| Peter Haining has, over the
years, treated us to many compendiums, his name appearing in
virtually every genre. This volume is one he should be proud to have
his name on. Prion Books have done a fantastic production job:
high-grade glossy paper, colourful wrap-around jacket and affordably
priced. As a writer, Haining takes us on a trip back to an era of
crime fiction populated by names such as Sherlock Holmes, James
Bond, Sexton Blake, Sam Spade and Hercule Poirot. In fact, it is a
catalogue of anyone of importance between 1850s and 1950s. And not
solely mentioning the detectives but his counterparts too. Credit is
given to the artists and illustrators who played a major part in
marketing the books. Writers covered range from Edgar Allan Poe,
Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, Dashiell Hammett, Mary
Elizabeth Braddon, Edgar Wallace, Gaston Leroux? oh, the list is
endless. The volume is lavishly illustrated throughout with book
jackets and other artwork all helping to illuminate Haining's words.
It's one of those books you keep picking up and finding something
new each time around. It's amongst the best of its type. Put it on
your Christmas list.
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