen
rated it:
Wow. I don't know if anyone today could write an effective mystery set against the backdrop of feminism and Oxford University in the 1930s without it seeming trite and just plain silly but Dorothy L. Sayers certainly can. Someone is playing increasingly dangerous tricks against the women who have recently been allowed into Oxford and the various opinions of the time, including that of Sayers (who was one of the first women to receive a degree from Oxford) are fascinating. Every opinion from wome
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Sep 22, 2007
Telesilla
rated it:
This is mystery that is more about intellect, love and academia than it is about the mystery itself, but that hardly matters. Although Sayers freely admitted that Harriet Vane was a self-insert, she's hardly a Mary Sue, and watching her try to figure out how to get out of the ruts--both emotional and intellectual--she's been stuck in ever since being tried for the murder of her lover and subsequently saved by Lord Peter Wimsey is both fascinating and downright inspirational.
The se More...
The se More...
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Nov 16, 2007
Heather
rated it: 
A detective novel but written in a more literary manner than most. Written in the 1930s, it makes passing reference to eugenics and events in Germany in a non-judgmental manner -- it's obvious that many from the educated class of the time were unabashed Darwinists and took it to the nth degree. Also of interest is the view that people from different classes had different qualities (a scholar marrying his landlady's daughter is viewed as a complete disaster). The untranslated Latin and Greek quot
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Sep 21, 2011
Maura
rated it:
yet another re-read -- i was in a lousy mood, and needing something completely gripping -- something that would pull my into its world and not leave me half thinking about mine. and, for me, this book does exactly that. it's only my 2nd reading but ever since kcobweb used it to introduce me to the Wimsey series ages ago, it's been on my favorites list. it's got Oxford (one of my homes away from home) as a setting, it's got more Harriet than Peter, it's got logic warring with emotion -- what in t
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Aug 05, 2011
I'm probably not the right person to review this book, since I generally hate mysteries ( usually there's too much uninteresting detail to get through in order to arrive at an ending that's often unworthy.) This book came so highly recommended, though, that I had to give it a try. Parts of the book are truly excellent. I loved the main character, Harriet Vane. It's rare to read about an intellectual woman who struggles to find balance, and it to find such a character, written so well in th
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Dec 22, 2008
Angela
rated it:
Gaudy Night, the latest of my forays into the redoubtable Peter Wimsey series, is definitely the most substantial of all the ones I've read--and it's really more of a Harriet Vane tale than a Peter Wimsey one, since Peter doesn't really come on camera until the last third of the book. But I've got to say, with this novel Harriet Vane is now well and thoroughly enshrined as Best Handled Mary Sue in a Series Ever in my brain. ;) It is, after all, not many a Mary Sue that not only does not swoop in
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Nov 13, 2011
Deanna
rated it:
A reread.
One of my favorite love stories, even if most of the romance isn't in this book, but others. One of the things I like about romantic fiction, wherever it crops up, is that it often starts out with the main character thinking that love is on one hand, and some other important value is on the other, and that in order to really commit to being in love, you have to give up this other thing. Then, of course, the main character comes to realize that no, that wasn't what was bein More...
One of my favorite love stories, even if most of the romance isn't in this book, but others. One of the things I like about romantic fiction, wherever it crops up, is that it often starts out with the main character thinking that love is on one hand, and some other important value is on the other, and that in order to really commit to being in love, you have to give up this other thing. Then, of course, the main character comes to realize that no, that wasn't what was bein More...
