- Hardcover: 469 pages
- Publisher: Harpercollins; Reprint edition (Sep 1986)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060550228
- ISBN-13: 978-0060550226
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.5 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,584,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Gaudy Night
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Product Description
Review
'A truly great storyteller' (Minette Walters )
'D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers.' (E. C. Bentley, Daily Telegraph )
'I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' (Ruth Rendell )
'She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.' (P. D. James ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers.' (E. C. Bentley, Daily Telegraph )
'I admire her novels . . . she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail' (Ruth Rendell )
'She brought to the detective novel originality, intelligence, energy and wit.' (P. D. James ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
E. C. Bentley, Daily Telegraph
‘D. L. Sayers is one of the best detective story writers.'
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
well, I simply loved this book. But the ones out there who need corpses and action, turn back now. This is a character-piece. Also, if you haven't read "Strong Poison" and "Have His Carcase", I recommend you read them first. You don't need it to understand the story, but it is necessary to understand both Harriet and Peter Wimsey, and more importantly, their relationship. And if you don't like Harriet Vane, don't bother either. I, for one, liked Harriet a lot, and it was great to see her develop from love-interest in "Strong Poison" to an independant, strongly-built character in "Have his Carcase" and this book. The fascination of this novel is not driven by the crimes committed, but by the atmosphere of the place and Harriet's state of mind. Psychology, philosophy and an entire world-view are examined and presented. One really would like to be part of this community, as it is depicted. But what clinches it for me is again, the romance, if you can call it that. Harriet's relationship with Peter Wimsey at it's best and worst. The developement of Peter is also quite clear,he is given a depth he never had before So, conclusion: a great book, lots of atmosphere, lots of romance, lots of character. I hated it when this book ended...
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first read `Gaudy Night' about 40 years ago and I have re-read it many times since. It's a book which can be read on many levels. First for the mystery of who is writing the poison pen letters; second for the growing relationship between Harriet Vane and Peter Wimsey; thirdly for the position of women in 1930s society; and fourth for the consequences of a crime on those connected with both criminal and victim.
Set in a fictitious Oxford College - Shrewsbury - the story features an outbreak of graffiti and poison pen letters sent to students and staff at the college. Shrewsbury is Harriet Vane's alma mater and she is asked to try and help the dons unravel the mystery. Harriet returns to Oxford to attend the college Gaudy (reunion) and finds no one pays attention to her own chequered past (see `Strong Poison'). When she receives an unpleasant anonymous letter the thing becomes personal and she feel compelled to get involved.
There is tension around the issue of married women not putting their jobs before their families and much ill feeling between certain members of the college on this issue. Should women have careers or should they have families? Can they have both and do both well? There are examples, good and bad, of all situations in the novel. Truth and honesty are also philosophical questions which are involved in the story. Should people be punished for suppressing facts which interfere with their theories especially if the punishment adversely affects their dependents?
Relationships between men and women and the proper basis for these are also explored. Harriet values honesty in herself and others and does not see her role in society as looking after a man and bringing up his children. Should women always put their husband and children first? This is a novel way ahead of its time as it foreshadows the questions posed by the second wave of feminism in the 1960s and 1970s.
If you read this novel solely for the crime element you may be disappointed as there is no murder and the crimes involved are relatively minor. The book needs to be read in the context of the mores and morals of the 1930s rather than applying the standards of the 21st century to the behaviour of the characters. That said, there is much in this complex novel which is still of relevance in today's world and it is well worth reading several times in order to appreciate its structure and the way the clues and red herrings are placed. It is a masterpiece of plotting and its sheer craftsmanship far outweighs the odd jarring note which may be apparent to modern readers.
Set in a fictitious Oxford College - Shrewsbury - the story features an outbreak of graffiti and poison pen letters sent to students and staff at the college. Shrewsbury is Harriet Vane's alma mater and she is asked to try and help the dons unravel the mystery. Harriet returns to Oxford to attend the college Gaudy (reunion) and finds no one pays attention to her own chequered past (see `Strong Poison'). When she receives an unpleasant anonymous letter the thing becomes personal and she feel compelled to get involved.
