Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
HarperCollins Publishers (1986), Paperback, 317 pages
Description
Only Lord Peter has the wit to find the solution to these 12 baffling mysteries Some aristocrats spend their lives shooting, but Lord Peter Wimsey is a hunter of a different kind: a bloodhound with a nose for murder. Before he became Britain's most famous detective, Lord Peter contented himself with solving the crimes he came across by chance. In this volume of short stories, he confronts a stolen stomach, a man with copper fingers, and a deadly adventure at Ali Baba's cave, among other conundrums. These mysteries tax not just his intellect, but his humor, knowledge of metallurgy, and taste for fine wines. It's not easy being a gentleman sleuth, but Lord Peter is the man for the job. Lord Peter Views the Body is the 4th book in the Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, but you may enjoy the series by reading the books in any order. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dorothy L. Sayers including rare images from the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Larou
Lord Peter Wimsey has always been my favourite among the more laid-back, classical detectives, ever since I first read them as a teenager (after watching the BBC TV series with the fabulous Ian Carmichael). Back then, I read them in German translation, but am now doing a re-read of the whole series
Lord Peter Views the Body is a collection of stories and does not quite live up to novels, but for the most part is very enjoyable. The quality of course does vary a bit, but the only one I did not like at all was the final one, “The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba”, because it’s rather a bit too cloak and dagger. My personal favourites are ”The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste”, which basically describes a wine-tasting competition, and “The Learned Adventure of the Dragon’s Head”, which features Lord Peter’s nephew George, a dragon (of course) and a pirate’s treasure – both are just great fun and a pleasure to read.
I suppose the Lord Peter novels and stories count as “cosy mysteries”, but it struck me while reading this collection that on closer look many of the stories are not really all that cosy, but paint a rather grim view of human nature: Most people making an appearance vary from petty and mean-spirited to downright evil, with only very few exceptions that one would call “good” with hesitation. That might be due to the genre Sayers was writing in, or to her Christian world view, but will bear keeping in mind when I go on to read the other Lord Peter novels.
Show More
in the original language which, needless to say, is much more to be preferred – I do not know whether anyone ever actually talked like that, even back in the twenties and thirties, but it is great fun just to relish the dialogue.Lord Peter Views the Body is a collection of stories and does not quite live up to novels, but for the most part is very enjoyable. The quality of course does vary a bit, but the only one I did not like at all was the final one, “The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba”, because it’s rather a bit too cloak and dagger. My personal favourites are ”The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste”, which basically describes a wine-tasting competition, and “The Learned Adventure of the Dragon’s Head”, which features Lord Peter’s nephew George, a dragon (of course) and a pirate’s treasure – both are just great fun and a pleasure to read.
I suppose the Lord Peter novels and stories count as “cosy mysteries”, but it struck me while reading this collection that on closer look many of the stories are not really all that cosy, but paint a rather grim view of human nature: Most people making an appearance vary from petty and mean-spirited to downright evil, with only very few exceptions that one would call “good” with hesitation. That might be due to the genre Sayers was writing in, or to her Christian world view, but will bear keeping in mind when I go on to read the other Lord Peter novels.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
A collection of short stories, Lord Peter Views the Body gives us insight into the character and abilities of Dorothy Sayers delightful detective, Lord Peter Wimsey. I found the stories entertaining and educational in regards to this “Between the Wars” time period. Each of the stories has a
As with most short story collections some are stronger than others. Each reader will have his own favourites, I personally loved “The Learned Adventure of the Dragon’s Head” with it’s antique book-collecting, treasure hunt and the glimpse we get of Lord Peter as the family man. From the dark and gruesome tale of “The Abominable History of the Man With the Coppered Fingers” to the more light-hearted “The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste” there is truly something for everyone in this collection.
Although I do prefer a full length novel, spending time with this man-about-town was a pleasure, and learning of his mauve pajamas and pink silk dressing gown, just makes me like him more. This interesting assortment of twelve stories illustrates Dorothy Sayers writing ability, and why she is one of the foremost authors from the Golden Age of British Crime Fiction.
Show More
unique title such as “The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach” or “The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention” which served to draw the reader in. As with most short story collections some are stronger than others. Each reader will have his own favourites, I personally loved “The Learned Adventure of the Dragon’s Head” with it’s antique book-collecting, treasure hunt and the glimpse we get of Lord Peter as the family man. From the dark and gruesome tale of “The Abominable History of the Man With the Coppered Fingers” to the more light-hearted “The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste” there is truly something for everyone in this collection.
