The Daily Telegraph ran a feature on Saturday entitled ‘50 Crime Writers To Read Before You Die’, and we’re still not sure if we should laugh or cry. Yes, we’ve always had a sneaking fondness for GREAT EXPECTATIONS as a noir-ish tale – but Charles Dickens as a crime writer? Hmmmmm ... Happy days for The Artist Formerly Known As Colin Bateman, who gets the following entry: “Any appearance by Bateman’s regular protagonist, journalist Dan Starkey, heralds the imminent death in amusing fashion of half the population of Belfast. Comic thrillers that are actually comic and thrilling.” Hurrah! Okay, now for the crying bit: the list of 50 does not – repeat not – include James M. Cain, Ross Macdonald, John D. McDonald, W.R. Burnett or Horace McCoy. Seriously. But it does – repeat, does – include Benjamin Black. Wot? Benny Blanco? ARE YOU FRICKIN’ KIDDING US?????
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Crimes Against Crime Fiction # 2,102: The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph ran a feature on Saturday entitled ‘50 Crime Writers To Read Before You Die’, and we’re still not sure if we should laugh or cry. Yes, we’ve always had a sneaking fondness for GREAT EXPECTATIONS as a noir-ish tale – but Charles Dickens as a crime writer? Hmmmmm ... Happy days for The Artist Formerly Known As Colin Bateman, who gets the following entry: “Any appearance by Bateman’s regular protagonist, journalist Dan Starkey, heralds the imminent death in amusing fashion of half the population of Belfast. Comic thrillers that are actually comic and thrilling.” Hurrah! Okay, now for the crying bit: the list of 50 does not – repeat not – include James M. Cain, Ross Macdonald, John D. McDonald, W.R. Burnett or Horace McCoy. Seriously. But it does – repeat, does – include Benjamin Black. Wot? Benny Blanco? ARE YOU FRICKIN’ KIDDING US?????
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Declan Burke has published a number of novels, the most recent of which is ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL. As a journalist and critic, he writes and broadcasts on books and film for a variety of media outlets, including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Examiner and the Sunday Independent. He has an unfortunate habit of speaking about himself in the third person. All views expressed here are his own and are very likely to be contrary.
Dec believe it or not Mr Mckie of the Telegraph panel commented on Crime Scraps that P.D James, Baroness James no less, degrees coming out of her ears PD James, President of the Society of Authors, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts,OBE can't write!!??
ReplyDeleteOh, boy, are those Telegraphers rubbing their hands with glee at the debate their list is generating! One would almost they think they threw in a few outrageous choices and made some provocatively silly remarks just to spark discussion, thus engaging in a practice seen by some as the curse of blogging. But would an organ of the respectable press do that?
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Uriah - Sadly, I can't comment, having never read any of PD James' novels. Yes, I'm wearing a pointy hat as I type ... Peter - How cynical, sir. Anyone would think you work in the newspaper industry ... But seriously, folks - no James M. Cain or Ross Macdonald? Criminal ... Cheers, Dec
ReplyDeleteHe didn't think Colin Dexter or Tony Hillerman could write either, but then they aren't Dames of the British Empire.
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