Dorothy Sayers' Whimsey novels - do you know the (1980s) TV adaptations?

I like Thrones, Dominations. But she went downhill after that- probably because she had no DS notes to go on.

Does anyone know if there's a downloadable audiobook of Gaudy Night?

Not just you, tobee. I wouldn't find Roger Livesey attractive normally but in that film, definitely. And I would quite like a walking tour in the West Country if I could wear clothes like Harriet's

I once went to a screening I Know Where I'm Going with someone I was in a situation of sexual tension with. Quite an experience
I bet! I can see how IKWIG might bring a simmering pot to the boil. So to speak...

I've read all the JPW books apart from The Late Scholar and wasn't thrilled (slight understatement) though I'm sure that I will read TLS at some point, just for completeness.

I will also look into the Amanda Cross novels. They sound like they would be right up my street. Thanks for the recommendation, Scone

JPW's Wimsey books aren't good and sometimes make my skin crawl but listening to audible download of EP reading TAE was worth it because he does it so well. He doesn't do any of the others as far as I know. I can't do Ian Carmichael I'm afraid.

Thanks Scone, will look into amanda cross.

Oh, and I just realized that I read the first Imogen Quy one years ago.

I just ordered a sample of The Late Scholar for my kindle. Her non-Wimsey books do sound interesting (and varied). Most are not available on kindle in the US, but I see that my local library has several. I reserved Knowledge of Angels.

I think you might like it. For me, it's sufficiently removed from DLS's time-period that I don't mind.

I do agree with irene, though, that in general JPW's continuations are poor compared with her own novels. It irritates me, actually - there are a fair few fanfic writers who are great mimics, who could do it. JPW is a great writer, but it isn't the same thing.

I'm thinking about reading The Late Scholar. I really enjoy mysteries with academic settings.

Speaking of which, I recommend American author Amanda Cross's Kate Fansler mysteries. Some are better than others, but I really like them all. Amanda Cross was the pen name of professor Carolyn Heilbrun, the first woman to receive tenure in the Columbia University English department. Her books (including her academic ones) have strong feminist themes.

That's why I think The Late Scholar is a bit better as it's a bit more 'her', less 'mannered'.

I once went to a screening I Know Where I'm Going with someone I was in a situation of sexual tension with. Quite an experience

Those JPW books are rubbish. Odd as she's written some fantastic novels in her own voice.

Ha! about the trips to locations. My DH has gone on at me for years about going on a walking holiday with him which I've always pooh-poohed as intensely dull. But I nearly gave myself away when I let slipped that I fancied a walking holiday alone around the West Country. He would have got very suspicious if I'd packed my sensible tweed skirt and wooly hat along with my lisle stockings in my backpack but I think I'd have been the one in for a shock at my cowardliness if I'd found a body on the flat iron.

BTW, it doesn't surprise me in the least that fans of DLS are also fans of "I Know Where I'm Going". Why is it that in the dramatisations EP is the most attractive man on earth and similarly is Roger Livesey in "I Know Where I'm Going" or is it just me?

No, I haven't read any of the JPW ones. I started Thrones, Dominations years ago but didn't finish it.

Well, there is that.

I think TAE is just not very good all through, really.

"were trying to set him up with a bit of sex appeal"
hahahaha!

I don't think it makes a difference to The Late Scholar.

I hate the way it's handled in TAE though; not the plausibility of the scenario but the characters' behaviour.

One thing I don't think anyone mentioned - according to the "making of" interview with EP in the DVD, they made Bunter do the riding bit as they were trying to set him up with a bit of sex appeal, the producers felt Wimsey might be a bit too academic to appeal to some viewers. Missed the point rather there then.

That is hilarious. Yup, definitely missed the point.

scone - hmm, oddly, it isn't too bad. The way she sets it up, it's plausible.

Did you read TAE. Scone?

uh, oh. Hope that wasn't a spoiler.

When I found out that JPW made LPW the Duke of Denver, I knew I could not read the continuations. That is just so wrong.

Just read through the whole thread - I'm currently re-reading HHC having rediscovered my copy in a lost book box

Have the DVDs of the 80s adaptations. I really like the major characters, but find some of the minor character actors rather wooden. Or perhaps just a bit set up - they turn up against some background, deliver their witness statements in odd accents then vanish again.

One thing I don't think anyone mentioned - according to the "making of" interview with EP in the DVD, they made Bunter do the riding bit as they were trying to set him up with a bit of sex appeal, the producers felt Wimsey might be a bit too academic to appeal to some viewers. Missed the point rather there then. Haven't watched it for a while but seem to recall EP sounding slightly miffed about it.

I find the JPW continuations interesting if not quite right. I'm sure she's right about class boundaries being broken down somewhat during and after the war, but the way she does it doesn't ring true. I didn't realise she'd done another one, that's one for the xmas book token then!

I love Mull. We even stayed in the Western Isles Hotel.

My family did like the Oxford Bar in Edinburgh, where I left a message with the barman to tell Ian Rankin to please bring back Rebus. DH is convinced that this is the reason for Rebus's reappearance.

Come to think of it, there is a link there. I had never read any mystery novels until The Nine Tailors and then all of the Wimsey novels in quick succession. So it was Dorothy Sayers who introduced me to detective fiction, which is an enduring source of pleasure.

Ooh, another 'I Know Where I'm Going' fan? One of my all time favourite films.

But your poor family We literary fans can be hard work for our travelling companions. I dragged poor old DH to many literary landmarks over the years. He never really understood quite why I was so keen to visit, say, Coleridge's Cottage. But he very tolerantly went along with it all.

Doesn't it always rain on Mull? I think we had rain every single day when we were there. Beautiful place, though. Even with the horizontal rain.

That's funny. I was trying to explain similar to DH and my brother and SIL, whose first trip to Scotland it was. This was after making them go with me to Moy Castle on Mull, which can only be reached on foot (and it was pouring rain) on my I Know Where I'm Going film pilgrimage.

In honor of this thread, I just spent some of my Amazon Christmas gift card loading up Wimsey books (already had Gaudy Night) so I'm ready for some binge re-reading.

Scone Scottish pronunciation quite often flummoxes me.

You're probably right Nine Tailors is certainly the better novel - 5RH is an acquired taste, perhaps. But I am quite a sucker for anything set in Scotland.

DH was a bit bemused by it all, especially Glentrool and the Minnoch - "Why are we going to this place?"

It's where the body was found in 5RH"

"So we're visiting an actual place where in a book a body was found." He actually did look like