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Anno Scolastico 2004/2005Anno Scolastico 2004/2005

The Detective The Detective NovelNovel

A minor A minor popularpopular literaryliterary formform

ContentsContentsDetective Detective StoriesStories and and ThrillersThrillersThe Origins of the Detective The Origins of the Detective NovelNovelDistinguishingDistinguishing featuresfeatures of a Detective Storyof a Detective Story

Main CharactersMain CharactersCrime Crime –– NarrationNarrationSettingSettingThe DetectiveThe Detective

The Process of DetectionThe Process of DetectionThe Detective Novel in EnglandThe Detective Novel in England

The Golden AgeThe Golden AgeGreat WritersGreat Writers10 “Golden” Rules10 “Golden” Rules

Sociological Sociological ApproachApproach

Back Back toto VictorianVictorian NovelNovel

Detective Detective storiesstoriesRevolvingRevolving aroundaround the the figure of figure of anan omniscientomniscientdetectivedetective

ThrillersThrillers((includingincluding spyspy storiesstories asaswellwell))More sensationalMore sensationalNot concentrated on the Not concentrated on the logical logical processprocess of of deductiondeduction (the (the JamesJamesBondBond typetype) ) nornor on the on the mechanicsmechanics of detectionof detection

The The OriginsOriginsBibleBible: Daniel 14, 1: Daniel 14, 1--2222Elizabethan Elizabethan AgeAge: : ShakespeareShakespeare HamletHamlet: : Hamlet = detective; his uncle = culprit;Hamlet = detective; his uncle = culprit;theatrical representation of the murder = the reconstructiontheatrical representation of the murder = the reconstructionof the murder.of the murder.

Last Decade of the XVII cent.: Crime Stories Last Decade of the XVII cent.: Crime Stories The hero is usually an The hero is usually an outlawoutlaw ,an adventurer, ( ,an adventurer, ( roguerogue) who has ) who has goodgoodidealsideals toto fightfight forfor; ; hehe robsrobs the the richrich of of theirtheir money money toto givegive itit toto the the poorpoor. . HeHe isis againstagainst the the lawlaw, , againstagainst the oppressive social system. The the oppressive social system. The readersreaders werewere on on hishis side, side, notnot the the lawlaw’’s.s.

XVIII cent.: Mistery or Ghost Stories (Gothic Novel)XVIII cent.: Mistery or Ghost Stories (Gothic Novel)1840s: Edgar Allan Poe 1840s: Edgar Allan Poe (Detective Auguste Dupin)(Detective Auguste Dupin)

Charles Dickens (Charles Dickens (BleakBleak House)House)WilkieWilkie CollinsCollins ((The The MoonstoneMoonstone))

DistinguishingDistinguishing FeaturesFeatures of a of a Detective StoryDetective Story

A A typicaltypical plot plot formform: : forfor exampleexample the the AgathaAgatha ChristieChristie plot plot formformconsistedconsisted of of gatheringgathering a a numbernumber of people of people togethertogether in a in a particularparticularplaceplace preliminarypreliminary toto one of one of themthem beingbeing murderedmurdered, and of , and of showingshowing the the reasonsreasons forfor theirtheir presencepresence..

AA central central charactercharacter, , professionalprofessional or amateur, or amateur, who’who’s s engagedengagedprimarilyprimarily in the detection of crime.in the detection of crime.

TheThe actionaction often centres on a conflictoften centres on a conflict between thebetween the herohero and his and his opponent and opponent and culminatesculminates in thein the climaticclimatic revelationrevelation scene.scene.

TheThe ““dénouementdénouement”” isis alwaysalways carefullycarefully preparedprepared and, and, withinwithinthe the frameworkframework of the of the manipulatedmanipulated action, action, believablebelievable..

A detective story provides A detective story provides escapismescapism, a , a releaserelease, , howeverhowevertemporarytemporary, , fromfrom the the anxietiesanxieties of of realreal life.life.

