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

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

I wasn't sure where to put this thread, but it feels as if it'd be more at home here that the TV threads. I love Dorothy Sayers. MN introduced me to her. I wish they'd do another adaptation, but the 1980s ones are surprisingly good.

The wonderful sconerhymeswithgone showed me the existence of these on youtube. (The link is to Gaudy Night, because that's what I'm watching, but there are lots of earlier ones).

What do you think? I liked the casting, but I have quibbles. And the ending to Gaudy Night is a travesty, right?

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.

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

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

Well, there is that.

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

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?

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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

Thanks Scone, will look into amanda cross.

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.

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

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?

Yes, it's read by Ian Carmichael. Available on iTunes or audible

I like the characterisation of T,D but I hate the comments about the victim. They seem far from the Peter of Gaudy Night, tbh.

I don't mind IC in audio, it's on screen where he just looks all wrong

Sorry, I meant an audio book of Gaudy Night, not of T,D.

Yup- both are there, Hak.

I must be being particularly dim. I'll go and have another look!

I have been trying over the last few days to find my copy of The Wimsey Papers - I'm sure I have a printed copy on A4 sheets somewhere, but I can't remember where it is or where I got it from - it might have been from my brother who is also a Wimsey fan. If I do find it, I will scan it and am happy to email to anyone who wants it, but I have to find it first, and all the places it might be are too bloody cold to venture into at the moment...

It is available online, but I can't find it in a very accessible form -you can find scanned pages here:
web.archive.org/web/20030711112319/www.pemberley.com/images/wimsey/wimsey.html

and the Spectator archives here: -
archive.spectator.co.uk/issues

They were published in weekly instalments, starting on 16th November 1939 and finishing in January 1940, and they are the basis for a lot of A Presumption Of Death.

I remember reading somewhere that Sayers 'is said to' have said that Peter and Harriet would eventually have 5 children, and that she thought that Jerry would not survive the war - but there are a lot of things that DLS is 'said to' have said/done, including inventing the phrase 'It pays to advertise', which she certainly didn't...

I'd love it if you find it!

Found it ! Have pm'd you Yonic.