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Gervase Fen #6
Buried for Pleasure: Gervase Fen #6
It's a naughty world, a tiresome world, a world notably lacking in witty epigrams. In short, it's a world that is crying out for Gervase Fen, and so he has declared himself a candidate for Parliament, ready to serve the good people of?where was it again? Fen's political ambitions, though, get just a little sidetracked by the murdered policeman who crops up on the campaign trail, not to mention the escaped (and naked) lunatic who's convinced he's Woodrow Wilson. And then there's the peculiar clergyman and the love-struck pig.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
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596 people want to read
About the author
Edmund Crispin
101 books208 followersEdmund Crispin was the pseudonym of (Robert) Bruce Montgomery (1921-1978). His first crime novel and musical composition were both accepted for publication while he was still an undergraduate at Oxford. After a brief spell of teaching, he became a full-time writer and composer (particularly of film music. He wrote the music for six of the Carry On films. But he was also well known for his concert and church music). He also edited science fiction anthologies, and became a regular crime fiction reviewer for The Sunday Times. His friends included Philip Larkin, Kingsley Amis and Agatha Christie.
He had always been a heavy drinker and, unfortunately, there was a long gap in his writing during a time when he was suffering from alcohol problems. Otherwise he enjoyed a quiet life (enlivened by music, reading, church-going and bridge) in Totnes, a quiet corner of Devon, where he resisted all attempts to develop or exploit the district, visiting London as little as possible. He moved to a new house he had built at Week, a hamlet near Dartington, in 1964, then, late in life, married his secretary Ann in 1976, just two years before he died from alcohol related problems. His music was composed using his real name, Bruce Montgomery.
source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipg/...
He had always been a heavy drinker and, unfortunately, there was a long gap in his writing during a time when he was suffering from alcohol problems. Otherwise he enjoyed a quiet life (enlivened by music, reading, church-going and bridge) in Totnes, a quiet corner of Devon, where he resisted all attempts to develop or exploit the district, visiting London as little as possible. He moved to a new house he had built at Week, a hamlet near Dartington, in 1964, then, late in life, married his secretary Ann in 1976, just two years before he died from alcohol related problems. His music was composed using his real name, Bruce Montgomery.
source: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/philipg/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
February 26, 2014
This was my first Gervase Fen mystery, and I loved it. Imagine a cross between a Dorothy L Sayers who is ever so slightly less obsessed with the mechanics of mystery (my only quibble with the Wimsey tales is that they sometimes dilate drearily on the reasoning behind the solution, when a shorter explanation would have sufficed) and PG Wodehouse, and you more or less have the measure of Edmund Crispin.
In this story, Professor Fen decides to take a break from his arduous scholarly activities in Oxford by running for parliament in the little town of Sanford Angelorum. What follows is a roller-coaster of murder, mystery and hilarity as Crispin introduces us to a Bedlam's worth of looney small time characters, from the local priest who is trying to keep his domesticated poltergeist a secret to a non-doing pig who very sadly meets his demise after playing a small part in putting paid to the villain of the piece.
This is just a brilliant comedic novel apart from being a clever mystery and the occasional florid passage where Fen takes in his surroundings with the allusive eye of a classicist only add another layer of icing to the cake. I look forward to reading more of these, but hope that characters of the porcine persuasion are dealt with less cavalierly in other installments.
In this story, Professor Fen decides to take a break from his arduous scholarly activities in Oxford by running for parliament in the little town of Sanford Angelorum. What follows is a roller-coaster of murder, mystery and hilarity as Crispin introduces us to a Bedlam's worth of looney small time characters, from the local priest who is trying to keep his domesticated poltergeist a secret to a non-doing pig who very sadly meets his demise after playing a small part in putting paid to the villain of the piece.
This is just a brilliant comedic novel apart from being a clever mystery and the occasional florid passage where Fen takes in his surroundings with the allusive eye of a classicist only add another layer of icing to the cake. I look forward to reading more of these, but hope that characters of the porcine persuasion are dealt with less cavalierly in other installments.