Although I do prefer a full length novel, spending time with this man-about-town was a pleasure, and learning of his mauve pajamas and pink silk dressing gown, just makes me like him more. This interesting assortment of twelve stories illustrates Dorothy Sayers writing ability, and why she is one of the foremost authors from the Golden Age of British Crime Fiction.
Show Less
LibraryThing member seoulful
A book of short stories by one of the masters of English mysteries, Dorothy Sayers. Lord Peter Wimsey applies his excellent mind to solving 12 unusual happenings. The one involving his 10 year old nephew, Lord St. George, stands out with a wonderful interplay between nephew and uncle and Bunter.
LibraryThing member TadAD
A collection of short stories about Peter.
LibraryThing member iayork
The best of Wimsey's short stories: The otherwise excellent 'unabridged' audio edition (read by Ian Carmichael, who portrayed Lord Peter in most of the adaptations of Sayers' novels) actually omitted 3 of these 12 stories, although the rest were indeed unabridged.The complete set of short stories
"The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers" - Varden, an American actor and a guest of one of Lord Peter's friends at the Egotists' Club, tells a story of an encounter with a mysterious stranger years before. A good story; Sayers' rare American characters are much better than, e.g. Christie's, although Varden does slip occasionally into British colloquialisms.
"The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question" - Omitted from the 'unabridged' audio edition, Heaven only knows why. The affair of the Attenbury diamonds, so often mentioned elsewhere as the beginning of Lord Peter's career in detection. A word of warning - Sayers never provided English translations of French dialogue unless forced to do so by her publishers, so part of one scene may be incomprehensible to the reader.
"The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will" - "A woman who pretends to be serious is wasting her time and spoiling her appearance. I consider that you have wasted your time to a really shocking extent. Accordingly, I intend to conceal this will, and that in such a manner that you will certainly never find it unless by the exercise of a sustained frivolity." This letter threw down a gauntlet for Hannah Marryat, one of Lady Mary's terribly earnest Radical friends (who will otherwise lose the money to the Primrose League via an earlier will). Very enjoyable; a shame it wasn't included in the audio edition (it involves a visual clue).
"The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag" - One motorcyclist chases another all along the Great North Road, followed by Lord Peter's Daimler, in pursuit of a small bag. But instead of the Dowager's jewelry stolen from Lord Peter in Piccadilly, the bag contains a woman's severed head. Which of the denials of ownership is a lie?
"The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker" - Mrs. Ruyslander is the victim of the bald-faced theft of two items: the 'Light of Africa' (a diamond necklace of 115 stones), and a small portrait 'with an inscription that nothing, *nothing*, could ever explain away.' Lord Peter tackles the job of retrieving them from the thief without exposing Mrs. Ruyslander's secret.
"The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention" - ENORMOUS, for a 'short' story, and not really worth the trip. Lord Peter's hosts are on the stuffy (and in one instance, spiteful) side, and gossipy, which gives us the background on the local rich old reprobate whose funeral is on the morrow. The mystery here isn't about the death, but who steals the body, and why. Sayers throws in a good bit of supposedly supernatural hocus-pocus for trimming. Although the old man's sons are named Martin and Haviland, they're not related to the 'Haviland Martin' in _Have His Carcase_. (This one *wasn't* cut from the audio edition; I'd have traded it gladly for the 3 that were, visual clues notwithstanding.)
"The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps That Ran" - On a hot June day in 1921, Lord Peter and Bunter have called at the home of a medical friend, a Bloomsbury G.P. who appreciates Bunter's photography of his experiments. Throughout their conversation and the meal, Lord Peter notices the footsteps of the doctor's neighbours on the floor overhead - which end in murder.
"The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste" - One of Lord Peter's government errands, for the War Office this time; he is to purchase a formula for poison gas. Some bright person sold out, however; two Lord Peters show up at the scientist's country estate in France (as a titled Royalist, he offers no allegiance to the upstart French government). The story follows Death Bredon, a 3rd party carrying a letter of introduction. Le comte proposes to find the real Lord Peter with an impromptu wine-tasting competition.
