This was my first Dorothy L. Sayers, and for the first third of the book I thought it might well be my last. Lord Peter Wimsey's daffy monologues irritated rather than charmed, the archness of the narrative annoyed me, the little self-referential footnotes got on my nerves. But as I reached the middle section of the book it started to hook me in. The novel - and the characters - seemed to genuinely care about the unfortunate murder victims; the narrative suddenly fleshed out Lord Peter, his valet Bunter, and the senior policeman Parker, giving them three-dimensional characters instead of vaguely throwing literary stereotypes onto the page; the atmosphere of 1920s London became breathable. I also came to enjoy Sayers's style: the scene where a woman must try to identify her husband after he has been fairly thoroughly dissected in an anatomy lab, told almost entirely through dialogue, was particularly powerful.
The plotting is not terribly sophisticated, and it is fairly obvious from the early stages who the murderer is; the tension is built in the race to prove his guilt before he realises that discovery is imminent. Sayers is very good at showing how many people are touched by the effects of a crime, how its impact radiates out through many layers of society. I finished this book looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
This was also the first book I'd read on an e-reader. A Kobo has come into my possession, and as yet I'm not entirely sure about it, although it is hugely convenient for travelling. I missed the sensation of holding the book in my hands, and the Kobo didn't turn the pages quickly enough for my liking. If you have (or acquire) an e-reader I highly recommend Girlebooks, who have a lovely range of women's writing, much of it free, in various e-book formats.
I also read this, also thanks to girlebooks. It was the first one Sayers wrote, wasn't it? I agree with all you say here, and I'd urge you to read some of the later ones as they are much better and more interesting, and Whimsey becomes less whimsical, though he's never going to be the man for me!
ReplyDeleteI second Harriet here (of course, one couldn't disagree with a Harriet in the Sayers' context!) - Strong Poison, for instance, is excellent in a really classic crime style. Gaudy Night is wonderful in quite a different way.
ReplyDeleteI third Harriet's comments (if that's possible)! Whose Body? was the first novel DLS wrote & the later books, especially the ones with Harriet Vane (Strong Poison is the first) are wonderful. I agree with you about Girlebooks. Beautifully formatted books & a wonderful range of authors. And, as Bibliolathas says, Gaudy Night is not even really a crime novel although there is a mystery to solve. It's about women & education & Oxford in the 30s. One of my favourite novels, I reread it often.
ReplyDeleteIn total agreement with all the above. What I first, and still love, about 'Gaudy Night' is the portrait of university life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments - clearly, I must give Gaudy Night a try on the strength of those recommendations.
ReplyDeleteGotta say, I loathe Peter Whimsey, and really didn't like Gaudy Night... give me Agatha Christie instead, any day!
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