June 4, 2017
En el tranquilo pueblo inglés de Sanford Angelorum, el profesor y detective aficionado Gervase Fen se está tomando un descanso, además de presentarse como candidato al Parlamento. Fen pronto descubre que las apariencias pueden ser engañosas, y es que en el pueblo se ha descubierto un oscuro secreto que está siendo usado como chantaje. Cualquier persona que se acerque a descubrir la identidad del chantajista es asesinada.
‘Enterrado por placer’ (Buried for Pleasure, 1949), del escritor británico Edmund Crispin (seudónimo de Bruce Montgomery), nos vuelve a traer un nuevo caso, con ciertas dosis de humor, del excéntrico Gervase Fen, construido maravillosamente en su primera mitad. Esta vez, el misterio no tiene la importancia de otras de sus novelas, y se centra más en la campaña de Fen y en presentar a los excéntricos personajes.
‘Enterrado por placer’ (Buried for Pleasure, 1949), del escritor británico Edmund Crispin (seudónimo de Bruce Montgomery), nos vuelve a traer un nuevo caso, con ciertas dosis de humor, del excéntrico Gervase Fen, construido maravillosamente en su primera mitad. Esta vez, el misterio no tiene la importancia de otras de sus novelas, y se centra más en la campaña de Fen y en presentar a los excéntricos personajes.
April 22, 2023
Gervase Fen, Oxford professor and sleuth, here “standing” (U.S.,running) for Parliament in towns leaning Conservative but equally divided with Labour. His race turns in interesting and odd results, when we learn about the Chiltern Hundreds and impossibility of resigning once elected. Fen’s speeches grow almost crazed, part of the theme, since in this novel young Lord Sanford gives his great house to the government, who turned Sanford Hall to an insane asylum. One escaped inmate, an “exhibitor” (US, indecent exposure) may be the third craziest character here, after the Fish pub owner Mr Beaver and others. Even the village rector credits poltergeists.
Twice our once daily visit to a pub, though often merely mineral water for those driving cars. Scotland Yard gets involved after the second murder, a smaller man Humbleby who after the striking of the church clock quotes “Time’s hurrying chariot…unhappily driving toward something less agreeable than a coy mistress”(106). This from Andrew Marvell’s most famous poem; Marvell I focused my doctoral dissertation on, This Critical Age, about poetry criticism in verse before Dryden turned it to prose. (My book is in four German and American universities.)
Attempts at murder range from knives to hypodermic to a box of chocolates. Continuing
throughout are amusing passages, like “The Civil Service is a body whose mistakes are made so thoroughly and definitively the they can only be rectified by a procedure equally searching and elaborate”(122). Profound comparison of a politician to “an actor whose miming is so plausible that the emotions he presents come to be regarded as real and not artificial” (142, see below). The rector of the local church feels his charwoman “greatly overestimates my importance in the eyes of the Devil, who no doubt has better uses of his courtesans than to assign them so regularly to me”(156).
Crispin’s conclusion (1949) anticipates our US president Trumpster. Fen’s last speech says political apathy is better than zealotry, though zealots often win. Their whole motive power of political obsession derives from “the monosyllable hate…Endemic envy and hatred, masquerading as a public-spirited interest in politics…are producing [terrible effects] in this country”(188, 190).
* Edmund Crispin, a pseudonym for Robert B Montgomery, composer (including for film).
Twice our once daily visit to a pub, though often merely mineral water for those driving cars. Scotland Yard gets involved after the second murder, a smaller man Humbleby who after the striking of the church clock quotes “Time’s hurrying chariot…unhappily driving toward something less agreeable than a coy mistress”(106). This from Andrew Marvell’s most famous poem; Marvell I focused my doctoral dissertation on, This Critical Age, about poetry criticism in verse before Dryden turned it to prose. (My book is in four German and American universities.)
