Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection

About this book

FOR THE FIRST TIME—a fascinating, comprehensive, authoritative reference guide to one of today’s favorite forms of writing and entertainment. Biographies of the principal practitioners of mystery and detective writing are supplemented with information on the motion pictures, plays, radio and TV series, and telefeatures based on their works or their fictional creations. Also included are delightful “biographies” of the great fictional detectives, their sidekicks, and their chief criminal adversaries—plus carefully researched articles on such subjects as dime novels, pulp magazines, comic art detectives, radio and television detectives, and collecting detective fiction. The writers—more than 500 of them—range from Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle … to Erle Stanley Gardner, Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, S. S. Van Dine, Ellery Queen, and Agatha Christie … right up to Dick Francis, Ed McBain, John le Carré, and Ross Macdonald. Mainstream writers, such as Balzac, Dostoevski, Dickens, O. Henry, and Faulkner, are covered for their contributions to detective fiction or their influence on the development of the genre. Among the celebrated sleuths profiled are Sherlock Holmes, Perry Mason, Sam Spade, Dick Tracy, Mike Hammer, Nero Wolfe, and Lew Archer—as well as the movies’ Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto, Bulldog Drummond, Philo Vance, and James Bond. Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple are here, along with Simenon’s Inspector Maigret. Among the criminal adversaries—both sympathetic and sinister—are Dr. Fu Manchu, Professor Moriarty, Arsène Lupin, A. J. Raffles, and the Lone Wolf. Critical appraisal, plot synopses of the key works, and accurate first edition dates are provided in the biographies of all the major whodunit writers—plus checklists of their complete works. Biographies are also included for the authors of major spy, crime, and pure adventure stories, Not forgotten are such gothic romances as Frankenstein, Dracula, and Rebecca. More than 300 illustrations include rare motion picture stills, early dust jackets, book illustrations, and portraits of authors. Film entries include a plot summary, leading performers, director, writer, production company, and release date. Entries are alphabetically arranged, and cross-references lead you quickly to the true identity of the writer who hides behind pseudonyms. The first work of its kind to appear in any language, this monumental compendium contains more information on authors, books, detectives, films, and works in other media than has ever appeared in a single volume. An indispensable and entertaining reference for every true mystery fan, the Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection is also an excellent, thoroughly researched, and highly readable introduction to a venerable and exciting literary genre.