Sunday, July 14, 2024

Gaudy Night (Redux)


  It's time once again for me to have an annual reading of/listening to at least part of Dorothy L. Sayers novels on audio and so I've listened to the Gaudy Night (1935), the penultimate book in the Wimsey/Vane mystery cycle. I've read this one and listened to it so often that I don't have much that is new to say this time. Except that like Harriet and her ivory chessmen, I developed an unreasonable love for the Lord Peter Wimsey books over thirty years and I must revisit them regularly even though I practically know them by heart. And it is always a pleasure to listen to Ian Carmichael read the stories. If you would like a more indepth look at my thoughts on this particular book, please see the link above.

First line: Harriet Vane sat at her writing-table and stared out into Mecklenburg Square.

Last line: He primly settled his white bands and went upon his walk unheeded; and no hand plucked his velvet sleeve.
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Deaths = one shot

2 comments:

CLM said...

I have read the ones with Harriet in them the most, and I like this best because of the Oxford setting. The first thing I did when I visited Oxford was go to Somerville College, as much for Vera Brittain as for Sayers.

Possibly my favorite part of this book is when she runs into Lord Peter's nephew.

Bev Hankins said...

CLM: Yes, her interactions with Lord St. George are great. But there are so many good parts to Sayers' novels, it's hard for me to pick favorites.