"The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head" - Introducing St. George, staying with his uncle Peter during an outbreak of measles at prep school, as well as Lord Peter's first meeting with Bill Rumm. St. George buys a damaged rare book (nearly all the double-page maps having been torn out) which the bookseller picked up at an estate sale. The audio edition omitted this story, probably because the "treasure map" on which the story turns is a visual clue.
"The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach" - 95-year-old Great-Uncle Joseph left medical student Thomas Macpherson only one thing - his digestive system in a bottle - before jumping out a 6th-storey window after a stroke. "He left a letter. Said he had never been ill in his life and wasn't going to begin now." Lord Peter takes an interest after Mac (a fishing buddy) mentions that cousin Robert, the residuary legatee, can't find most of the old man's assets. You really should listen to Carmichael's narration of this one. :)
"The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face" - A strangler left the corpse on the beach at East Felpham, face mutilated beyond recognition. The story begins with several strangers on a train discussing the newspaper headlines - one of whom turns out to be Lord Peter, and another the inspector in charge of the case.
"The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba" - Begins with a newspaper account of Lord Peter's will, mentioning his death at age 37 in a hunting accident in Tanganyika. Rogers, upon reading the story, breathes a sigh of relief and proceeds with his plans to join a criminal mastermind's burglary & blackmail organization. The story follows Rogers, rather than the efforts of the Law.
Show More
can only be found in the _Lord Peter_ collection; apart from that, this volume is the largest single batch. They don't overlap with _Hangman's Holiday_ or _In the Teeth of the Evidence_, which contain both Wimsey and non-Wimsey stories."The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers" - Varden, an American actor and a guest of one of Lord Peter's friends at the Egotists' Club, tells a story of an encounter with a mysterious stranger years before. A good story; Sayers' rare American characters are much better than, e.g. Christie's, although Varden does slip occasionally into British colloquialisms.
"The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question" - Omitted from the 'unabridged' audio edition, Heaven only knows why. The affair of the Attenbury diamonds, so often mentioned elsewhere as the beginning of Lord Peter's career in detection. A word of warning - Sayers never provided English translations of French dialogue unless forced to do so by her publishers, so part of one scene may be incomprehensible to the reader.
"The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will" - "A woman who pretends to be serious is wasting her time and spoiling her appearance. I consider that you have wasted your time to a really shocking extent. Accordingly, I intend to conceal this will, and that in such a manner that you will certainly never find it unless by the exercise of a sustained frivolity." This letter threw down a gauntlet for Hannah Marryat, one of Lady Mary's terribly earnest Radical friends (who will otherwise lose the money to the Primrose League via an earlier will). Very enjoyable; a shame it wasn't included in the audio edition (it involves a visual clue).
"The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag" - One motorcyclist chases another all along the Great North Road, followed by Lord Peter's Daimler, in pursuit of a small bag. But instead of the Dowager's jewelry stolen from Lord Peter in Piccadilly, the bag contains a woman's severed head. Which of the denials of ownership is a lie?
"The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker" - Mrs. Ruyslander is the victim of the bald-faced theft of two items: the 'Light of Africa' (a diamond necklace of 115 stones), and a small portrait 'with an inscription that nothing, *nothing*, could ever explain away.' Lord Peter tackles the job of retrieving them from the thief without exposing Mrs. Ruyslander's secret.
"The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention" - ENORMOUS, for a 'short' story, and not really worth the trip. Lord Peter's hosts are on the stuffy (and in one instance, spiteful) side, and gossipy, which gives us the background on the local rich old reprobate whose funeral is on the morrow. The mystery here isn't about the death, but who steals the body, and why. Sayers throws in a good bit of supposedly supernatural hocus-pocus for trimming. Although the old man's sons are named Martin and Haviland, they're not related to the 'Haviland Martin' in _Have His Carcase_. (This one *wasn't* cut from the audio edition; I'd have traded it gladly for the 3 that were, visual clues notwithstanding.)
"The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps That Ran" - On a hot June day in 1921, Lord Peter and Bunter have called at the home of a medical friend, a Bloomsbury G.P. who appreciates Bunter's photography of his experiments. Throughout their conversation and the meal, Lord Peter notices the footsteps of the doctor's neighbours on the floor overhead - which end in murder.
"The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste" - One of Lord Peter's government errands, for the War Office this time; he is to purchase a formula for poison gas. Some bright person sold out, however; two Lord Peters show up at the scientist's country estate in France (as a titled Royalist, he offers no allegiance to the upstart French government). The story follows Death Bredon, a 3rd party carrying a letter of introduction. Le comte proposes to find the real Lord Peter with an impromptu wine-tasting competition.
