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Anthology: The Detection Collection (edited by S. Brett) – 12 signatures

£85.00

A special anthology by the Detection Club with classic authors to celebrate 75 years since it was founded by Christie. One of only 100 numbered and signed copies in a special binding with a tribute to the Detection Club exclusive to this edition by Russian mystery writer Boris Akunin & Michael Johnson of Scorpion Press. A special volume with 12 signatures.

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Britain’s Detection Club, founded in 1930 by such legends of the genre as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers, celebrates its 75th anniversary with an all-original anthology whose strongest entries are by two living legends, P.D. James and Colin Dexter.  Also includes stories by Simon Brett, Robert Barnard, Lindsey Davis, Clare Francis, Robert Goddard, John Harvey, Reginald Hill , H R F Keating, Mike Ridpath, and Margaret Yorke.

Also included is an interesting History of the Detection Club by the current chairman Simon Brett, and a tribute to the Detection Club exclusive to this edition by Russian mystery writer Boris Akunin & Michael Johnson of Scorpion Press. This tribute essay is 6 pages in length and notes that the original members and presidents were ‘men of letters’, producing detective fiction as a pastime to the main concern of literature. All the presidents are discussed in turn from G K Chesterton to Simon Brett and how the scope of the detective form has changed and been extended. The different cousins of the tradition – the puzzle book and the adventure story – are considered and how they became reunited in the work of Dick Francis. A fascinating and well written piece that gives an overview of the evolution of the genre.

Published in 2005 in an edition of 100 numbered and signed copies (12 author signatures) and 16 deluxe lettered (signed additionally by the authors of the tribute essay Akunin and Johnson). The ordinary numbered had a black leather binding with a silver-grey marbled paper cover over boards, black endpapers and black coloured top edge. Complete with silver  blocking to spine. The deluxe state was enhanced with five raised bands and silver plating to the top edge of the pages. A most handsome volume.

5.00 out of 5

1 review for Anthology: The Detection Collection (edited by S. Brett) – 12 signatures

  1. 5 out of 5

    Rating by Harriet Klausner on April 5, 2012 :

    “What better way to show reverence to Britain’s Detection Club than with a strong anthology for its seventy-fifth birthday though based on Simon Brett’s Introduction the founding date is ironically a mystery as 1929, 1930 or 1932 are bandied about. One thing mystery fans will agree upon is that the club has always contained a who’s who. The founders included Christie, Chesterton, and Sayers, etc. The contributors to this anthology consists of renowned British authors such as P.D. James, Colin Dexter, H.R.F. Keating, and one of this reviewer’s favorite suspense authors Robert Goddard. The eleven tales are all well written with three extraordinary standouts: James’ “The Part-time Job”, Dexter’s “Between the Lines” and “Toupee for a Bald Tyre” by Goddard. Mr. Brett adds an essay “The Detection Club, A Brief History” that adds to the fun of a fine compilation that whether it is anniversary 73. 75 or 76, still pays homage to the founding parents through a solid short story collection”. Harriet Klausner

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