Medieval Crime Fiction - A Critical Overview

Combining elements of medievalism, the historical novel and the detective narrative, medieval crime fiction capitalizes upon the appeal of all three--the most famous examples being Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose (one of the best-selling books ever published) and Ellis Peters' endearing Brother Cadfael series.
Hundreds of other novels and series fill out the genre, in settings ranging from the so-called Celtic Enlightenment in seventh-century Ireland to the ruthless Inquisition in fourteenth-century France to the mean streets of medieval London. The detectives are an eclectic group, including weary ex-crusaders, former Knights Templar, enterprising monks and nuns, and historical poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer.
This book investigates the enduring popularity of the largely unexamined genre and explores its social, cultural and political contexts.

List of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii

Introduction

One. Genres and Origins

Two. Soiled Knights and Medieval Mean Streets

Three. Divine Ratiocination

Four. An Unsuitable Job for a Medieval Woman

Five. "There are no Jews in England"

Six. Poet or PI?

Conclusion

Appendix: Authors, with Characters and Settings

Chapter Notes

Works Cited

Index

About the author

Anne McKendry is a Research Associate at the University of Melbourne. She has published on medieval literature and medievalist popular culture.

Product details

• Authors: Anne McKendry
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 18
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 14.05.2019
• EAN: 9781476666716
• ISBN: 978-1-4766-6671-6
• No. of pages: 275
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 229 mm x 14 mm
• Weight: 367 g
• Illustrations: Raster,schwarz-weiss
• Subjects: Fiction > Poetry, drama; LITERARY CRITICISM / Medieval, LITERARY CRITICISM / Mystery & Detective, Literary studies: general, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers