'Fascinated with people . . . and what they do'

 

“Idon't know that I am fascinated with crime. I'm fascinated with people andtheir characters and their obsessions and what they do. And these things leadto crime, but I'm much more fascinated in their minds.” –  Ruth Rendell

 

Bornin England on Feb. 17, 1930 Rendell created a brand of crime fictionthat explored the psychological background of both criminals andvictims.  In the process she became one of the world’s leading crimeand mystery writers.

 

Rendellstarted writing in her late 20s and then just never really stopped until herdeath in 2015.   During that 60-year career, she wrote hundredsof novels and short stories, 24 featuring a Chief Inspector named Wexford, and somesuccessfully adapted for television. 

 

Shealso wrote 30 stand-alone mystery and crime novels and 15 under the pseudonymBarbara Vine.  She won virtually every major mystery and crimewritingaward and was honored with the title of Baroness by the Queen.  

 

“Ihave had quite a lot of prizes,” she said, “but I don't think it makes anydifference to the ease or difficulty to the writing process.”