English Mysteries Club discussion

LORD PETER WIMSEY:



Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey



Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter Wimsey

This is the thread to discuss all the Lord Peter Wimsey novels by Dorothy L. Sayers. Everyone has their own favourite depiction of him, so I've put the two favourites at the top :)

LINK HERE for Adrian's post listing all the short stories.

This continuing buddy read will be led by Adrian, so I'll pass you over to him to explain.

So here we are with the Buddy Read of all the Lord Peter Wimsey stories. First up, let me say, I have been reading Lord Peter stories for nearly 50 years, I can remember some early paperbacks sitting on my mother’s bookshelves alongside her Agatha Christies, but and it is a big but, I have no special knowledge of these stories, nor do I remember most of them. So this will be a journey of adventure for me and whoever joins me.
Dorothy Leigh Sayers went to Oxford university in 1912 which was very unusual at that point of the 20th century for a woman. Although she couldn’t be awarded a degree (women couldn’t in those days), she was awarded it in the 1920s. She started her writing in 1916 with a book of poetry She started planning her first Wimsey novel in 1920 and it was published in 1923.
On a personal note she was a friend of CS Lewis , JRR Tolkien, and there is talk / rumour of her being one of the literary “Inklings”. And whilst never an out an out feminist or suffragette, she was a real supporter of women’s rights . In addition she was once accused of being anti-semitic, which is quite ironic as she started a very passionate affair in the early 1920s with Jewish poet John Cournos and once commented that the only peoples treated favourably in her novels were the Jewish. Elected as chair of the British Detection Club in 1949, a club she founded with GK Chesterton in 1930 and a post she held for 8 years.
Sayers died unexpectedly of a heart attack in Essex , England in 1957, aged just 64.

Now I’m sure other people know more, and if I googled her I could find more, so please let me know if you have any other interesting info about young Dorothy..

She wrote 11 Lord Peter Novels and 21 LP short stories spread over 4 books of short stories (1 is dedicated solely to Lord Peter, the others are a mixture of Lord Peter and some of her other characters). In addition she left behind a manuscript that was almost finished. This was later finished by one of her good friends and collaborators , the author Jill Paton Walsh.

In addition to finishing “Thrones, Dominations”, Jill Walsh also wrote 3 more Lord Peter novels, and I think we should decide nearer the time if we want to read these four novels.

So here are the novels and stories :-

2022
April - Whose Body?
May - Clouds of Witness
June - Unnatural Death
July - Lord Peter Views the Body ( 12 Short stories)
August - a break
September - The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
October - Strong Poison
November - Five Red Herrings
December - Have His Carcase
2023
January - a break
February - Hangman's Holiday ( 4 Short stories)
March - Murder Must Advertise
April - The Nine Tailors
May - Gaudy Night
June - Busman's Honeymoon
July - In the Teeth of the Evidence ( 2 Short stories)
August - Striding Folly ( 3 Short stories)

And these are the Jill Paton Walsh novels (if we feel we want to move into that territory) :-

September (?) - Thrones, Dominations
October (? )- A Presumption of Death
November (?) - The Attenbury Emeralds
December (?) - The Late Scholar

So we shall be starting on 2nd April ( I don’t do the 1st of April, just in case) and unlike our Sherlock read, with more books to get through, let’s see how we get on at the rate of one book per month.
So let’s go back to where it all began, 1923 and Whose Body ?

As I've said before all comments welcomed, but please be careful of spoilers and use the spoiler tag !!!

I'd like to join in! I first came across Sayers back in 1976, they were my Dad's books and I loved them. I've read all of them a few times and will enjoy reading them again. Thank you for setting this up.

Have heard of her and her stories but haven't read any yet. Any recommendations on what I should read first or does it have to be done in order?

Isa, Adrian will follow the timetable above. I'm sure he won't mind if you just join in for certain ones though.

LINK HERE

for more general discussion about the Lord Peter Wimsey novels. That is a better place to ask your question.

Thanks, Jean. Silly me didn't immediately the previous message from Adrian.

It's fine Isa - you can comment on both threads :)

Having read Whose Body again just last year , I'll give it a pass this time around. I felt there were parts of that book that could be interpreted as anti-Semitic, but other parts that were quite the opposite. I learned in The Mutual Admiration Society: How Dorothy L. Sayers and her Oxford Circle Remade the World for Women that one of Sayers' best friends from Somerville (her college at Oxford) was Jewish, casting more confusion on the whole anti-Semitism issue.

