I had a relative just like Miss Pride. She had to be very strong-willed and assertive to make it in the corporate world as a woman, so the loss of her autonomy in her later years was very hard for her. Any assistance had to be discreet so she wouldn't see it as an assault on her dignity. More broadly, I enjoy Marsh's spinster type because they're an embellishment of a very real phenomenon. So many women in the first half of the 20th century were brought up to do *the one thing*, only to be relegated to that horrible status of "surplus woman". I'd be furious, too! I have a suggestion for a future video: a list of the best framing devices used in mystery novels.
Yes, Miss Pride owns Portcarrow. She introduces herself to Elspeth Cost with the words "I am your landlord". Concentration of land holdings is not uncommon in the UK. Even now, large swathes of London are owned by the Crown, the Church of England and various peers, most notably the Duke of Westminster.
Hey love your channel i started watching Poirot and nero wolfe shows because of your videos and also got to know about different authors. I wanted to ask whether will you cover the books of Ruth Rendell in the future?
Yes. I've gotten a lot of requests for Ruth Rendell. Georgette Heyer is next and then there's an active poll for the author her but then after that person I think I'm just going to do Ruth Rendell. I'll probably break her books up into three groups - Inspector Wexford, Standalone and then Barbara Vine. She has a lot of novels so that will be easier. I might do Wexford first then go to another author then comeback. It's been a while since I've read some of these novels.
This isn't one of my most-liked Marsh novels either, not least because Marsh drags out one of her favourite tropes: a middle-aged menopausal woman, usually a spinster, who's slightly or completely dotty (lack of estrogen?) and is either the murderer or the victim. In Overture to Death, one such spinster is the murderer, and another is the victim. See also A Clutch of Constables (spinster is the victim) and False Scent (not a spinster, but still a victim; and it becomes clear that she was murdered because she was nuts--and she's 50).
I completely forgot about A Clutch of Constables. That's another for me like Dead Water that I simply don't remember. I did not remember the victim was a spinster. I do remember the plot otherwise though. The consensus around Dead Water is that it exists.
I get that. I didn't have a problem finishing this one but I certainly can see why that might be a problem. It doesn't have a lot remarkable about it. I think there are worse books from Marsh that are more interesting to talk about.
Thanks hon😊
I had a relative just like Miss Pride. She had to be very strong-willed and assertive to make it in the corporate world as a woman, so the loss of her autonomy in her later years was very hard for her. Any assistance had to be discreet so she wouldn't see it as an assault on her dignity. More broadly, I enjoy Marsh's spinster type because they're an embellishment of a very real phenomenon. So many women in the first half of the 20th century were brought up to do *the one thing*, only to be relegated to that horrible status of "surplus woman". I'd be furious, too!
I have a suggestion for a future video: a list of the best framing devices used in mystery novels.
Oh that's a good idea! And yes, I also love her spinster types. She does them so well.
Yes, Miss Pride owns Portcarrow. She introduces herself to Elspeth Cost with the words "I am your landlord". Concentration of land holdings is not uncommon in the UK. Even now, large swathes of London are owned by the Crown, the Church of England and various peers, most notably the Duke of Westminster.
Ok that makes sense.
Hey love your channel i started watching Poirot and nero wolfe shows because of your videos and also got to know about different authors. I wanted to ask whether will you cover the books of Ruth Rendell in the future?
Yes. I've gotten a lot of requests for Ruth Rendell. Georgette Heyer is next and then there's an active poll for the author her but then after that person I think I'm just going to do Ruth Rendell. I'll probably break her books up into three groups - Inspector Wexford, Standalone and then Barbara Vine. She has a lot of novels so that will be easier. I might do Wexford first then go to another author then comeback. It's been a while since I've read some of these novels.
@summationgathering okay thank you for replying!
This isn't one of my most-liked Marsh novels either, not least because Marsh drags out one of her favourite tropes: a middle-aged menopausal woman, usually a spinster, who's slightly or completely dotty (lack of estrogen?) and is either the murderer or the victim. In Overture to Death, one such spinster is the murderer, and another is the victim. See also A Clutch of Constables (spinster is the victim) and False Scent (not a spinster, but still a victim; and it becomes clear that she was murdered because she was nuts--and she's 50).
I completely forgot about A Clutch of Constables. That's another for me like Dead Water that I simply don't remember. I did not remember the victim was a spinster. I do remember the plot otherwise though. The consensus around Dead Water is that it exists.
I just couldn’t finish this one. I love Ngaio Marsh but this one just doesn’t do it for me.
I get that. I didn't have a problem finishing this one but I certainly can see why that might be a problem. It doesn't have a lot remarkable about it. I think there are worse books from Marsh that are more interesting to talk about.