Attempts at murder range from knives to hypodermic to a box of chocolates. Continuing
throughout are amusing passages, like “The Civil Service is a body whose mistakes are made so thoroughly and definitively the they can only be rectified by a procedure equally searching and elaborate”(122). Profound comparison of a politician to “an actor whose miming is so plausible that the emotions he presents come to be regarded as real and not artificial” (142, see below). The rector of the local church feels his charwoman “greatly overestimates my importance in the eyes of the Devil, who no doubt has better uses of his courtesans than to assign them so regularly to me”(156).
Crispin’s conclusion (1949) anticipates our US president Trumpster. Fen’s last speech says political apathy is better than zealotry, though zealots often win. Their whole motive power of political obsession derives from “the monosyllable hate…Endemic envy and hatred, masquerading as a public-spirited interest in politics…are producing [terrible effects] in this country”(188, 190).
* Edmund Crispin, a pseudonym for Robert B Montgomery, composer (including for film).
March 26, 2023
Oxford Professor of English Gervase Fen decides to run for parliament for Sanford Angelorum as an independent. What he doesn't count on are the murders, attempted murders, an escaped lunatic, and the chaos at the Fish Inn, where he is staying.
Fen gets so wrapped up in the crime scene at Sanford Angelorum that he loses his appetite to become a member of parliament.
This is one of Edmund Crispin's better novels and is great fun to read. I thought I had it figured out, but Buried for Pleasure was several steps ahead of me.
Fen gets so wrapped up in the crime scene at Sanford Angelorum that he loses his appetite to become a member of parliament.
This is one of Edmund Crispin's better novels and is great fun to read. I thought I had it figured out, but Buried for Pleasure was several steps ahead of me.
December 25, 2023
The book opens when Professor Fen takes the train to the end of the line to Sanford Angelorum, one of several small towns all called Sanford XXX. He is running as an Independent for Parliament. The countryside is flat and mostly farmland and there certainly isn't much attractive about the area.
BUT ... this is a murder mystery, so we can be sure it will become more interesting. As it turns out, the first murder happened before Fen's arrival. As the situation was explained, I did sort of have a clue. Fen seemed to also have an inkling, though no names were being mentioned. There was more story to be told.
I had forgotten that this series is also humorous. Not everyone has the same sense of humor, but Crispin's appeals to me. My favorite in this novel:
philoprogenitive: having many offspring
flagitious: criminal; villainous
eldritch: weird and sinister or ghostly
pernoctation: the act of staying all night in a place, esp for prayer or as a vigil
All in all, this was a satisfying read. I look forward to reading others in the series. This breaks the 4-star barrier, but just barely.
BUT ... this is a murder mystery, so we can be sure it will become more interesting. As it turns out, the first murder happened before Fen's arrival. As the situation was explained, I did sort of have a clue. Fen seemed to also have an inkling, though no names were being mentioned. There was more story to be told.
I had forgotten that this series is also humorous. Not everyone has the same sense of humor, but Crispin's appeals to me. My favorite in this novel:
'For a time I worked in Boots – the book department. But it didn't suit me, for some reason. I used to get dizzy spells.'Crispin's writing can be challenging. I am thankful to read these on the Kindle app where I can press on an unfamiliar word and quickly get a definition on screen. On paper, I might just skip over it rather than stop and look it up. These were some words with which I was unfamiliar (and I might remember them in future ... or not).
'Inevitable, I should think, if you work in a circulating library.'
philoprogenitive: having many offspring
flagitious: criminal; villainous
eldritch: weird and sinister or ghostly
pernoctation: the act of staying all night in a place, esp for prayer or as a vigil
All in all, this was a satisfying read. I look forward to reading others in the series. This breaks the 4-star barrier, but just barely.