"The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head" - Introducing St. George, staying with his uncle Peter during an outbreak of measles at prep school, as well as Lord Peter's first meeting with Bill Rumm. St. George buys a damaged rare book (nearly all the double-page maps having been torn out) which the bookseller picked up at an estate sale. The audio edition omitted this story, probably because the "treasure map" on which the story turns is a visual clue.
"The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach" - 95-year-old Great-Uncle Joseph left medical student Thomas Macpherson only one thing - his digestive system in a bottle - before jumping out a 6th-storey window after a stroke. "He left a letter. Said he had never been ill in his life and wasn't going to begin now." Lord Peter takes an interest after Mac (a fishing buddy) mentions that cousin Robert, the residuary legatee, can't find most of the old man's assets. You really should listen to Carmichael's narration of this one. :)
"The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face" - A strangler left the corpse on the beach at East Felpham, face mutilated beyond recognition. The story begins with several strangers on a train discussing the newspaper headlines - one of whom turns out to be Lord Peter, and another the inspector in charge of the case.
"The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba" - Begins with a newspaper account of Lord Peter's will, mentioning his death at age 37 in a hunting accident in Tanganyika. Rogers, upon reading the story, breathes a sigh of relief and proceeds with his plans to join a criminal mastermind's burglary & blackmail organization. The story follows Rogers, rather than the efforts of the Law.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mstrust
A collection of short stories about the aristocratic amateur sleuth. He does everything from working a crossword puzzle that is key to a will to finding the culprits responsible for a missing corpse that alters an inheritance to figuring out why an old man left his entire digestive tract to his
This was my first Lord Peter Wimsey and my first Dorothy Sayers. She seems at first like she will occupy the same territory as Agatha Christie with the upper-classes fighting over their inheritance, but Sayers gets a little more ghoulish in her murders.
Show More
nephew instead of land or money. Come to think of it, many of these mysteries involve a will.This was my first Lord Peter Wimsey and my first Dorothy Sayers. She seems at first like she will occupy the same territory as Agatha Christie with the upper-classes fighting over their inheritance, but Sayers gets a little more ghoulish in her murders.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I think I like Wimsey best in small doses. Sayers is great at crafting clever little puzzles that require some poking to unravel, and the short story is a great medium for displaying them without getting too wound up in red herrings.
LibraryThing member themulhern
Arthur Conan Doyle invented the device of the short story with recurring characters Holmes, Watson, Lestrade and so forth and he did it very well. Sayers also does it well with her already established characters Lord Peter, Bunter, and Parker. The last story, in which Lord Peter goes undercover for
Generally speaking, the solutions are obvious to the reader before they are revealed; sometimes there is no mystery at all. This affects my enjoyment of them not at all.
Show More
two years to expose an organized crime syndicate is utterly ridiculous, but it is possible that Sayers knew that when she wrote it and did it for kicks. Other stories, like the one about the stomach, are entertaining for their Scottishness. Her description of the motorcycles on the Old North Road is exhilarating and segues nicely into the revelation of the crime. In general, she sets the scene for each adventure or mystery richly, and finishes each story briskly and cleverly. Generally speaking, the solutions are obvious to the reader before they are revealed; sometimes there is no mystery at all. This affects my enjoyment of them not at all.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Vivl
Delightful, clever, funny and intriguing, with never a dull moment (albeit with some decidedly unlikely occurrences from time to time!) Lord Peter is up the top of my list of all time favourite fictional characters (a bit of a crush, actually) and I highly enjoyed the fleshing out of his
Show More
personality. Show Less
LibraryThing member Smiler69
This book contains twelve short stories starring Lord Peter Wimsey, the debonair aristocratic mastermind who likes to amuse himself by solving strange cases. For those who have read and enjoyed other books in this series, I can guarantee this collection of stories delivers more adventures in the
The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers
The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question
The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will
The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag
The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker
The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention
The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps That Ran
The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste
The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head
The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach
The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face
The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba
Show More