There is tension around the issue of married women not putting their jobs before their families and much ill feeling between certain members of the college on this issue. Should women have careers or should they have families? Can they have both and do both well? There are examples, good and bad, of all situations in the novel. Truth and honesty are also philosophical questions which are involved in the story. Should people be punished for suppressing facts which interfere with their theories especially if the punishment adversely affects their dependents?
Relationships between men and women and the proper basis for these are also explored. Harriet values honesty in herself and others and does not see her role in society as looking after a man and bringing up his children. Should women always put their husband and children first? This is a novel way ahead of its time as it foreshadows the questions posed by the second wave of feminism in the 1960s and 1970s.
If you read this novel solely for the crime element you may be disappointed as there is no murder and the crimes involved are relatively minor. The book needs to be read in the context of the mores and morals of the 1930s rather than applying the standards of the 21st century to the behaviour of the characters. That said, there is much in this complex novel which is still of relevance in today's world and it is well worth reading several times in order to appreciate its structure and the way the clues and red herrings are placed. It is a masterpiece of plotting and its sheer craftsmanship far outweighs the odd jarring note which may be apparent to modern readers.
36 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Warning: This is not an Agatha Christie puzzle book!!!!! If this is what you want as a reader don't buy it. However if you are looking to find a great book with a brilliant plot then get this.
Not only is this a fantastic crime novel it is also one of the best philosophical novels Sayers wrote. If you have any interest in Wimsey, in womens position in society or in the movement of women into academia this book is definitly for you! The suspense is gripping, will Harriet's heart over rule her head? Can a women have both a career and a meaningful relationship based on honesty? For perhaps the first time this writer has shown that the solving of the crime is not the end of the story, there are always consequences. Without a doubt this is one of the best books Sayers ever wrote.
Not only is this a fantastic crime novel it is also one of the best philosophical novels Sayers wrote. If you have any interest in Wimsey, in womens position in society or in the movement of women into academia this book is definitly for you! The suspense is gripping, will Harriet's heart over rule her head? Can a women have both a career and a meaningful relationship based on honesty? For perhaps the first time this writer has shown that the solving of the crime is not the end of the story, there are always consequences. Without a doubt this is one of the best books Sayers ever wrote.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
More a study of academic life than a mystery
Miss Sayers oftens combines some other major theme with the mystery element in her Lord Peter books, and in this case it is a study of the nature of academic life. Read more
Published 18 days ago by Lawrence Blackmore
A truly great novel on many levels
I have to rate this as my favourite book of all time. As other reviewers have said, reading the other Sayers books first is recommended, as they provide the background to this... Read more
Published 19 days ago by kangaroo
.
This expresses a different world - the world of Oxford in a different era with different values. It is a good novel though and one eventually works out who dun it.
Published 1 month ago by The Revd. A. M. Stead
Gaudy Night BBC Dramatisation
Delightful! Ian Carmichael, and all the cast, are wonderful. Not 100%totally true to the book, but only in the sense that some of the background details are missing. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sumi22
A wonderful journey back to the Oxford of 1935
About her book "Gaudy Night," Dorothy L. Sayers had this to say:
"It would be idle to deny that the city and University of Oxford (in aeternum floreant) do actually... Read more
"It would be idle to deny that the city and University of Oxford (in aeternum floreant) do actually... Read more
Published 21 months ago by L. E. Cantrell
nicely unsettling
Heard this one on the radio in the car the other week so have at last managed to get my hands on the book proper. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ellie Sarah
Meet the nephew
Ian Carmichael is one of the first Lord Peter Wimsey's. There are a series of films with him as Wimsey such as "Five Red Herrings". Read more
Published 24 months ago by bernie
A Dorothy L. Sayers delight.
I had to remember this was a BBC radio drama so some of the delights of Gaudy Night were missing including the insights of the tutors personalities and some of the love theme might... Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by Rita Reed
Dated, but enjoyable
There are many difficulties for the modern reader in Sayers' detective novels because attitudes have changed so much since she wrote them. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2009 by Graham R. Hill
defective detection
When poison pen letters and rude messages start appearing at Harriet Vane's old Oxford College, the lady dons ask Harriet if she could help solve the mystery rather than involve... Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2009 by A. C. Dickens
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