March 15, 2023
A well written funny murder mystery. I feel lucky to have accidentally discovered this golden age author. Professor Fen is a superb eccentric character. This gem finds him trying to be elected as an MP. Murder is afoot along with an escaped lunatic from an insane asylum, a supernatural poltergeist, renovations at a pub, mollucking and a loyal pig.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The story revolves around blackmail, poisoning and then another murder. The murderer is a wolf in blue clothing. An immensely enjoyable read with the boo at the end even making Woodrow Wilson proud.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The story revolves around blackmail, poisoning and then another murder. The murderer is a wolf in blue clothing. An immensely enjoyable read with the boo at the end even making Woodrow Wilson proud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2020
Gervase Fen is staying at an inn in a small hamlet of Sanford Angelorum. He has gotten a wild hair to stand for Parliament as the local independent candidate, and is there to 'press the flesh.' Of course, the hijinks ensue (there is even an escaped lunatic!) as he plays sleuth while campaigning.
Here's why I love Crispin's writing - "Morning to you, sir," said the man. "Hope we didn't get you up too early." "Not a bit," Fen replied without cordiality. "I feel better already-" the man spoke, however, more with determination than with conviction-"for getting up at six every morning...It's one of the highroads to health, as I've always said." He fell into a violent fit of coughing; his face became red, and then blue. Fen banged him...between the shoulder blades.
Another funny scene "Oh, come, sir," said Wolfe reproachfully. "It's a bit odd, I grant you, but I don't see how it can possibly link up with any of the other things." "Nor, at the moment, do I," Fen admitted. "And quite possibly it doesn't. But I thought you might as well know." Wolfe thanked him with the civil insincerity of a small boy who has anticipated an aeroplane for Christmas and been given a copy of the Bible...
Also, not to be missed in this hilarious romp is Fen's last campaign speech. It caused a stunned silence and was mic-dropping AMAZING!
Well, I found something negative to say about this installment of Gervase Fen - it has a poltergeist story that I was not too keen on. Overall, though, this was another witty, fantastic tale.
Here's why I love Crispin's writing - "Morning to you, sir," said the man. "Hope we didn't get you up too early." "Not a bit," Fen replied without cordiality. "I feel better already-" the man spoke, however, more with determination than with conviction-"for getting up at six every morning...It's one of the highroads to health, as I've always said." He fell into a violent fit of coughing; his face became red, and then blue. Fen banged him...between the shoulder blades.
Another funny scene "Oh, come, sir," said Wolfe reproachfully. "It's a bit odd, I grant you, but I don't see how it can possibly link up with any of the other things." "Nor, at the moment, do I," Fen admitted. "And quite possibly it doesn't. But I thought you might as well know." Wolfe thanked him with the civil insincerity of a small boy who has anticipated an aeroplane for Christmas and been given a copy of the Bible...
Also, not to be missed in this hilarious romp is Fen's last campaign speech. It caused a stunned silence and was mic-dropping AMAZING!
Well, I found something negative to say about this installment of Gervase Fen - it has a poltergeist story that I was not too keen on. Overall, though, this was another witty, fantastic tale.
July 29, 2017
Una novela entretenida, divertida y fácil de leer, pero probablemente la que menos me ha gustado del autor.
Tiene todo los ingredientes para gustar: el excéntrico profesor y detective aficionado Gervaise Fen que de repente se presenta como candidato al Parlamento de un pueblo de la campiña inglesa, un pueblo lleno de habitantes más excéntricos que el propio Fen y una trama de chantaje y asesinato.
Y sin embargo todos esos aspectos no acaban de cuajar bien. Es como si el pueblo y el asesinato no se mezclaran en ningún momento y se quitaran tiempo el uno al otro. Los que deseen más comedia con las locuras de cada pueblerino se frustrarán por la trama de asesinato, y los que se interesen por el crimen verán como una pérdida de tiempo cada anécdota del pueblo.
Y además Fen parece menos Fen que nunca. Es menos excéntrico, más serio, incluso más cínico, es casi como si fuera una persona normal.