witty and original DLS style. Most of the adventures are truly bizarre in character and compulsively readable. I was going to take my time reading this one, bit by bit, but ending up devouring the book in no time flat. For those who haven't yet had the pleasure of discovering this author or this particular series, this is as good a place as any to start for a taste of what her full-length novels are like. The titles of the stories make for good reading in themselves:The Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers
The Entertaining Episode of the Article in Question
The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager's Will
The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag
The Unprincipled Affair of the Practical Joker
The Undignified Melodrama of the Bone of Contention
The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps That Ran
The Bibulous Business of a Matter of Taste
The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head
The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach
The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face
The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba
Show Less
LibraryThing member antiquary
This is one of my absolute all time favorite mysteries, even my all time favorite books. A few of the stories are on the grim side, notably the Cat in the Bag, the Footsteps that Ran, and the Man with No Face, but many have no violence at al, and some are wildly funny. My supreme favorite is The
Show More
Bone of Contention, not just for its ingenious plot, but also for Peter Wimsey's admirably fair-minded approach to the supernatural, refusing to rule it out a priori, yet still eliminating it as an explanation on good evidential grounds. The Stolen Stomach and Uncle Meleager's Will are also very good fun; all three stories are based on odd wills. as is the Dragon's Head, with a nice icunabular touch. The Article in Question is funny and even slightly risqué as befits a tale starting in France; the Matter of Taste is also French, but a remarkable contest in wine tasting with what is (at first reading) a clever twist ending. The Cave of Ali Baba is more a "thriller' than a mystery in the straight sense, but I always enjoyed it, especially for the villain and his faithful lady friend. Show Less
LibraryThing member Figgles
Doing a bit of renovating so needed some nice light reading. Love these stories, humour and horror and a great deal of fun...
LibraryThing member Helenliz
I can't believe I've not read this before, but bits of it were completely unfamiliar, so maybe this is a first time. A series of short stories, in each of which Peter Wimsey solves a different problem - not all of them being crimes, as such. Some of them fit neatly in the short story format, others
Show More
you sense that an idea is being tried out; at least one had a very familiar turn about it. Some were, frankly, a bit grim; the silver sofa, for example, put the wind up me. A varied and interesting selection. Show Less
LibraryThing member TomDonaghey
Lord Peter Views The Body (1928) (Lord Wimsey #4) by Dorthy L. Sayers. Here is a dozen stories highlighting Lord Peter Wimsey’s rather unorthodox life. While most of his class put the “idle” in “Idle Rich”, he is using his particular intellect and sheer nosiness to delve into mysteries
While there is a rather unusual murder to open the collection, it is the exception within this collection. There are imposters to unmask, a cabal of evil-doers he must expose, a murder weapon to discover in the least likely of places and even a crossword puzzle to solve. The latter leads to a fortune so well with the effort.
Each puzzle ranges from a “that’s clever” to a head scratching that might leave you bald. Every story showcases Dorthy Sayers intellect and humor.
Show More
all around.While there is a rather unusual murder to open the collection, it is the exception within this collection. There are imposters to unmask, a cabal of evil-doers he must expose, a murder weapon to discover in the least likely of places and even a crossword puzzle to solve. The latter leads to a fortune so well with the effort.
Each puzzle ranges from a “that’s clever” to a head scratching that might leave you bald. Every story showcases Dorthy Sayers intellect and humor.
Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
While short story collections always contain some a mix of enjoyable and less enjoyable stories, I found most of these Lord Peter stories entertaining. I particularly enjoyed the one with the crossword puzzle. I tended to like the ones where Bunter played a bigger role better. I read one or two
Show More
stories daily when I began reading the collection, and they provided a nice diversion from the current epidemic raging throughout the world. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
This collection of 12 short stories featuring Lord Peter Wimsey was new to me. When I read most of the Wimsey books in my late teens, I didn’t care for short stories. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this collection. Sayers’ writing sparkles with vivid descriptions of scenery
One passage in “The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran” caught my eye:
That’s it. My right-hand man, Bunter; couldn’t do a thing without him. The picture’s latent till you put the developer on. Same with the brain. No mystery. Little grey books all my respected grandmother! Little grey matter’s all you want to remember things with...
It immediately brought to mind Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and his “little grey cells.” It left me wondering if Christie influenced Sayers, Sayers influenced Christie, or if both were influenced by the pop psychology of their day.
