Lord Peter Wimsey: Difference between revisions
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Lord Peter Wimsey is the 2nd son of the duke of Denver and is therefore part of the upper-class establishment, as are other Golden-Age detectives. Lord Peter attended Baliol College, Oxford. He also loves rare books and is known for his verbal playfulness. Lord Peter is supported by private income and therefore he can afford to be a professional detective and an amateur at the same time. While solving a case, he works closely with Inspector Parker from Scotland Yard (later his brother-in-law). | Lord Peter Wimsey is the 2nd son of the duke of Denver and is therefore part of the upper-class establishment, as are other Golden-Age detectives. Lord Peter attended Baliol College, Oxford. He also loves rare books and is known for his verbal playfulness. Lord Peter is supported by private income and therefore he can afford to be a professional detective and an amateur at the same time. While solving a case, he works closely with Inspector Parker from Scotland Yard (later his brother-in-law). | ||
In contrast to other detectives of the Golden Age, Lord Peter undergoes a marked transition throughout the novels most of them triggered by his meeting Harriet Vane in ''Strong Poison'' (1929). She is a writer of mystery books and Lord Peter has to clear her of a murder charge before he can start to court her. | In contrast to other detectives of the Golden Age, Lord Peter undergoes a marked transition throughout the novels most of them triggered by his meeting Harriet Vane in ''Strong Poison'' (1929). She is a writer of mystery books and Lord Peter has to clear her of a murder charge before he can start to court her. In ''Gaudy Night'' (1935) both Harriet Vane and Lord Peter return to Oxford and negotiate their future relationship. At the end of the novel, Ms Vane finally says "yes" to Wimsey's proposal of marriage. The couple gets married in ''Busman's Honeymoon'' (1937). | ||
There were several attempts to detect the origin of Lord Peter Wimsey by identifying him with friends of Sayers. But there are also enough arguments to claim that the origin of Lord Peter Wimsey can be seen in the novel ''Trent’s Last Case'' (1913) by E.C. Bentley. Although the two detectives differ in many aspects, there are also several parallels between Lord Peter and Philip Trent. Their style and method as detectives are similar and Trent also has this feeling of self-disgust, which Lord Peter has after having solved a case. | There were several attempts to detect the origin of Lord Peter Wimsey by identifying him with friends of Sayers. But there are also enough arguments to claim that the origin of Lord Peter Wimsey can be seen in the novel ''Trent’s Last Case'' (1913) by E.C. Bentley. Although the two detectives differ in many aspects, there are also several parallels between Lord Peter and Philip Trent. Their style and method as detectives are similar and Trent also has this feeling of self-disgust, which Lord Peter has after having solved a case. | ||
Latest revision as of 13:35, 10 December 2015
Full name Peter Death Bredon Wimsey. Protagonist of Dorothy L. Sayers's detective fiction. Lord Peter solves murder cases assisted by his loyal manservant Mervyn Bunter. Wimsey is shell-shocked after having served in the First World War and he has flashbacks while he solves the cases.
Lord Peter Wimsey is the 2nd son of the duke of Denver and is therefore part of the upper-class establishment, as are other Golden-Age detectives. Lord Peter attended Baliol College, Oxford. He also loves rare books and is known for his verbal playfulness. Lord Peter is supported by private income and therefore he can afford to be a professional detective and an amateur at the same time. While solving a case, he works closely with Inspector Parker from Scotland Yard (later his brother-in-law).
In contrast to other detectives of the Golden Age, Lord Peter undergoes a marked transition throughout the novels most of them triggered by his meeting Harriet Vane in Strong Poison (1929). She is a writer of mystery books and Lord Peter has to clear her of a murder charge before he can start to court her. In Gaudy Night (1935) both Harriet Vane and Lord Peter return to Oxford and negotiate their future relationship. At the end of the novel, Ms Vane finally says "yes" to Wimsey's proposal of marriage. The couple gets married in Busman's Honeymoon (1937).
There were several attempts to detect the origin of Lord Peter Wimsey by identifying him with friends of Sayers. But there are also enough arguments to claim that the origin of Lord Peter Wimsey can be seen in the novel Trent’s Last Case (1913) by E.C. Bentley. Although the two detectives differ in many aspects, there are also several parallels between Lord Peter and Philip Trent. Their style and method as detectives are similar and Trent also has this feeling of self-disgust, which Lord Peter has after having solved a case.
Literature:
"Lord Peter Wimsey", Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 16 Jan. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1408805/Lord-Peter-Wimsey>.
Reynolds, Barbara, "The Origin of Lord Peter Wimsey", The Times Literary Supplement 3919 (1977): 492.
Scaggs, John, Crime Fiction, London: Routledge 2005.