Connect with us

News

Plunge into the world of murder mystery and suspense at Cambridge exhibition

Cambridge-based best-selling crime author Nicola Upson has curated the exhibition.

Published

on

Murder by The Book – a celebration of 20thCentury British Crime Fiction at Cambridge University Library until 24th August 2024.

“A strange alchemy of elements”

Agatha Christie’s typewriter, Wilkie Collins’s desk and a close inspection of those twists which tease the reader, these are some of the fascinations of Murder by the Book, an exhibition of crime fiction now at Cambridge University Library.

Dr Jessica Gardner, Cambridge University Librarian, said it was the amount of crime fiction in the library’s famous tower which inspired them to put the rare books on display.

She knew they were the most well read and frequently borrowed fiction from British libraries. “This treasure trove in the tower lent us the idea to have an exhibition of crime writing.”

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24. Above: Bleak House

Cambridge-based best-selling crime author Nicola Upson has curated the exhibition.

Introducing her at the launch, Dr Gardner said: “Nicola spoke to our popular book club about P D James’s Mistletoe Murders. She was beautifully articulate about her fascination with crime writing.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

As someone immersed in the history of the genre, she has been let loose on our own fabulous collection. This is a story excellently told through the eyes of a crime writer. It’s also a master class in constructing the perfect crime novel. After seeing it there will be no excuse not to get reading – and writing.”

Opening the exhibition, Nicola Upson said: “I’ve loved the university library for the past 30 years, as a student and for the research for every single one of my novels.”

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24. Above; Agatha Christie typewriter and manuscript

Paying tribute to the loving care of the books she said: “If you look at the dust jackets of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and The Poisoned Chocolates, I defy you to see the repairs they have done on those jackets.”

The books on display, she said are rare first editions, not the copies people would find at home.

“The dust jackets are fascinating in their own right. Most are stylish, some of them are simple, a couple of them are dreadful. I don’t know who thought ‘By the author of Death at the Borough Council’ was a good selling point.”

Advertisements
canopyuk.com in-article
Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

THE LADY VANISHES Poster for 1938 Alfred Hitchcock film with Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave

She said the covers showed how the publishers had helped to develop the brand. The display was not just chronological. “This craft still feels magical. Several books on now, it has a strange alchemy of elements that’s different every time. Every book has its own personality and its own character.”

As Upson pointed out, the works have things in common and each section in the exhibition choses one thing that crime fiction really excels at.

Essential elements are: “An unpredictable idea, an atmospheric sense of place or a world so real you believe that the events that took place there, vivid, credible characters, details of the crime scene or the wider geographical landscape.”

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24. ‘A Murder is Announced’

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

She added: “Motive is so important in crime fiction, and I love how real your characters have to be, how believable. As you walk round the exhibition, you will see a section on the detectives’ first appearances, and I’ll wager those detectives have been your friends over the years and are as real to you some of the people you meet in your everyday life.”

The exhibition also has a section on the darkness of the genre, Ms Upson said: “We must never forget the violence and a sense of loss that are at the heart of this particular business of death as entertainment.”

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

She highlighted a section on “those brilliant, unguessable endings”, adding: “Twists divide people. There are readers who like to be right and readers who like to be fooled. “But there are no spoilers here. No book should be ruined. One person’s imagination can create a world that you will immerse yourself in.”

The show is also a glimpse into the daily lives of famous 20th century authors.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24.

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24. Above@ Nicola Upson

Early letters written by P D James to her agent and her editor expressed her worry that the publisher was having to charge sixteen shillings (80 pence) for each book. She hoped they wouldn’t lose money on it.

SUSPICION poster for 1941 RKO film with Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine

Murder By the Book is at Cambridge University Library until Saturday, August 24. Booking essential, entry free. Closed Sundays.

See:

https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/murderbythebook

 

 

Facebook

Read More

'The article in the Daily Mirror is a non-story with much innuendo and no substance' says MP Shailesh Vara (above) 'The article in the Daily Mirror is a non-story with much innuendo and no substance' says MP Shailesh Vara (above)
News4 hours ago

MP Shailesh Vara accuses Daily Mirror of ‘much innuendo and no substance’ over home sale profit  

Mr Vara spoke to CambsNews to rubbish Daily Mirror claims

Andrjs Vanukovs, 33, approached a house in Huntingdon, in February and knocked on the door. When the homeowner answered, Vanukovs pointed an imitation firearm at him and his young daughter. Andrjs Vanukovs, 33, approached a house in Huntingdon, in February and knocked on the door. When the homeowner answered, Vanukovs pointed an imitation firearm at him and his young daughter.
News5 hours ago

‘Terrifying’ moment man points imitation gun at Huntingdon homeowner and his daughter

He was sentenced to two years in prison at Peterborough Crown Court

CCTV images of the suspected thief who carried out the burglary at Chloe’s jewellers, High Street, Wisbech, shop at 9.10am on Thursday May 2 have been circulated. CCTV images of the suspected thief who carried out the burglary at Chloe’s jewellers, High Street, Wisbech, shop at 9.10am on Thursday May 2 have been circulated.
News6 hours ago

£1,000 reward to find burglar who stole jewellery worth tens of thousands of pounds

Mark Page opened his first shop in St Ives in 2004, naming it after his daughter Chloe.

News8 hours ago

WATCH: Criminal gang jailed for £600,000 raids including £93,000 Peterborough burglary

Police attributed 17 attacks by the gang on ATMs with more than £600,000 stolen

Karl Bradshaw (left) ‘a loving son, father, brother, uncle, and a friend to many’ killed by banned driver Stuart Nichols (right) who has been jailed for 4 years and 4 months Karl Bradshaw (left) ‘a loving son, father, brother, uncle, and a friend to many’ killed by banned driver Stuart Nichols (right) who has been jailed for 4 years and 4 months
News9 hours ago

Hit and run banned driver jailed for killing Karl Bradshaw in Paston Ridings, Peterborough

WATCH: Police release video of killer driver's arrest

Cars that caught the attention of police in Wisbech, Whittlesey and Chatteris. But police can only devote a limited amount of time to the issues. CPE will hand responsibility for parking to Fenland Council. Cars that caught the attention of police in Wisbech, Whittlesey and Chatteris. But police can only devote a limited amount of time to the issues. CPE will hand responsibility for parking to Fenland Council.
News1 day ago

Wisbech, March, Whittlesey and Chatteris face parking nightmare as council pauses civil parking enforcement

Fenland Council is offering one crumb of comfort

Jordan Palmer appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court where she admitted all offences and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, which includes the activation of the previously suspended sentence. Jordan Palmer appeared at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court where she admitted all offences and was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison, which includes the activation of the previously suspended sentence.
Crime1 day ago

Frozen salmon and alcohol thief Jordan Palmer swaps it for ‘porridge’

Palmer stole frozen salmon from Aldi, Sandyland, Wisbech

Loughborough University (left) has paid tribute to former student Lee Kilby (right) who studied there in the 1990s. Loughborough University (left) has paid tribute to former student Lee Kilby (right) who studied there in the 1990s.
News1 day ago

Swimming pool collapse victim waits in ambulance outside Peterborough hospital for 7 hours, inquest hears

Lee Kilby, of Nassington, collapsed at Oundle pool on September 26, 2022

Mark Wilson,32, of Gaul Road, March, Cambridgeshire, was jailed for offences including sexual assault by strangulation and possession of indecent images Mark Wilson,32, of Gaul Road, March, Cambridgeshire, was jailed for offences including sexual assault by strangulation and possession of indecent images
Crime3 days ago

‘The nightmare of what you did remains fresh in my mind’ victim tells court as sexual predator jailed

Wilson twice strangled a teenage girl, on one occasion to the point where she lost consciousness

The IOPC is the police complaints watchdog for England and Wales and completely independent of the police. It investigates the most serious complaints and conduct matters involving the police ‘and we set the standards by which the police should handle complaints’ The IOPC is the police complaints watchdog for England and Wales and completely independent of the police. It investigates the most serious complaints and conduct matters involving the police ‘and we set the standards by which the police should handle complaints’
News3 days ago

Police sergeant sacked for ‘shouting, swearing and threatening’ Polish man in custody and striking him with baton

PS Wyss queried whether the man’s behaviour “was a f***ing pastime from Poland or Lithuania