Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Busman's Honeymoon by Dorothy L. Sayers ISBN: 0-06-104351-6 Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 April, 1995 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.87 (15 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: O, frabjous day!
Comment: "Oh, rapture! Oh, bountiful Jehovah! Oh, joy for all our former woes a thousand times repaid!" ... "You blasphemed the aspidistra, and something awful HAS come down that chimney!" How can we resist an intelligent, deft, good-humored protagonist like Lord Peter Wimsey, here assisted by his new bride Harriet Vane? They honeymoon in the countryside at a newly-purchased house, whose previous owner turns up -- not early in the novel -- quite starkly & mysteriously dead in the cellar. With that unfortunate find begins a merry, mirthful, sharp, scintillating murder mystery which anyone will enjoy.
The 30 pages of letters & diaries which open the book are slowish going, but do keep going ... This reader's first experience with a Dorothy Sayers mystery was marvellous & rewarding. "Busman's Honeymoon" is literature, if we can rob that august noun of any suggestion of the ponderous, the boring, the dull -- it is literature that effervesces!
Rating: 5
Summary: Completely Satisfying
Comment: Based on a stage play co-written by Sayers, Busman's Holiday is Sayers last significant statement in the mystery genre--and a completely satisfying one at that. Like several other novels that involve both Sayers' sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey and mystery novelist Harriet Vane, the novel is as much a portrait of their relationship as it is a murder mystery, and while these two elements occasionally seem at odds in other works (most notably the unworthy Have His Carcass), Busman's Holiday strikes a perfect balance between the two as we follow the couple through the first few days of their honeymoon as they deal with the shock of marriage, domestic disasters, and an unexpected body in their honeymoon home's basement. As in other novels, Sayers draws a great deal from her setting--in this case rural England on the eve of World War II--and presents us with a memorable cast of supporting characters, and the result is as fine a novel as she ever produced, particularly notable for its wittiness and sly humor. A greatly satisfying finish to a highly enjoyable series.
There is, incidently, an extremely well-made 1930s film version of this particular work starring Robert Montgomery and Constance Cummings. Although Montgomery is not quite the image of Lord Peter Wimsey, he plays quite well, and Cummings is Harriet Vane brought to life on the screen. Sayers fans should enjoy the film almost as much as they enjoy the book!
Rating: 5
Summary: A romance with detective interruptions
Comment: This is the 13th Lord Peter novel, and the fourth in the Lord Peter/Harriet Vane story. This is definitely NOT a good place to begin the series.
BUSMAN'S HONEYMOON begins shortly after GAUDY NIGHT. The opening chapter consists of letters and diary enteries from their family and friends concerning the wedding. For fans of the series these are hilarious portraits of the various characters, the delightful Dowager Duchess, the obnoxious Duchess of Denver, the unflappable Bunter and others.
The newly wed Wimseys take up the action after their escape from the reception as they drive to their honeymoon destination, their newly purchased weekend cottage, 'Talboys'. The carefully arranged plans for a peaceful honemoon begin to come apart at their arrival. The house is cold, dark and locked, the former owner nowhere to be found, and no one apears to be aware of their pending arrival. These obstacles are overcome, the family takes up residence but the next day the missing former owner turns up - dead in the basement.
Naturally the Wimseys solve the crime as they sort out the details of their new life.
The only flaw I see with this novel is that the mystery aspect is a bit labored. Sayers was quite fond of the 'time-table' sort of mystery but tended to belabor the point. This, coupled with the array of characters/suspects that appear and are all given quite a lot of action, cause the story to drag a bit. Still, the solution is clever, the characters are charming and the scenes between Peter and Harriet are gems, finally resolving their 5 year (and 4 book) romance.
The biggest problem with this novel is that it is the last full-length book in the series. Even though we were given farewell glimpses of many old friends from earlier books it is still sad to say goodbye.
 |
Title: Strong Poison by Dorothy L. Sayers ISBN: 0061043508 Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 April, 1995 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers ISBN: 0061043494 Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 April, 1995 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Have His Carcase by Dorothy L. Sayers ISBN: 0061043524 Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 April, 1995 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
 |
Title: Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers ISBN: 0061043532 Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
 |
Title: The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy L. Sayers ISBN: 0061043540 Publisher: HarperTorch Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