I may join in the group reads for other volumes in the series, but I've been trying to get to Gaudy Night for a while now and I may jump the gun and read it out of order.

Bionic Jean wrote: "Isa, Adrian will follow the timetable above. I'm sure he won't mind if you just join in for certain ones though...."

Thanks Jean, for jumping in there. I have been tied up all weekend with a visit from middle son, his partner and their giant rescue greyhound from London.

Isa wrote: "Thanks, Jean. Silly me didn't immediately the previous message from Adrian."

Isa, as Jean says, no problem. we will be commencing our read of Whose Body? , her first lord Peter novel written in 1923 , in April, and then continue chronologically through all the novels and short stories.

Please feel free to join in as you wish and comment as you would like as long as we are all reading that novel. If you have any doubt please use the spoiler system to ensure other people's reads are not spoilt.

I look forward to you reading along with us.

Lynnie wrote: "I'd like to join in! I first came across Sayers back in 1976, they were my Dad's books and I loved them. I've read all of them a few times and will enjoy reading them again. Thank you for setting t..."

Very similar experience to me Lynnie. I hope you join in with our Buddy read and comment as we read one novel or book of short stories every month.

Hope it all went well ... I realised you might be "otherwise engaged" Ade! I'll put the odd one on the home page, as before :)

Great introductory post!

So given the number of people who voted for Lord Peter in the recent poll, I hope to see many more people joining in with our Buddy Read when we start in April.

In the meantime, I will be taking the opportunity of the next few days before we start of getting hold of copies of any books I don't have. 😊

Please feel free to post any questions or thoughts over the next few days before we commence.

I've just remembered we had Whose Body? as our Golden Age Mystery group read last June ... less than a year ago. LINK HERE for the discussion.

Is it a bit soon for a reread? Or do you want to start with that for completion's sake, and anyone who wants to can join in in May? It's up to you :)

Bionic Jean wrote: "I've just remembered we had Whose Body? as our Golden Age Mystery group read last June ... less than a year ago. LINK HERE for the discussion.

Is it a bit soon for a reread? Or do yo..."

I think I must have been in the throes of moving at that point and missed the "read", so my personal opinion is that we go ahead with it.
So any people who did read it last June, can (re-) join us in May, or at least comment here or the link you provided.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention Jean.

Great! Better to spot it now though :)

I will be joining. I have read Whose Body, Clouds of Witness, Unnatural Death and Gaudy Night. I have been meaning to start back up with The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club for a long time but I was hoping for a group/buddy read so this will be perfect because I have wanted to read the whole series!

Adrian wrote: "Lynnie wrote: "I'd like to join in! I first came across Sayers back in 1976, they were my Dad's books and I loved them. I've read all of them a few times and will enjoy reading them again. Thank yo..."

I can't wait ! I'm looking forward to reading Whose Body? again.

Marie wrote: "I will be joining. I have read Whose Body, Clouds of Witness, Unnatural Death and Gaudy Night. I have been meaning to start back up with The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club for a long time but I..."

Excellent Marie, please feel free to jump in and out whenever there is a book you haven't read. Or read them all along with us.

Lynnie wrote: "I can't wait ! I'm looking forward to reading Whose Body? again. ..."

For me also it will be a re-read but probably with over 45 years since I last read it. So I remember less than nothing !!

I read a small number of Wimsey mysteries, and couldn´t get really warm with Sayers, though the later seemed to me a bit better. I´ll jump in with Gaudy Night too and probably some others, but only if I find time besides all my other books. ;)

Michaela wrote: "I read a small number of Wimsey mysteries, and couldn´t get really warm with Sayers, though the later seemed to me a bit better. I´ll jump in with Gaudy Night too and probably some others, but only..."

As ever Michaela, you're welcome whenever you want to join in with this read.

I (re)read Gaudy Night on the bus from London to Oxford & then wandered around all day in Sayers's world. It was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.

When public TV filmed the books, my friends & I became huge fans -- it was like the Harry Potter of an earlier era. Much debate about Ian Carmichael (fussy) vs Edward Petherbridge (dreamy), & whether Harriet Walter was right for Harriet Vane.

I liked that Sayer's first biography was called Such a Strange Lady.

It's been too long since I've read about the activities of Lord Peter — I'm game if I can get my hands on the books — I have a couple I've never read but the early ones that I did have been shared with others.

C.J. wrote: "I (re)read Gaudy Night on the bus from London to Oxford & then wandered around all day in Sayers's world. It was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.

