Book Description
Many aspects of British detective fiction are intriguingly different from the American detective fiction. And, confusingly, many of the British women detectives who have made it to American television are far from typical of the latest women detectives. This work is a study of British detective fiction with female protagonists written by women. Authors included are P.D. James, Jennie Melville, Liza Cody, Val McDermid, Joan Smith, and Susan Moody. Special attention is paid to the evolution of the British female sleuth from the 1960s to the year 2000, particularly the 1980s, and how this shaped and altered detective fiction. Also discussed is the effect of the British judicial system and gun laws on detective fiction and real life, the types of crimes women detectives usually investigate, why certain directions have been taken and which ones may be taken in the future, issues being raised by the authors, and new women authors of detective fiction with female protagonists.
About the Author
An assistant professor of writing and linguistics at Georgia Southern University, Mary Hadley lives in Statesboro, Georgia.
British Women Mystery Writers: Six Authors of Detective Fiction with Female Sleuths FROM THE PUBLISHER
"The detective fiction of British female authors differs interestingly from that of their American sister scribes. The British women detective characters who have become familiar to American audiences offer only a glimpse into what riches the genre truly holds." "This work looks at British detective fiction with female protagonists written by women. Major figures P.D. James, Jennie Melville, Liza Cody, Val McDermid, Joan Smith, and Susan Moody are covered, along with five promising new writers. Special attention is paid to how the British female sleuth evolved from the 1960s to the present, and how that evolution shaped all detective fiction." Other topics include the effect of the British judicial system and gun laws on fiction and real life; the types of crimes women detectives usually investigate; the directions detective fiction has followed in the past and is likely to take in the future; and the societal issues the authors raise in their fiction.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
With an emphasis on the evolution of the British female sleuth from the 1960s to 2000, Hadley (writing and linguistics, Georgia Southern U.) traces how six authors' attitudes, intentions, and motives have been affected by feminism and societal changes. She looks, too, at how the work of the authorsP.D. James, Jennie Melville, Liza Cody, Val McDermid, Joan Smith, and Susan Moodydiffers from that of their US counterparts and how they have created entirely new types of female protagonists. A final chapter on "new voices" assesses the work of four promising mystery writers of the next generation. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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