In the late 1970s, writer/editor/bookstore owner Otto Penzler edited a fascinating anthology. It consisted of short articles about 26 fictional detectives, written by their creators, the authors who invented the characters. It has been out of print for quite a while; I still have a much-thumbed-over Penguin paperback copy on my bookshelves.
Now, it's back. The Mysterious Press has published electronic editions of "The Great Detectives: The World's Most Celebrated Sleuths Unmasked by Their Authors" - and it deserves a place in the library of every reader of classic detective stories. Some names will be very familiar: there's an article about Roderick Alleyn by Ngaio Marsh, one on John Appleby from Michael Innes, an article on Inspector Cockrill from Christianna Brand. You'll find other detectives, like H. R. F. Keating's Inspector Ghote, Ed McBain talks about the 87th precinct, and Carolyn Keene looks at the origins of Nancy Drew.
You may not recognize some of them - Duncan Maclain, Quiller, Inspector Schmidt. There's even a classic cartoon character - chester Gould's Dick Tracy. The articles are all short and loaded with details from the authors about their brainchildren.
It's all available in a wide variety of electronic formats from Open Road Media and The Mysterious Press. The illustrated button on top will take you to Amazon for their Kindle version; if you are so inclined, I get a small percentage when you order from them through that link. If you prefer another format, you'll find a listing of the available versions by clicking here. Classic mystery lovers will really be doing themselves a feature by getting this book.
Thanks for telling us about this one. I have a couple of books similar to this one, but not this one. I just bought it for my Kindle through your Amazon link and am looking forward to browsing through it this weekend.
Posted by: Joan Kyler | September 21, 2012 at 07:49 AM
Joan, I hope you enjoy the essays. And I hope that, like me, you will find new authors and new detectives worth hunting down in mystery bookstores!
Posted by: Les Blatt | September 21, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Thanks for letting me know about this, Les. I will definitely be getting a copy, maybe even an electronic one - if that's all that's available. As soon as I saw the name of Roderick Allyn, I was hooked. I'm planning on re-reading my favorite Ngaio Marsh books yet again - soon. That's the reason I haven't read as many 'new' books as I ought to this year. All the re-reading is taking its toll. :)
Posted by: Yvette | September 23, 2012 at 01:28 PM
Yvette, as I look at my own bookshelves (not to mention the towering TBR pile!), I sometimes think I'm living in the past. I should be reading more new mysteries; I find myself drawn again and again to old favorites, including Marsh, Sayers, Crispin, Innes, Christie, Simenon...the list goes on. I suppose there are worse addictions.
Posted by: Les Blatt | September 23, 2012 at 07:29 PM
Great to hear about this being back in print Les - I have a paperback edition on my shelves and dust it off prety regularly actually. It is, I think, the only place where you can read Ed McBain's original ending for THE PUSHER, in which Steve Carella would have bit the dust just three books into the 87th Precinct series - luckily calmer editorial heads prevailed!
Posted by: Sergio (Tipping My Fedora) | September 24, 2012 at 05:26 AM
Sergio, it's only an electronic edition, alas - but that's perfectly fine with me, as it seems to be available in a variety of formats. Yes, the McBain contribution is great. I'm really fond of Christianna Brand's article about Inspector Cockrill. Two thousand words. More or less... It's fascinating to see what the creators thought of their characters.
Posted by: Les Blatt | September 24, 2012 at 01:16 PM