Jul 31, 2011
A book of philosophy disguising itself as a crime novel, this is Sayers at her most verbose and political. Harriet Vane is requested by her old college to investigate an outbreak of poison pen letters. Along the way there are lengthy musings about the role of women in society, and Harriet finds her feelings towards Lord Peter strengthening. It's a great third part to the Wimsey/Vane relationship, and the conclusion is beautifully understated. This is a fine novel, and Harriet Vane is one of Saye
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Jul 23, 2011
Harmonybites
rated it:
This was the first book I ever read by Sayers. Having read it for the second time after reading previous Wimsey novels such as the first, Whose Body?, and Murder Must Advertise, I only appreciate this one the more. This is the third book with Harriet Vane, Lord Peter Wimsey's romantic interest, and indeed Gaudy Night is more centered on her, with Wimsey, although often on her mind, not appearing until over half-way through the book. Although this is the strongest, I would recommend reading at le
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Jun 20, 2010
Elly
rated it:
This wasn't the first Dorothy L Sayers book I read; it might have been Clouds of Witness followed by The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. From there I read anything written by her that I could get my hands on, but it was actually looking into her quotations, authors and places she mentioned which opened up a whole new world of learning for me. In which world would I have even heard of the word 'incunabula'? English not being my mother tongue, I hadn't heard of many of the authors Lord Peter
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Apr 25, 2010
Rob
rated it:
Let me say first that if you're looking for a 'traditional' Lord Peter Wimsey detective novel, you're out of luck with Gaudy Night: the mystery is in the end nothing more than a skeleton to support the true goal of this book, something upon which its muscles can flex to take you where Sayers wishes. More than that, the title on the copy I read was misleading. It claimed Gaudy Night was A Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery with Harriet Vane. In fact, it's a Harriet Vane novel, not a mystery, and Wimsey on
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Apr 13, 2010
Mike
rated it:
I'm not sure I can do justice to this book in my review -- at least not without taking more time for analysis, which I don't have time to do right now -- but here are some scattered thoughts.
I definitely liked it. But it's also definitely different.
First of all, it's from a completely different era of murder mystery. Nor is it the typical mystery plot line. And it's actually a surprisingly self-reflective book, centering in large part around the relationship of Harriet More...
I definitely liked it. But it's also definitely different.
First of all, it's from a completely different era of murder mystery. Nor is it the typical mystery plot line. And it's actually a surprisingly self-reflective book, centering in large part around the relationship of Harriet More...
Feb 27, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
Dorothy Sayers is a new favorite writer! This isn't just a mystery; it's full of social commentary and personal reflection. Wonderful development of Harriet Vane's character. You have to read carefully not to miss much of the richness of this book. Sayer's shrewd observations of human nature give me something to reflect on: I am sure we have all known characters like hers. Some notable quotes:
(Harriet Vane to an undergrad) : “If you must take your drink like a man, the least you More...
(Harriet Vane to an undergrad) : “If you must take your drink like a man, the least you More...
Dec 15, 2009
Lizz
rated it:
Thanks to Susann Rutledge who heartily recommended Lord Peter Wimsey to me at a Betsy-Tacy event, specifically this one. I'm not much of a mystery reader (I hate having to pay attention to details and ponder over whether they are red herrings or the real deal)but Susann convinced me to give it a try. Thank you, m'dear.
Rich in detail about Britain's class and gender tensions, "Gaudy Night" tells tales of forbidden love, the glass ceiling, the inner circle of academia and the More...
Rich in detail about Britain's class and gender tensions, "Gaudy Night" tells tales of forbidden love, the glass ceiling, the inner circle of academia and the More...
Nov 13, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Okay, Okay, I know this is considered Ms Sayers' worst Whimsey book. I LIKED IT! For anyone else who has the same plebian tastes, there's a lot of delightful nonsense in here, like Whimsey giving his beloved Vane a leather dog collar to protect her from being choked, and that entertaining scene where he spends the afternoon choking her in a field. That aside, there are some interesting ideas in here about that deal with fears that Ms Sayers likely picked up in her college days at Oxford (and tra
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Apr 27, 2009
Gill
rated it:
Gaudy Night is a must-read for feminist readers of detective fiction and of course for fans of Lord Peter Wimsey.
This could have been just a 2 star read for me. What saved it was the return of Harriet Vane - who even today, some 70+ years later, seems a thoroughly modern woman - and learning more of her background.
A lot of the Oxford University customs and references were lost on me, as were many of the philosophical and cultural allusions.
I have since found a ver More...
This could have been just a 2 star read for me. What saved it was the return of Harriet Vane - who even today, some 70+ years later, seems a thoroughly modern woman - and learning more of her background.
A lot of the Oxford University customs and references were lost on me, as were many of the philosophical and cultural allusions.
I have since found a ver More...
Jul 01, 2007
Joy
rated it:
Looking back, I can recognize the flaws in this book, especially when it comes to matters of class, but for the most part I am not rational about it. So many parts of this book are forever lodged in my hindbrain--Peter sleeping then waking, the chess set, the dog collar, all those exchanges between Harriet and Peter, St. George, the college. It's a rare book that can make me wholeheartedly fall in love with a fictional pairing the way that Gaudy Night makes me adore Wimsey-Vane.
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