100 Masters of Mystery and Detective Fiction (Magill's Choice)

Since Edgar Allan Poe invented the modern mystery novel in the mid-19th century, the number of authors writing in this field has steadily increased along with a demand for such literature. As a response to such growth, this text features articles on 100 of the most important writers of the genre.

This two-volume set profiles 100 important mystery writers, with entries ranging in length from 2,500 to 6,000 words. Entries contain information on authors' births and deaths, pseudonyms, and types of plot; list the authors' principal series; and describe principal characters. They evaluate each author's contribution to the genre, overview the author's life, and examine the author's most representative works. A bibliography at the end of each entry lists the author's mystery/detective works chronologically by series and lists nonmystery works chronologically by genre. B&w portraits, film stills, and book jackets are included. Many of the essays originally appeared in Critical Survey of Mystery and Detective Fiction, Salem Press, 1988.

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Library Journal

This two-volume set is actually an updated subset of essays published by Salem in 1988 in the four-volume Critical Survey of Mystery and Detective Fiction. The authors included were selected for their importance to the genre of mystery and detective fiction. Lists like this are always subjective and have the potential of alienating readers whose favorite author was omitted. However, editor Kelleghan (Mike Resnick: Bibliography and Guide to His Work) has managed to create an inclusive and impressive list that ranges from Ellery Queen and John le Carre to Baroness Orczy and Sara Paretsky. The in-depth analysis provided here includes a discussion of characters, the author's body of work, and some fascinating details about style and individual books. Arranged alphabetically by author, the essays are detailed and readable enough for the average mystery lover, who may be looking to learn more about beloved characters or favorite authors. Yet they are also scholarly enough for the academic interested in subtleties of plot and character development. For those doing detailed research, this is an excellent starting point that also directs the researcher to other resources; each essay concludes with a bibliography of works about the author and a listing of his or her major works both within and outside of this genre. While none of these essays is the final or most complete word on any of these authors, the book as a whole is the only reference a library would need to answer basic questions or quell readers' curiosity about top mystery writers. Manya Chylinski, Ctr. for Business Knowledge, Ernst & Young, Boston Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

100 Masters of Mystery and Detective Fiction is a response to the growing attention paid to genre fiction in schools and universities. Since Edgar Allan Poe invented the modern mystery story in the mid-19th century, the number of authors writing in this field has steadily grown, as have the appetites of growing numbers of readers. This collection surveys 100 of the writers who have made the most lasting contributions to the genre and includes such major figures as Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Ellery Queen, and Rex Stout. v. 1. Margery Allingham Harry Kemelman v. 2. Baynard H. Kendrick Israel Zangwill.