To judge by the worldwide success of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie's Poirot, it is not only the Anglo-Saxons who have an appetite for mystery and mayhem. Talking about the craft of detective writing and sharing her personal thoughts and observations on one of the most popular and enduring forms of literature, P.D. James examines the challenges, achievements and potential of a genre which has fascinated her for more than fifty years as a novelist. From the tenant of 221b Baker Street to the Village Priest from Cubhole in Essex, from the Golden Age of detective writing between the wars to the achievements of the present and a glimpse at the future, P.D. James explores the metamorphosis of a genre which has gripped and entertained the popular imagination like no other type of novel. Written by the author widely regarded as the queen of the detective novel, this book is sure to appeal to all aficionados of crime fiction.

About the Author
P.D. James was awarded the OBE in 1983 and became a life peer in 1991. She has won numerous awards for crime writing including the Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award and The National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Literature

Reviews
Elegant and thoughtful ... It is PD James's longevity, as well as her serene intelligence, that makes this book especially noteworthy and enjoyable ... If you want to extend you own reading, discover new authors or clarify your thoughts, this is an excellent way to do so. -- Amanda Craig



Book Information
ISBN 9781851243099
Author P. D. James
Format Hardback
Page Count 160
Imprint Bodleian Library
Publisher Bodleian Library
Weight(grams) 310g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 15mm