ProcessProcess of detectionof detection

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IngredientsIngredients of of anyany detective storydetective story

CrimeCrime

CluesCluesProvidedProvided byby the the authorauthor

DetectiveDetectiveHasHas the task of the task of usingusingthe the cluesclues toto discoverdiscoverthe the truthtruth throughoutthroughout a a rigorousrigorous processprocess of of analysisanalysis and and deductiondeductionwhichwhich takestakes up up mostmost of of the story.the story.

MainMain CharactersCharacters

VICTIM VICTIM –– dealt with as an objectdealt with as an object

CULPRIT CULPRIT –– he mustn’t arouse either liking or pity; he he mustn’t arouse either liking or pity; he must be clever not to be discovered.must be clever not to be discovered.

DETECTIVEDETECTIVEHELPER HELPER –– Greek Chorus Greek Chorus tells the eventstells the events

SUSPECTS SUSPECTS –– all the other characters in the story, with all the other characters in the story, with no exceptions.no exceptions.

UsuallyUsually FLAT CHARACTERS. No FLAT CHARACTERS. No psychologicalpsychological studystudy..

Crime Crime –– NarrationNarration

The CRIME The CRIME isis the the centrecentre of the action; the of the action; the writerwritercan can buildbuild up up hishis story story startingstarting fromfrom the end the end FLASH BACK (Ex.:FLASH BACK (Ex.:E.A.PoeE.A.Poe))The NARRATION can The NARRATION can bebe donedone::–– By the HELPER of the detective;By the HELPER of the detective;–– Through the different points of view of the characters;Through the different points of view of the characters;–– Through the report of a trial;Through the report of a trial;–– Through a police file;Through a police file;–– Following the actions of a Following the actions of a wellwell--knownknown criminal;criminal;–– Through the Through the charactercharacter of a of a culpritculprit--narratornarrator..

SettingSettingThe The settingsetting in in whichwhich the crime the crime takestakes placeplace isis notnot chosenchosen at at randomrandom; ; itit maymay bebe a country a country house, a house, a lonelylonely beach, beach, ananinternationalinternational traintrain, a , a deserteddesertedislandisland; ; WhatWhat mattersmatters isis the RELATIVE the RELATIVE ISOLATION of ISOLATION of thesethese placesplaces: NOT : NOT UNREAL, UNREAL, butbut SUFFICIENTLY SUFFICIENTLY DETACHED DETACHED fromfrom REALITY REALITY toto take take the the readerreader intointo a a comfortablecomfortableworld.world.

The Detective The Detective -- 11““ProtectorProtector” of the society ” of the society withwith the task the task

of of maintainingmaintaining orderorder and and securitysecurity..CleverClever –– bright bright –– subtle minded subtle minded heroheroEccentricEccentric –– odd odd –– whimsical whimsical –– fussy fussy

nonnon--herohero

““HeHe can can actact in in twotwo possiblepossible waysways::Through his mental activity onlyThrough his mental activity onlyThrough a physical activity as Through a physical activity as wellwell

The Detective The Detective -- 22

Private Private DetectivesDetectives: : usuallyusually the the mostmost successfulsuccessful

PolicePolice OfficersOfficers: : theythey are are supportedsupportedbyby anan organizationorganization, , butbut theythey mustmust followfollowthe the rulesrules; ; theythey are are notnot freefree toto actact asas theytheylikelike

Amateur Amateur DetectivesDetectives: : theythey actact forforjustice’justice’s s sakesake, , notnot forfor moneymoney

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The Detective The Detective -- 33IntuitiveIntuitive

TheirTheir methodsmethods are are basedbased on the on the psychologicalpsychological intuitionintuition and and perceptionperception of the of the characterscharacters HerculeHercule PoirotPoirot, , FatherFather BrownBrown

ScientificScientificTheyThey are are coldcold and and detacheddetached, , interestedinterested onlyonly in the in the logicallogicalaspectaspect of the of the thingsthings Dr. Dr. ThorndykeThorndyke

