Contents

The Detective Novel

Detective Stories and Thrillers The Origins of the Detective Novel Distinguishing features of a Detective Story
Main Characters Crime Narration Setting The Detective

The Process of Detection The Detective Novel in England

The Golden Age Great Writers 10 Golden Rules

A minor popular literary form

Anno Scolastico 2004/2005

Sociological Approach
Back to Victorian Novel

Detective stories
Revolving around the figure of an omniscient detective

The Origins
Bible: Bible: Daniel 14, 11-22 Elizabethan Age: Age: Shakespeare Hamlet: Hamlet:
Hamlet = detective; his uncle = culprit; theatrical representation of the murder = the reconstruction of the murder.

Thrillers
(including spy stories as well) well) More sensational Not concentrated on the logical process of deduction (the James Bond type) type) nor on the mechanics of detection

Last Decade of the XVII cent.: Crime Stories

The hero is usually an outlaw ,an adventurer, ( rogue) rogue) who has good ideals to fight for; for; he robs the rich of their money to give it to the poor. poor. He is against the law, law, against the oppressive social system. The readers were on his side, not the law laws.

XVIII cent.: Mistery or Ghost Stories (Gothic Novel) 1840s: Edgar Allan Poe (Detective Auguste Dupin) Charles Dickens (Bleak (Bleak House) Wilkie Collins (The Moonstone) Moonstone)

Distinguishing Features of a Detective Story

A typical plot form: for example the Agatha Christie plot form consisted of gathering a number of people together in a particular place preliminary to one of them being murdered, murdered, and of showing the reasons for their presence. presence. A central character, professional or amateur, whos whos engaged primarily in the detection of crime. opponent and culminates in the

Process of detection

the framework of the manipulated action, believable. believable.

action often centres on a conflict between the hero and his climatic revelation scene. The dnouement dnouement is always carefully prepared and, within
The

A detective story provides escapism, a release, release, however temporary, temporary, from the anxieties of real life.

Ingredients of any detective story

Crime Clues
Provided by the author

Main Characters
VICTIM dealt with as an object CULPRIT he mustnt arouse either liking or pity; he
must be clever not to be discovered.

Detective
Has the task of using the clues to discover the truth throughout a rigorous process of analysis and deduction which takes up most of the story.

DETECTIVE HELPER Greek Chorus tells the events SUSPECTS all the other characters in the story, with
no exceptions. Usually FLAT CHARACTERS. No psychological study. study.

Crime Narration
The CRIME is the centre of the action; the writer can build up his story starting from the end FLASH BACK (Ex.:E.A.Poe ) (Ex.:E.A.Poe) The NARRATION can be done: done:
By the HELPER of the detective; Through the different points of view of the characters; Through the report of a trial; Through a police file; Following the actions of a wellwell-known criminal; Through the character of a culpritculprit-narrator. narrator.

Setting
The setting in which the crime takes place is not chosen at random; random; it may be a country house, a lonely beach, an international train, train, a deserted island; island; What matters is the RELATIVE ISOLATION of these places: places: NOT UNREAL, but SUFFICIENTLY DETACHED from REALITY to take the reader into a comfortable world.

The Detective - 1
Protector Protector of the society with the task of maintaining order and security. security. Clever bright subtle minded hero Eccentric odd whimsical fussy nonnon-hero He can act in two possible ways: ways: Through his mental activity only Through a physical activity as well

The Detective - 2
Private Detectives: Detectives: usually the
most successful

Police Officers: Officers: they are supported by an organization, organization, but they must follow the rules; rules; they are not free to act as they like Amateur Detectives: Detectives: they act for justices justices sake, sake, not for money

The Detective - 3
Intuitive
Their methods are based on the psychological intuition and perception of the characters Hercule Poirot, Poirot, Father Brown

The Detective Novel in England

Why did it flourish in England more than in any other countries? countries?
Pattern of the stories

Scientific
They are cold and detached, detached, interested only in the logical aspect of the things Dr. Thorndyke

Breaking of the law Re-establishment of order through DETECTION and PUNISHMENT STABLE WORLD

