tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post9198423162876303927..comments2024-03-18T11:01:42.459-05:00Comments on Pretty Sinister Books: FFB: The Longbow Murder - Victor LuhrsJ F Norrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-45632532399618309502014-10-25T22:58:45.096-05:002014-10-25T22:58:45.096-05:00You seem to have discovered a real gem John. Now I...You seem to have discovered a real gem John. Now I too have become intrigued about who was the first to think of casting a historical figure as a detective and which person did s/he select.neerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01986509319841061021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-71804892546111811142014-10-25T17:19:54.533-05:002014-10-25T17:19:54.533-05:00I'm no expert, John, heaven knows. I'm goi...I'm no expert, John, heaven knows. I'm going on what I've encountered while reading historical bits and pieces over the years, including the biography of ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE by Alison Weir which tells about her sons and all the drama therein. Apparently Richard hated England and spent very little time there. I was so disappointed when I learned, years ago, that the stalwart Lionheart presented in the Errol Flynn Robin Hood movie was only a figment of the film-makers' imagination.<br /><br />Now that I think on it, Alison Weir only hinted at things of a sexual nature but I'd read these rumors before not that I suppose it matters much in the great scheme of things - except to spur our occasionally gleeful interest in the personal lives of historical figures.<br /><br />I do love medieval fashion details, John. Love the idea of 'mail' and gherkins or jerkins or whatever they call them. Tights and capes and such and of course, armor. It's one of my favorite sections of the Metropolitan Museum.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-11033167708127962132014-10-25T11:08:39.318-05:002014-10-25T11:08:39.318-05:00This sounds enthralling -- I'd never heard of ...This sounds enthralling -- I'd never heard of either the book or Luhrs. One to look out for at library sales, I guess, to judge by Steve Lewis's market research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-16035143771101742192014-10-25T09:46:40.682-05:002014-10-25T09:46:40.682-05:00Maybe I'll do it, Steve! I'm in the proce...Maybe <b>I'll</b> do it, Steve! I'm in the process of working out just how to use CreateSpace to make Pretty Sinister Books an imprint of my own. I'm starting with expired copyrighted work then I'll work on several ideas I have based on numerous email exchanges I've had with the relatives of writers like Daniel Mainwaring (aka "Geoffrey Homes") and the son of John Franklin Bardin whose "Gregory Tree" books I' d like to see back in print.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-90664309736350917322014-10-25T00:26:31.108-05:002014-10-25T00:26:31.108-05:00It's too bad that nobody online is offering a ...It's too bad that nobody online is offering a merely good ex-library copy without a dust jacket. I'd grab it in an instant. When I see prices above $80, I get nosebleeds. Maybe somebody will reprint this someday. Wat do you think?Steve Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01062947552534707797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-17001839604851859432014-10-24T16:31:18.417-05:002014-10-24T16:31:18.417-05:00The question of Richard's sexuality is still d...The question of Richard's sexuality is still debated. While I have never have any problem believing that throughout history men in power had all-encompassing tastes in sex as recreation I don't know how anyone can prove that kind of thing in such an early period in world history. Without eyewitness accounts you need personal letters or diaries. I doubt that those types of deeply personal written confessions existed in medieval times.<br /><br />The history in this book is pretty accurate as far as I can tell based on material I found discussing Richard's life and exploits. One thing I didn't mention above is Luhrs' fascination with medieval clothing and armor. Heavy on detailed descriptions of every character's wardrobe whether it be made of fabric or metal. He really paints some splendid word pictures that help the era spring to vivid life off the pages.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-32313937485130832782014-10-24T15:54:42.614-05:002014-10-24T15:54:42.614-05:00From what I've read about the real Richard the...From what I've read about the real Richard the Lionheart, he was more apt to brutally attack and kill the first suspect that turned up and thereby put an end to the mystery. Not only was he a pederast (the word used in history) but not a very nice fellow to boot - bloodthirsty just about covers it. Of course his mother Eleanor of Acquitaine adored him, but you know how mothers are. :)<br /><br />But maybe that accounts for the abuse of his servants mentioned in your review. <br /><br />I like the idea of real life folk inserted in a mystery, but I'm with Kelly as far as making them actually BE the detective. Still, you've made the thing sound very intriguing, John and I do like historical mysteries.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-90306311782719343272014-10-24T15:25:47.573-05:002014-10-24T15:25:47.573-05:00I strongly dislike the idea of having real histori...I strongly dislike the idea of having real historic people solving mysteries. I don't mind when real people traipse through a book in a way that seems true to what we really know of them (like Howard Hughes in James Ellroy's THE BIG NOWHERE), but I don't like to see them sleuthing any more than I like to see them hunt vampires. That said, you've made a nice case for this one, and I like anything with real puzzles in it. I'll file this one under "maybe."Kelly Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01752857506190488860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-24832173354623628152014-10-24T14:54:45.819-05:002014-10-24T14:54:45.819-05:00Prior to discovering this book I only knew of Samu...Prior to discovering this book I only knew of Samuel Johnson as the earliest fictional detective who is also a real historical person. Lillian de la Torre's first story -- "Dr Sam: Johnson, Detector" (aka "The Great Seal of England") -- was published in the Nov. 1943 issue of EQMM. If anyone can think of something earlier please feel free to leave a comment with the title and publication date. I'm putting my money on Victor Luhrs as the first mystery writer to come up with this idea for a fictional detective.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8787364257168822822.post-51734489209082835012014-10-24T10:22:57.113-05:002014-10-24T10:22:57.113-05:00Utterly fascinating - I dare say someone has tried...Utterly fascinating - I dare say someone has tried coming up with a real listing for when the earliest historical mysteries were published, but this sounds like it must be in there with a fighting chance to be near the first in terms of the gap between the writing and the period depicted. I love the idea of King Richard kicking ass - I won't heold my breath about finding this, but lgad to hear that it's not impossile either. Thanks chum!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com