Show More
and Wimsey’s wit and vocabulary. The stories showcased various aspects of Wimsey’s character. I loved “The Learned Adventure of the Dragon’s Head,” in which Wimsey has the care of his 10-year-old nephew when his school unexpectedly closes due to an outbreak of measles. I was sorry that the collection ended on a sour note with “The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba,” which strained credulity too far.One passage in “The Vindictive Story of the Footsteps that Ran” caught my eye:
That’s it. My right-hand man, Bunter; couldn’t do a thing without him. The picture’s latent till you put the developer on. Same with the brain. No mystery. Little grey books all my respected grandmother! Little grey matter’s all you want to remember things with...
It immediately brought to mind Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and his “little grey cells.” It left me wondering if Christie influenced Sayers, Sayers influenced Christie, or if both were influenced by the pop psychology of their day.
Show Less
LibraryThing member leslie.98
2020 reread:
This collection of 12 short stories featuring Lord Peter Wimsey does a good job of showing the reader different facets of Wimsey's character and interests. Each story is a bit different - some showing his ability to make detailed observations, some his deductive powers and others
This collection of 12 short stories featuring Lord Peter Wimsey does a good job of showing the reader different facets of Wimsey's character and interests. Each story is a bit different - some showing his ability to make detailed observations, some his deductive powers and others
Show More
involve more intuition or his knowledge of other subjects (particularly rare books & fine wines). Show Less
LibraryThing member quondame
While clever and well written, these mysteries have less of what I like about the Lord Peter Wimsey books and more of the gimmicky bits I can do without.
LibraryThing member ashleytylerjohn
This is one of my favourite titles, but not one of my favourite books, unfortunately. It's a set of short stories, ranging from 2 to 4 stars, mostly 3.5, I'd think, but rounding down so as not to mislead re quality. I love Lord Peter, most of the time, but these stories just didn't work for me the
If you go your whole life only reading the novels, and then check this out for completeness' sake (as I've done), that's about right. Don't start here! Start with Strong Poison and then read forward from there, dipping back into Unnatural Death if you want a taste of a pre-Poison book (it's one of my favourites, owing to so much Miss Climson).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
Show More
way the novels do. In many of them he doesn't seem like himself, he seems like whatever generic pulp hero is required for making the plot work out--the final story is especially frustrating and wildly unbelievable.If you go your whole life only reading the novels, and then check this out for completeness' sake (as I've done), that's about right. Don't start here! Start with Strong Poison and then read forward from there, dipping back into Unnatural Death if you want a taste of a pre-Poison book (it's one of my favourites, owing to so much Miss Climson).
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
Show Less
LibraryThing member eurohackie
I read all of Dorothy Sayers's short stories last year (2019) and thus my introduction to Lord Peter was in this format. This collection of twelve was a very pleasant re-read and way to immerse myself in the Wimsey world again.
The stories themselves are a bit of a mixed bag, but in an interesting
The stories themselves are a bit of a mixed bag, but in an interesting
Show More
way. My favorites are definitely "The Learned Adventure of the Dragon's Head," featuring Lord Peter's nephew Picked Gherkins (I find Uncle Peter to be especially adorable, LOL), and "The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba," the final story in this collection which would've made for a helluva standalone story! Talk about playing the longest of long con games! Show Less
LibraryThing member PatsyMurray
While I enjoyed seeing Lord Peter in his various manifestations, the stories are not well-plotted and often are downright silly. The last story is perhaps one of the best and I was amused by this line: "I've got the great big top Moriarty of the whole bunch quietly asphyxiating at home."
LibraryThing member jennybeast
Clever collection of short mysteries starring Wimsey. Some whiplash, jumping around in time, but a lot of very interesting brain pleasing stories. One particularly hilarious auction day, where Lord Peter behaves badly had me laughing loudly, although a typo in Hypnotermachia had me wincing. Wincing
Show More
also at the racial slurs that rise up from nowhere in Sayers' work, and are a mirror of her time. Show Less
LibraryThing member alanteder
The Best of the Wimsey Shorts
Review of the Hodder & Stoughton paperback edition (2017) of the 1928 original
Too much modern crime fiction dwells in degradation and pain. Sayers acknowledges tragedy but has grander schemes in mind - to entertain and enlighten with suspense, subtlety and a sense of
I actually read all of these 12 stories earlier this year in [book:Lord Peter Wimsey: The Complete Short Stories|36661909] (2018) which also collects all of the Wimsey shorts from Hangman's Holiday (Wimsey #9) (1933 - only 4 Wimsey stories), In the Teeth of the Evidence (Wimsey #14) (1939 - only 2 Wimsey stories) and Striding Folly (Wimsey #15) (1939/1973 - only 3 Wimsey stories). That collection ends on a sliding down note though as the later stories see a domesticated Wimsey handling mundane issues such as squabbling neighbours.