RealisticRealisticIn this group we usually find the police officers; they often In this group we usually find the police officers; they often seem a bit dull; there is nothing seem a bit dull; there is nothing heroicheroic in in themthem; ; theythey do do nothingnothing sensationalsensational MaigretMaigret byby SimenonSimenon

BrilliantBrilliant AmateurAmateurThey are They are oftenoften intuitive intuitive asas wellwell; ; veryvery inquisitive, inquisitive, sometimessometimesexcessivelyexcessively, , butbut alwaysalways veryvery amusingamusing Miss Miss MarpleMarple, , ElleryElleryQueenQueen ((FredericFrederic DannayDannay, , ManfredManfred B.LeeB.Lee) ) –– Philo Vance (Van Philo Vance (Van Dine Dine –– USA)USA)

WhyWhy diddid itit flourishflourish in in EnglandEnglandmore more thanthan in in anyany otherothercountriescountries??

Pattern of the Pattern of the storiesstories

England: relatively England: relatively stablestable class class structurestructure and and politicalpolitical systemsystem

The Detective The Detective NovelNovel in in EnglandEngland

Breaking of the law

Re-establishment of order through DETECTION and PUNISHMENT

STABLE WORLD

Golden Golden AgeAge

After the First World WarAfter the First World War

Crime stories Modern

detective

stories

Rogue Criminal

Change in the relation Criminal - justice

““ClassicalClassical” ” PeriodPeriod (1890(1890--1939)1939)

ArthurArthur ConanConan DoyleDoyle 1859 1859 –– 19301930–– SherlockSherlock HolmesHolmes

Gilbert Keith ChestertonGilbert Keith Chesterton 1874 1874 –– 19361936–– Father BrownFather Brown

Richard Austin FreemanRichard Austin Freeman 1862 1862 –– 19431943–– Dr. Dr. JohnJohn EvelynEvelyn ThorndykeThorndyke

Agatha Agatha ChristieChristie 1891 1891 –– 19781978–– HerculeHercule PoirotPoirot–– Miss Miss JaneJane MarpleMarple

10 “golden” 10 “golden” rulesrulesItIt camecame toto bebe consideredconsidered asas a GAME a GAME betweenbetween twotwo antagonistsantagonists: the : the READER and the AUTHOR. So, READER and the AUTHOR. So, likelike anyany otherother game, game, itit hadhad toto bebegovernedgoverned byby RULES.RULES.

11-- The criminal The criminal mustmust bebe mentionedmentioned earlyearly onon22-- Supernatural solutions are ruled out.Supernatural solutions are ruled out.33-- Only one secret room or passage is allowed.Only one secret room or passage is allowed.44-- No undiscovered poisons are permitted.No undiscovered poisons are permitted.55-- No Chinamen should appear in the story.No Chinamen should appear in the story.66-- The detective must not be helped by lucky The detective must not be helped by lucky accidentsaccidents..77-- The detective must not himself commit the crime.The detective must not himself commit the crime.88-- Nor must he conceal clues from the reader.Nor must he conceal clues from the reader.99-- The thoughts of the “Watson” must not be concealed.The thoughts of the “Watson” must not be concealed.1010-- There must be special warning of the use of twins.There must be special warning of the use of twins.

(Laid down by Monsignor Ronald Knox. Quoted by Julian (Laid down by Monsignor Ronald Knox. Quoted by Julian SymonsSymons in “The Detective Story in in “The Detective Story in BritainBritain” ” –– London, 1962)London, 1962)

SociologicalSociological ApproachApproach: : ChestertonChesterton

Detective Detective NovelsNovels: : the the lastlast fairyfairy talestales of the Western of the Western civilizationcivilization, of a , of a society society whichwhich requiresrequires a a policepolice organizationorganization totodefenddefend itsits propertypropertyEscapismEscapism whichwhich leadsleads toto adventureadventure, , toto a a calculatedcalculated riskrisk withwith anan inevitablyinevitably expectedexpected happy happy endingending..

