P.D. James wrote detective novels, Adam Dalgliesh being her most famous creations. The books I am talking about do not involve Adam Dalgliesh, though he does sort of come in one of them in the end.
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman: I wanted to read the book ever since I saw the televised version in PBS long time back. I knew the book existed but I could not get hold of it till I buckled down and purchased it on Amazon. The book features Cordelia Gray, who at the start of the book is a partner in an investigating agency. Due to the death of her partner, the choice is hers- whether to continue with the agency or close it down. It is the 60s and detecting is really an unsuitable job for a woman, they all tell her. She decides to run the agency and is soon involved in investigating the death of a young student in Cambridge University. The book is really about how Cordelia establishes herself as an young investigator as she sifts through clues and finally, comes to the correct conclusion.
P.D. James never really developed Cordelia Gray as a major character mostly due to how the BBC treated Cordelia Gray as the character in their series. Such a pity because there are really very few women characters in the detective novel genres. Of course, there is always Miss Marple and Sue Grafton has created Kinsey Milhone (I read couple of her books) but detecting is generally a male- dominated world- think of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, Adam Dalgliesh...the list is endless.
Death comes to Pemberly: Yesterday there was no electricity so I stepped across to the mall to get some thing to eat. There was a book sale and I got two books. One of which was Death comes to Pemberly by P.D. James. Pemberly as in the Pemberly of Pride and Prejudice- the estate of Mr. Darcy in Derbyshire. There have been many sequels written to Pride and Prejudice- I generally avoid them. Some sequels even if written by the same author end up ruining the novel for me. I loved Little Women and to me the novel ends with the engagement of John and Meg. The later ones- Good Wives, Little Men, and Jo's Boys- were books I wished the author had not written. Similarly, I love Anne of Green Gables but the later sequels tracing what happens to Anne are something I avoid. Somethings should be left to imagination.
Getting back to the novel in question, I picked it up because it promised to be slightly different. The book picks up after 6 years of Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage and thankfully, we are not treated to the trials and tribulations of their married life. Rather, the Darcys are getting ready for their annual ball. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who has now inherited an earldom, is contemplating proposing to Georgiana (Darcy's sister). However, Georgiana has another suitor in Henry Alveston, who is a heir to ancient Barony. Jane and Bingley arrive for the ball and on the eve of the ball they are all gathered. James now introduces a gothic element- the winds are howling outside and it is a dark and stormy night. In this night comes a carriage carrying Lydia who stumbles out shrieking and screaming that her dear Willoughby is dead. Willoughby is, of course, not dead. But his friend Captain Denny is. The story then revolves around who killed Captain Denny.
What I really enjoyed was the language which remains faithful to the dry tone of Jane Austen. I also loved the fact that James cleverly weaves in characters from Emma and Persuasion. It was joy to know Lady de Bourgh and Mr. Collins remain as silly and idiotic as ever. The letters they write are simply too wonderful. The book focuses on Darcy- very understandable as the murder ensures that the action takes place in the courtroom.
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman: I wanted to read the book ever since I saw the televised version in PBS long time back. I knew the book existed but I could not get hold of it till I buckled down and purchased it on Amazon. The book features Cordelia Gray, who at the start of the book is a partner in an investigating agency. Due to the death of her partner, the choice is hers- whether to continue with the agency or close it down. It is the 60s and detecting is really an unsuitable job for a woman, they all tell her. She decides to run the agency and is soon involved in investigating the death of a young student in Cambridge University. The book is really about how Cordelia establishes herself as an young investigator as she sifts through clues and finally, comes to the correct conclusion.
P.D. James never really developed Cordelia Gray as a major character mostly due to how the BBC treated Cordelia Gray as the character in their series. Such a pity because there are really very few women characters in the detective novel genres. Of course, there is always Miss Marple and Sue Grafton has created Kinsey Milhone (I read couple of her books) but detecting is generally a male- dominated world- think of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Lord Peter Wimsey, Adam Dalgliesh...the list is endless.
Death comes to Pemberly: Yesterday there was no electricity so I stepped across to the mall to get some thing to eat. There was a book sale and I got two books. One of which was Death comes to Pemberly by P.D. James. Pemberly as in the Pemberly of Pride and Prejudice- the estate of Mr. Darcy in Derbyshire. There have been many sequels written to Pride and Prejudice- I generally avoid them. Some sequels even if written by the same author end up ruining the novel for me. I loved Little Women and to me the novel ends with the engagement of John and Meg. The later ones- Good Wives, Little Men, and Jo's Boys- were books I wished the author had not written. Similarly, I love Anne of Green Gables but the later sequels tracing what happens to Anne are something I avoid. Somethings should be left to imagination.
Getting back to the novel in question, I picked it up because it promised to be slightly different. The book picks up after 6 years of Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage and thankfully, we are not treated to the trials and tribulations of their married life. Rather, the Darcys are getting ready for their annual ball. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who has now inherited an earldom, is contemplating proposing to Georgiana (Darcy's sister). However, Georgiana has another suitor in Henry Alveston, who is a heir to ancient Barony. Jane and Bingley arrive for the ball and on the eve of the ball they are all gathered. James now introduces a gothic element- the winds are howling outside and it is a dark and stormy night. In this night comes a carriage carrying Lydia who stumbles out shrieking and screaming that her dear Willoughby is dead. Willoughby is, of course, not dead. But his friend Captain Denny is. The story then revolves around who killed Captain Denny.
What I really enjoyed was the language which remains faithful to the dry tone of Jane Austen. I also loved the fact that James cleverly weaves in characters from Emma and Persuasion. It was joy to know Lady de Bourgh and Mr. Collins remain as silly and idiotic as ever. The letters they write are simply too wonderful. The book focuses on Darcy- very understandable as the murder ensures that the action takes place in the courtroom.
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