In contrast, Lord Peter Views the Body portrays a wide range of stories with a dynamic younger Wimsey solving crimes from the macabre opening of The Abominable History of the Man With Copper Fingers through to his proto-James Bond in The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba. That closing story has Wimsey single-handedly defeating a proto-SPECTRE gang led by a cold villainous proto-Ernst Stavro Blofeld-like Number One character.
Each story features unique solving methods which include everything from vintage wines, playing cards, treasure maps, crossword puzzles and site-removed deductions. Lord Peter Views the Body was a delightful re-read that had none of the downsides of the longer anthology.
Review of the Hodder & Stoughton paperback edition (2017) of the 1928 original
Too much modern crime fiction dwells in degradation and pain. Sayers acknowledges tragedy but has grander schemes in mind - to entertain and enlighten with suspense, subtlety and a sense of
Show More
humour. - from the Introduction by Christopher Fowler.I actually read all of these 12 stories earlier this year in [book:Lord Peter Wimsey: The Complete Short Stories|36661909] (2018) which also collects all of the Wimsey shorts from Hangman's Holiday (Wimsey #9) (1933 - only 4 Wimsey stories), In the Teeth of the Evidence (Wimsey #14) (1939 - only 2 Wimsey stories) and Striding Folly (Wimsey #15) (1939/1973 - only 3 Wimsey stories). That collection ends on a sliding down note though as the later stories see a domesticated Wimsey handling mundane issues such as squabbling neighbours.
In contrast, Lord Peter Views the Body portrays a wide range of stories with a dynamic younger Wimsey solving crimes from the macabre opening of The Abominable History of the Man With Copper Fingers through to his proto-James Bond in The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba. That closing story has Wimsey single-handedly defeating a proto-SPECTRE gang led by a cold villainous proto-Ernst Stavro Blofeld-like Number One character.
Each story features unique solving methods which include everything from vintage wines, playing cards, treasure maps, crossword puzzles and site-removed deductions. Lord Peter Views the Body was a delightful re-read that had none of the downsides of the longer anthology.
Show Less
LibraryThing member CarltonC
With an informative introduction by Jill Paton Walsh, this volume of short stories originally published in 1928 allow us further time with Lord Peter Wimsey, Dorothy L Sayers’ excellent amateur detective.
Having read many of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels, these stories are like the icing on the
Are the stories dated, yes dreadfully, but therein lies part of their undoubted charm.
Delightfully nostalgic fantasy, which can sometimes be just what’s wanted.
The levity with which these mysteries are couched is reflected in their titles, such as The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach, which is partially set in Kirkcudbrightshire, a county to which Sayers returned in Five Red Herrings.
The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face involves the murder of a man on the beach involving a rocky promontory which feels like a precursor of that featuring in Strong Poison.
The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba is a rather disappointing finale to what is otherwise a very high quality collection of short stories.
My edition was published in 2017 by the Folio Society and is copiously illustrated by Paul Cox with black and white drawings that perfectly capture the 1920’s setting of the stories.
Having read many of the Lord Peter Wimsey novels, these stories are like the icing on the
Show More
cake, and are joyfully entertaining, allowing this reader the illusion of being able to step back nearly 100 years, into a time when a dowager duchess or manservant is an unexceptional character in the story (well, one can dream!).Are the stories dated, yes dreadfully, but therein lies part of their undoubted charm.
Delightfully nostalgic fantasy, which can sometimes be just what’s wanted.
The levity with which these mysteries are couched is reflected in their titles, such as The Piscatorial Farce of the Stolen Stomach, which is partially set in Kirkcudbrightshire, a county to which Sayers returned in Five Red Herrings.
The Unsolved Puzzle of the Man with No Face involves the murder of a man on the beach involving a rocky promontory which feels like a precursor of that featuring in Strong Poison.
The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba is a rather disappointing finale to what is otherwise a very high quality collection of short stories.
My edition was published in 2017 by the Folio Society and is copiously illustrated by Paul Cox with black and white drawings that perfectly capture the 1920’s setting of the stories.
Show Less
Language
Original publication date
1928
Physical description
320 p.; 6.85 inches
ISBN
006080839X / 9780060808396
Local notes
Lord Peter, 04
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery Sayers |