When public TV filmed the books, ..."

I must admit I've never travelled Oxford with Sayers in mind. When my son graduated we spent time "Morse-ing" around Oxford which was fun.

I well remember Ian Carmichael (to me he is LPW) from the early 70s, I don't remember Edward Petheridge at all from the late 80s, but then I was into my first child at that point and I think TV was something I didn't see at all Ha Ha.

Pamela wrote: "It's been too long since I've read about the activities of Lord Peter — I'm game if I can get my hands on the books — I have a couple I've never read but the early ones that I did have been shared ..."

Just to let you and others know Pamela that Kindle have Whose Body at 99p / 99c at the moment I believe.

I will happily join in. I have read all LPW books

at least once, but very happy to repeat and discuss.

Pam wrote: "I will happily join in. I have read all LPW books"

You're more than welcome to join in Pam, and post your thoughts on our thread.

I would love to join these readings! I really like the stories of LPW and DSayers's writing. I reread the first two books last year, so it's too early to read them again. I will join later and in the meantime I will read your comments.

I will be joining as well. I read several of her books decades ago and kind of forgot about her as an author. Excited!

carolina wrote: "I would love to join these readings! I really like the stories of LPW and DSayers's writing. I reread the first two books last year, so it's too early to read them again. I will join later and in t..."

its great that you'll be joining us in a couple of months carolina. Please feel free to comment during the first two reads.

Myra Chandler wrote: "I will be joining as well. I read several of her books decades ago and kind of forgot about her as an author. Excited!"

Welcome along Myra. I'm in the same position as you

And so here we are at April, how has it come around so quick ?

So I'm hoping to start reading Whose Body? tomorrow, and given its been maybe almost 50 years I'm really looking forward to it.

I hope all those who are starting with us are ready to go, And also that all those who voted for this series are going to be joining in with us.

Please feel free to post your thoughts as everyone reads at a different pace , but remember please use the "spoiler tag" if divulging any secrets.

I will be starting tomorrow and even treated myself to a new paperback! :o)

I read Whose Body? not that long ago and loved it.

Lynnie wrote: "I will be starting tomorrow and even treated myself to a new paperback! :o)"

Such extravagance ha ha. I hope you enjoy Lynnie

Rosemarie wrote: "I read Whose Body? not that long ago and loved it."

Please feel free to share your thoughts Rosemarie as we start to share ours.

I love her witty style of writing and Lord Peter gets some good lines.

I've read the first two chapters and though I have read this twice before, I don't remember a thing about it!

I did like the mention of Peter's detective kit....the monocle ("that's a powerful lens"), his stick marked off in inches and the matchbox torch. Showing that though detecting is his hobby, he is serious about it.

Lynnie wrote: "I've read the first two chapters and though I have read this twice before, I don't remember a thing about it!"

I love it when that happens - especially if all you can really remember is that you enjoyed it a lot!

Rosemarie wrote: "I love her witty style of writing and Lord Peter gets some good lines."

I think I'm on the second chapter and really enjoying it so far. And yes he does get some good lines.

Lynnie wrote: "I've read the first two chapters and though I have read this twice before, I don't remember a thing about it!

I did like the mention of Peter's detective kit....the monocle ("that's a powerful le..."

I think I'm about the same place as you. I really enjoyed the use of the stick.

How's this going everyone? Is it the first time you've read Whose Body? Or is it an affectionate reread?

I'm sure Adrian will say you've just got time to read this first one, before the end of the month!

I am still affectionately rereading this and have about 100 pages to go. I still have no memory of whodunnit so it's like reading a new book! I had forgotten how witty this is, have just been reading the inquest scene and had several laugh out loud moments! :o)

I have been doing the Detection Club Challenge in the Reading the Detectives group. The book for that in May is Whose Body? so I will be reading it and hopefully keep up with the continuing Buddy Read here. I haven't read it in a long time but the second title Clouds of Witness is one of my favorite rereads.

That's a fortunate coincidence, Ellen :)

I was definitely surprised that gorgonzola was mentioned 3 times in this book! Not something you would really expect in a GA murder mystery. But I do think that Lord Peter is the perfect blend of erudite and approachable. Looking forward to the next read.

Well despite going AWOL whilst slabbing terrace number 4 in the garden I have actually managed to battle my way through this inside the month. That sounds like it was an effort, it wasn't at all, although I did struggle for some reason during the first 30 pages or so.
In the end I enjoyed the book (to answer Jean, my first read for 40+ years), especially Lord Peter's wit.