City and Shore: The Function of Setting in the British Mystery

by Gillian Mary Hanson

Certain settings have long been a common element in British mystery and detective fiction: the quaint village; the country manor; the seaside resort; the streets of London. More than simply providing background, physical setting--in particular the city of London and the British seashore--takes on an added dimension, in a sense becoming a player in the mysteries, one that symbolizes, intensifies, and illuminates aspects of the British mystery novel. The first section examines 18 British mystery novels set in the city of London; the second covers 15 novels set by the sea. The novels span the twentieth century; among the authors whose works are included are Agatha Christie, Graham Greene, G.K. Chesterton and P.D. James. The book includes a short biography and listing of primary works for the authors covered, and appendices offer suggested fiction utilizing the two settings, and critical nonfiction covering the genre.

203 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2004

Reviews

[Šári · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas but the author often arrives to odd conclusions that I didn't find persuasive. One of those originally was her incorporation of Bakhtin's carnivalesque, but having finished reading, I do believe she's on to something. Decidedly the worst part of the book was the editing. Why on earth, McFarland, was this allowed to go to print with so many mistakes and typos?

[Jerry]

review text for 1344

[R.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is well written, scholarly, in fact. It is a useful tool for those seeking to write about what makes a mystery/suspense good, or for those who want to do serious research about novel writing. All references in the book are well-documented. And there are a lot of references. A good tool for writers of mystery/suspense.