Eso no significa que el misterio no esté bien hilado (lo está) o que el libro no sea divertido (he soltado carcajadas alguna que otra vez), pero lo encuentro más flojo que otros títulos escritos por Edmund Crispin. Aún así, una novela un poco más floja de Crispin es mejor que muchas novelas del género, así que aún así es bueno leerla.
Tiene todo los ingredientes para gustar: el excéntrico profesor y detective aficionado Gervaise Fen que de repente se presenta como candidato al Parlamento de un pueblo de la campiña inglesa, un pueblo lleno de habitantes más excéntricos que el propio Fen y una trama de chantaje y asesinato.
Y sin embargo todos esos aspectos no acaban de cuajar bien. Es como si el pueblo y el asesinato no se mezclaran en ningún momento y se quitaran tiempo el uno al otro. Los que deseen más comedia con las locuras de cada pueblerino se frustrarán por la trama de asesinato, y los que se interesen por el crimen verán como una pérdida de tiempo cada anécdota del pueblo.
Y además Fen parece menos Fen que nunca. Es menos excéntrico, más serio, incluso más cínico, es casi como si fuera una persona normal.
Eso no significa que el misterio no esté bien hilado (lo está) o que el libro no sea divertido (he soltado carcajadas alguna que otra vez), pero lo encuentro más flojo que otros títulos escritos por Edmund Crispin. Aún así, una novela un poco más floja de Crispin es mejor que muchas novelas del género, así que aún así es bueno leerla.
February 24, 2023
Another enjoyable entry in the Gervase Fen series. Fen is running for Parliament in a remote country seat and his antics and musings about politics form the highlights of this novel. There is a major clue to the identity of the guilty party fairly early but despite recognizing this, I was unable to put the pieces together. Overall, I think that some of the earlier books in this series were superior to this one but it is still worth reading.
Read
June 28, 2022If you read Wodehouse, John Mortimer (Rumpole), and/or Simon Brett, I recommend Edmund Crispin's Gervase Fen cozies, recently being reissued in various formats.
February 4, 2015
‘ … absolute and unalloyed delight’ said the New York Times Book Review; whose sentiment I wholly agree with. Edmund Crispin uses a lovely turn of language, yet does not patronise his reader. His text is periodically sprinkled with literary allusions (most of which over my head), yet I was delighted to find the occasional wonderful-sounding word that was entirely new to me. Using the Oxford Dictionary of English 2nd ed. Revised (sitting on my Sony e-Reader), I was speedily enlightened as to the meaning of such quirky charms as:
“ … after twenty minutes’ uninterrupted magniloquence” (pg.67),
“Fen spoke with Rhadamanthine severity” (pg. 87),
“Sister Bates, no doubt, trying to alleviate the tedium of her pernoctation by brewing tea.” (pg.105).
… amongst others.
As a detective novel, I found that since I had last read the book, I had forgotten who was /were the murderer/-ess. /s. I failed to work it out on this reading, though casting back, all the necessary clues were there before my eyes. Crispin writes so very entertainingly when describing the ins and outs of local elections, a poltergeist residing in a Rectory, and a barmaid’s ‘non-doing pig’ (one that eats heartily, but doesn’t put on weight); that the plot of untimely death appears almost, though not quite, second place in this book.
[magniloquence (n.): high-flown or bombastic language.
Rhadamanthine (adj. lit.): showing stern and inflexible judgement.
pernoctation (n.): spent the night.]
“ … after twenty minutes’ uninterrupted magniloquence” (pg.67),
“Fen spoke with Rhadamanthine severity” (pg. 87),
“Sister Bates, no doubt, trying to alleviate the tedium of her pernoctation by brewing tea.” (pg.105).
… amongst others.
