DLB 87: British Mystery and Thriller Writers since 1940, First Series (Dictionary of Literary Biography, 87)

The period since 1940 has seen a backlash against the traditional British genteel-puzzle mystery. Its characterized by the serial detective-Holmes, Poirot, Wimsey-who dominates through force of personality or even idiosyncrasy. Suspense novels, crime novels, psychological thrillers and spy stories have increasingly displaced the pure detective novel. This volume offers career biographies of 25 of the best British mystery and thriller writers since 1940. 25 entries include: Desmond Bagley, Edmund Crispin, Len Deighton, Ian Fleming, Ken Follett, Frederick Forsyth, Dick Francis, P.D. James, John le Carre, Peter Lovesey, Helen MacInnes, Ruth Rendell. Ted Allbeury -- Desmond Bagley -- Edmund Crispin (robert Bruce Montgomery) -- Len Deighton -- Colin Dexter -- Peter Dickinson -- Elizabeth Ferrars (morna Doris Brown) -- Ian Fleming -- Ken Follett -- Frederick Forsyth -- Dick Francis -- Nicholas Freeling -- Andrew Garve -- Michael Gilbert -- Geoffrey Household -- P.d. James (phyllis Dorothy James White) -- H.r.f. Keating -- John Le Carre (david John Moore Cornwell) -- Peter Lovesey -- Gavin Lyall -- Helen Macinnes -- Peter O'donnell -- Ruth Rendell -- George Sims -- Julian Symons. Bernard Benstock And Thomas F. Staley, Eds. A Bruccoli Clark Layman Book. Includes Bibliographical References. Essays on British writers of detective novels, thrillers, suspense and crime novels, including psychological thrillers and spy stories. Discusses the backlash against the previously restrictive format that liberated the genre to develop along diverse lines. Influenced by an England caught between traditional and progressive modes of behavior