The Classic Era of Crime Fiction

by Peter Haining

This lavishly illustrated history features rare covers and classic illustrations, revealing how crucial artists were to establishing the identity and popularity of crime fiction. During its “classic era”—from 1850 to 1950—a variety of writers developed every important element of the the police detective, the professional sleuth, the hard-boiled private eye, the secret agent, and of course, the criminal masterminds, crooks, and gangsters. From Sherlock Holmes and James Bond to Edgar Allan Poe and Joseph Conrad, this book explores an exciting cultural history. Crime enthusiasts can here see how famous (and sometimes infamous) works of crime fiction originally looked, and how unknown writers and illustrators became responsible for one of the cornerstones of popular culture.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Peter Alexander Haining was an English journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk. Born in Enfield, Middlesex, he began his career as a reporter in Essex and then moved to London where he worked on a trade magazine before joining the publishing house of New English Library.

Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.

In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).

He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.

Reviews

[Jack Tripper]

This makes for a good coffee table-type book, and covers mystery and crime fiction from the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries, but you're not going to get too much detail on individual writers or books. It does bring some attention to some lesser known private eye, hardboiled, and noir writers, but the main reason for a collector like myself to own this would be for all the vintage paperback cover art within, all of which are nice, clear images. This book caused me to add about two dozen books to my already ridiculous "must-own" list.

There is a lot of good info on the pulp magazine era (and there are some covers of those that are just as evocative as the Fawcett Gold Medal books but probably out of my price range), as well as spy novels, penny dreadfuls, gangster novels, and pre-hardboiled private eye novels, with a large chapter on Sherlock Holmes. There's also a really cool section on the popular "juvenile-delinquent" genre of the 50s which, weirdly, contains the only (brief) mention of noir writer Day Keene.

Overall, this provides a good general overview of the crime and mystery genres, with some gorgeously reproduced artwork. I only wish that some of the images were a little larger, and that there were more pictures comparing various editions, but I'd sacrifice that if it meant more informative content. Essential for vintage paperback collectors, as well as for those interested in a no-frills history of the genre.

4.0 Stars

[Nikki in Niagara]

The history of crime fiction from the Victorian gothic mystery to the espionage of the Cold War. A truly entertaining and informational coffee table book told through a pleasant narrative that reads like stimulating conversation. I was most interested in the Victorian penny dreadful to the hard-boiled crime of the forties. Highly recommended to readers of the golden age of crime and mystery.

[Brad McKenna]

It was a fun to read about the creation and evolution of crime fiction. I added a bunch of books to my list. I even learned stuff! I think out Noir was just another name for hard-boiled detective fiction. It's not. It's the next, more violent, generation of it.

I also enjoy seeing old-timey book covers that were peppered throughout.

[Williwaw]

In addition to presenting a detailed history of crime and detective fiction, this book is generously illustrated with full-color reproductions of covers and illustrations from old magazines, pamphlets, and vintage paperbacks.

I'm particularly interested in crime noir. What got me started was the Library of America's 2-volume set. There are several chapters in Haining's book which provide valuable context for novels included in the Library of America set. So when I saw this book at a local shop, a mere 30-second flip-through was all it took for me to know that this was an indispensable volume.

I have only read the first chapter, so I'm probably getting ahead of myself as far as the substantive content. The presentation of the covers and art work is so superb, however, that I'll grant four stars on that basis alone.

[Tosh]

Basically this covers late 19th Century to the cold war - and what I really like are the many illustrations of the eras that are covered in this book. Meaning book covers. I am obsessed with books that deal with book covers. One reason is because I want my publication (TamTam Books) to be up there with the greats - and having Tom Recchion doing my book design I think it is already up there.

Nevertheless this is an excellent source for book cover images as well as a history of the publication of crime fiction. Pretty essential if you don't mind me saying so.

[Rick Patterson]

Reference books are not usually this entertaining. The author, who is an admitted addict of the genre, has put together an impressive--and concise, considering the range and timespan he undertakes--analysis of crime and spy and thriller fiction that keeps the reader engaged while being informed.

[Fenixbird SandS]

Sherlock Holmes to James Bond...Poe to Conrad...