P.D. James
The Grand Dame of Crime returns to the sofa and holds forth on the nature of crime writing and what it was like to turn detective herself…
P.D. James’ first novel Cover Face, published in 1962, introduced Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh; policeman and poet. Since then Phyllis has written over twenty books, most of which have been filmed and broadcast on television. She spent thirty years in various departments of the British Civil Service, including the Police and Criminal Law Department of Great Britain's Home Office. She has served as a magistrate and as a governor of the BBC. The recipient of many prizes and honours, she was created Baroness James of Holland Park in 1991 and now serves as a Conservative life peer.
The Maul and The Pear-Tree is a work of non-fiction, co-written with late T.A. Critchley, about the Ratcliffe Highway murders in 1811. The murders shocked society at the time with their brutality and led to the chief suspect being buried with a stake through his heart. First published in 1971 is has been re-released this year.
Watch P.D. James discussing why she enjoys crime writing:
Read the opening pages of The Maul and The Pear-Tree by P.D. James and T.A. Critchley at Lovereading.com