DetectivesDetectives: : the last the last metropolitanmetropolitan paladinespaladines

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SociologicalSociological ApproachApproach: : KracauerKracauer

Detective Detective NovelsNovels: : Simplified attempt Simplified attempt toto defeatdefeat evilevilA A fightfight of the “of the “rationalrational” ” againstagainst the “the “irrationalirrational””

Detectives: Detectives: Pure rationality; the Pure rationality; the representationrepresentation of the “ratio”, of the “ratio”, devoiddevoid of of feelingsfeelings or or emotionsemotions; ; onlyonly a a livingliving mindmindHe isn’t even allowed to die at the end of the story; there is He isn’t even allowed to die at the end of the story; there is nothing human left in him: he has become nothing human left in him: he has become onlyonly anan idea.idea.Some of Some of themthem, or some of , or some of theirtheir ““helpershelpers” are ” are doctorsdoctors theytheytake care of the take care of the illnessesillnesses of people of people asas theythey take care of the take care of the illnessesillnesses of the society.of the society.

NewgateNewgate CalendarCalendar

NewgateNewgate LondonLondon PrisonPrison 11201120--19021902

EverybodyEverybody couldcould readread the the reportsreports of of the the trialstrials heldheld at the at the ““Old Old BaileyBailey”” ––London Central Criminal Court in London Central Criminal Court in Newgate Street Newgate Street –– and the convictions and the convictions of the criminalsof the criminals

XIX cent.: birth of XIX cent.: birth of ScotlandScotland YardYard

A "Charlie". The "Charlies" werenightwatchmen, chosen by the localauthorities, and existed in the 18th and early 19th centuries

The present day London Metropolitan

Police dates from1829 and were

formed by Sir RobertPeel. This is a

picture of a "Peeler" as they were known,

about 1850. Old Scotland Yard, the site of

Metropolitan Police headquartersuntil 1890

New ScotlandYard

Plot Plot SummarySummary forforWitnessWitness forfor the the ProsecutionProsecution

((19571957))WhenWhen LeonardLeonard VoleVole isis arrestedarrested forfor the the sensationalsensational murder of a murder of a richrich, , middlemiddle--agedagedwidowwidow, the , the famousfamous SirSir WilfridWilfrid RobartsRobarts agreesagrees totoappearappear on on hishis behalfbehalf. . SirSir WilfridWilfrid, , recoveringrecoveringfromfrom a a nearnear--fatalfatal heartheart attackattack, , isis *supposed* *supposed* totobebe on a on a dietdiet of of blandbland, , civilcivil suitssuits. . ButBut the the lurelure of of the criminal the criminal courtscourts isis tootoo muchmuch forfor himhim, , especiallyespecially whenwhen the case the case isis so so difficultdifficult: : Vole'Vole's s onlyonly alibi alibi witnesswitness isis hishis wifewife, the , the calmcalm and and coldlycoldly calculatingcalculating ChristineChristine VoleVole. . SirSir Wilfrid'Wilfrid's s task task becomesbecomes eveneven more more impossibleimpossible whenwhenChristineChristine agreesagrees toto bebe a a witnesswitness notnot forfor the the defencedefence butbut forfor the the prosecutionprosecution. .

SettingSetting:: LondonLondon, , EnglandEngland in the in the 1950s 1950s Main Characters:Main Characters: Leonard Leonard VoleVole, , ChristineChristine VoleVole, , SirSir WilfridWilfrid RobartsRobarts, , Miss Miss PlimsollPlimsoll, , BroganBrogan MooreMoore, , MayhewMayhew, , JaneJane McKenzieMcKenzie, Mrs. , Mrs. FrenchFrench

Marlene Marlene DietrichDietrich.... .... ChristineChristine HelmHelmVoleVoleTyroneTyrone PowerPower.... .... LeonardLeonard StephenStephenVoleVole