Realistic
In this group we usually find the police officers; they often seem a bit dull; there is nothing heroic in them; them; they do nothing sensational Maigret by Simenon

Brilliant Amateur
They are often intuitive as well; well; very inquisitive, sometimes excessively, excessively, but always very amusing Miss Marple, Marple, Ellery Queen (Frederic Dannay, Dannay, Manfred B.Lee) B.Lee) Philo Vance (Van Dine USA)

England: relatively stable class structure and political system

Golden Age
After the First World War
sto Crime ries n Moder ve ti c te e d ie r sto s

Classical Period (1890-1939)

Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes

1859 1930 1874 1936 1862 1943 1891 1978

Gilbert Keith Chesterton

Father Brown

Richard Austin Freeman

Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke

Change in the relation Criminal - justice

Rogue Crimin al

Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot Miss Jane Marple

10 golden rules
It came to be considered as a GAME between two antagonists: antagonists: the READER and the AUTHOR. So, like any other game, it had to be governed by RULES. 1- The criminal must be mentioned early on 2- Supernatural solutions are ruled out. 3- Only one secret room or passage is allowed. 4- No undiscovered poisons are permitted. 5- No Chinamen should appear in the story. 6- The detective must not be helped by lucky accidents. accidents. 7- The detective must not himself commit the crime. 8- Nor must he conceal clues from the reader. 9- The thoughts of the Watson must not be concealed. 1010- There must be special warning of the use of twins.
(Laid down by Monsignor Ronald Knox. Quoted by Julian Symons in The Detective Story in Britain Britain London, 1962)

Sociological Approach: Approach: Chesterton

Detective Novels: Novels:
the last fairy tales of the Western civilization, civilization, of a society which requires a police organization to defend its property Escapism which leads to adventure, adventure, to a calculated risk with an inevitably expected happy ending. ending.

Detectives: Detectives:
the last metropolitan paladines

Sociological Approach: Approach: Kracauer

Detective Novels: Novels:
Simplified attempt to defeat evil A fight of the rational against the irrational rational irrational

Newgate Calendar

Detectives:
Pure rationality; the representation of the ratio, devoid of feelings or emotions; emotions; only a living mind He isnt even allowed to die at the end of the story; there is nothing human left in him: he has become only an idea. Some of them, them, or some of their helpers helpers are doctors they take care of the illnesses of people as they take care of the illnesses of the society.

Newgate London Prison 11201120-1902 Everybody could read the reports of the trials held at the Old Bailey Bailey London Central Criminal Court in Newgate Street and the convictions of the criminals XIX cent.: birth of Scotland Yard

The present day London Metropolitan Police dates from 1829 and were formed by Sir Robert Peel. This is a picture of a "Peeler" as they were known, about 1850. A "Charlie". The "Charlies" were nightwatchmen, chosen by the local authorities, and existed in the 18th and early 19th centuries

Plot Summary for Witness for the Prosecution (1957) 1957)

Old Scotland Yard, the site of Metropolitan Police headquarters until 1890 When Leonard Vole is arrested for the sensational murder of a rich, rich, middlemiddle-aged widow, widow, the famous Sir Wilfrid Robarts agrees to appear on his behalf. behalf. Sir Wilfrid, Wilfrid, recovering from a nearnear-fatal heart attack, attack, is *supposed* to be on a diet of bland, bland, civil suits. suits. But the lure of the criminal courts is too much for him, him, especially when the case is so difficult: difficult: Vole's Vole's only alibi witness is his wife, wife, the calm and coldly calculating Christine Vole. Vole. Sir Wilfrid's Wilfrid's task becomes even more impossible when Christine agrees to be a witness not for the defence but for the prosecution. prosecution.

New Scotland Yard

Setting: Setting: London, London, England in the 1950s Main Characters: Leonard Vole, Vole, Christine Vole, Vole, Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Robarts, Miss Plimsoll, Plimsoll, Brogan Moore, Moore, Mayhew, Mayhew, Jane McKenzie, McKenzie, Mrs. French Marlene Dietrich.... Dietrich.... Christine Helm Vole Tyrone Power.... Power.... Leonard Stephen Vole