As a detective novel, I found that since I had last read the book, I had forgotten who was /were the murderer/-ess. /s. I failed to work it out on this reading, though casting back, all the necessary clues were there before my eyes. Crispin writes so very entertainingly when describing the ins and outs of local elections, a poltergeist residing in a Rectory, and a barmaid’s ‘non-doing pig’ (one that eats heartily, but doesn’t put on weight); that the plot of untimely death appears almost, though not quite, second place in this book.
[magniloquence (n.): high-flown or bombastic language.
Rhadamanthine (adj. lit.): showing stern and inflexible judgement.
pernoctation (n.): spent the night.]
October 24, 2019
The title may be BURIED FOR PLEASURE but the reading was anything but. Following the wonderful and entertaining MOVING TOY SHOP I picked up 5 more Edmund Crispin novels. While TOY SHOP was great, BFP doesn't move at all. At least not the one-third I forced myself to plow through before giving up. The book is 175 pages long and 60 pages in NOTHING has happened. NOTHING. Just the hero Fen talking to people. A slow start is one thing; no start at all is something else. Perhaps the book gets better.....later. I can't wait that long. I still have 4 Crispins to go. Let's hope they're better & that TOY SHOP wasn't a one-hit wonder.
May 31, 2019
Un caso intrigante al que se añade la subtrama aburrida del Fen político.
June 2, 2023
Edmund Crispin always offers verbal delights that make my day, even when his stories devolve into absurdity. His vocabulary and wordplay alone are worth the price of admission for me. This story also had a decently complex mystery plot, with enough substance to make me able to stomach some of the sillier bits of whimsy that Crispin is addicted to injecting into his tales.
Professor Gervase Fen, tiring of his decade of teaching literature at Oxford, has decided to run for Parliament. He has chosen to favor a rather unpromising neighborhood with his notice and descends on the village of Sanford Angelorum for a week of campaigning as an Independent candidate. He quickly discovers that canvassing offers limited scope for his intellectual gifts and is relieved to discover that there’s also a murder mystery afoot. A lady in the area has been given a box of poisoned chocolates. There are anlso several odd people hanging around the village, a cast of characters both mysterious and suspicious. Of course, the suspicious characters all have reasonable explanations for their actions and it’s the ordinary villagers you have to watch.
Fen ultimately tries to kill his own campaign and delivers a speech about the drivers of political passion that could apply chillingly to present-day politics. This is a more serious Fen than was encountered in the early books, and I rather missed his bounding about and crazy expressions. I also missed the sense Crispin brought to his early books that death was not to be taken lightly; here people die for the mere puzzle of it. As the mystery part of the story is hastening to its denouement, the villagers step up the silliness quotient that Fen has failed to provide. It was mostly good fun, though a bit cold-hearted.
Professor Gervase Fen, tiring of his decade of teaching literature at Oxford, has decided to run for Parliament. He has chosen to favor a rather unpromising neighborhood with his notice and descends on the village of Sanford Angelorum for a week of campaigning as an Independent candidate. He quickly discovers that canvassing offers limited scope for his intellectual gifts and is relieved to discover that there’s also a murder mystery afoot. A lady in the area has been given a box of poisoned chocolates. There are anlso several odd people hanging around the village, a cast of characters both mysterious and suspicious. Of course, the suspicious characters all have reasonable explanations for their actions and it’s the ordinary villagers you have to watch.
Fen ultimately tries to kill his own campaign and delivers a speech about the drivers of political passion that could apply chillingly to present-day politics. This is a more serious Fen than was encountered in the early books, and I rather missed his bounding about and crazy expressions. I also missed the sense Crispin brought to his early books that death was not to be taken lightly; here people die for the mere puzzle of it. As the mystery part of the story is hastening to its denouement, the villagers step up the silliness quotient that Fen has failed to provide. It was mostly good fun, though a bit cold-hearted.
May 31, 2023
This is a mix between mystery and farce, with a classic mystery plot of murder and blackmail encompassing an escaped lunatic, a pig who refuses to be sold, and a rectory with a noisy occupant. