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?

Just looked back through the thread. I started with 'Strong Poison; many years ago, and a dull NYE party,. was hooked, and then read the lot. I would agree about starting with that one, then reading the pre-Harriet ones, and them finally reading HHC and GN.
BH was disappointing.

"BH was disappointing"

Do you think so? I love it.

I have a big soft spot for BH myself, it was the first of the Wimsey/Vane books I happened across as a teenager.
Have now got The Late Scholar to read thanks to this thread, boding interesting so far

I maybe was too harsh re BH... I think it was because the build up to LPW and HV consummation was so charged that maybe seemed an anti-climax?
I really enjoyed the JPW follow-ups. Hoping she can squeeze out another...?

I've never been able to get on with BH at all... all those comedy accents and unengaging characters, plus Peter and Harriet's love life is a bit icky.

Yes - lots of people say it's icky.

Not ashamed to say I am besotted with BH. The sheer relief that Harriet feels once it's done, the subtle shift in power between them, (even the joy of finding she's not poor any more,) is seriously uplifting. I think there's a conversation sitting outside on a bench that to me seems like the true consummation of their entire courtship. (Because there was that episode before they married ...)

I'm actually rereading BH on Kindle right now - I think you have to read it as Sayers described it - 'a love story with detective interruptions' - it's the 'what happened afterwards' bit, like the last chapter of Harry Potter - in fact in many ways it's practically a fanfic.

Finished the TV Gaudy Night yesterday! Loved Harriet and Peter still, but the proposal was all wrong. And it made me realise just how rich the book is with all the characters and detail that link into Harriet thinking and rethinking her view of the world. I think I might be satisfied if they had dramatised it in 8 episodes rather than 3.

Hmm, I didn't mind the proposal so much as the answer. Quite liked the proposal.

Nope, didn't like TLS as much as Presumption of Death. Pale shadow of Gaudy Night. Back to re-reading GN now.

Yes, the answer was what I meant - all wrong!

I've been inspired by this thread to reread Busman's Holiday. Definitely agree with the poster above that it has fanfic elements. The beginning and end are beautifully done (though the self-indulgent description of Duke's Denver is v fanfic) and there are some v strong passages about Peter and Harriet's relationship (I still think it degenerates into ick at points... But I am v unromantic).

The actual murder plot is grim and the characters unengaging, but I realise on rereading that this is Sayers' point. Murder does show humanity at its worst, and murderers are nasty pieces of work acting from unpleasant motives. There is no glamour in it, and no glamour in the horrible process of trial and execution. Hardly any detective novels follow the culprit to the gallows - most of Sayers' and many other Golden Age murderers obligingly die or commit suicide anyway - but by failing to do they are eliding a massive part of the story.

So Busman's Honeymoon is Sayers bidding farewell to the classic detective novel, and at the same time letting Harriet and Peter be real(ish) people with complex human emotions and relationships. No wonder she gave up on Thrones, Dominations - she had nothing more to say on the subject, and it would have been dishonest for her to try to do so.

I was somewhat surprised she started TD, given the "oh damn" bookends. I don't think she intended to but I've heard of her complaining Wimsey wouldn't leave her alone!

Inspired by the thread, I've read TD and Presumption over the weekend.

Started The Late Scholar yesterday, but not impressed so far. The language seems very modern in comparison and I'm not convinced by the relationship between Peter and Harriet. I feel like I'm missing something.

I think The Late Scholar should be read as stand alone really - the characters have the same name and that's about it! I prefer it to TAE where she was still trying to write in DLS's voice

I have found Harriet's wedding gown.

She must have worked herself half to death to pay for it.

Just downloaded Jane McDowell reading The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. Jane McDowell seems to be in the middle of recording all the Whimsey books. Anyone else listened to any of these? Any thoughts?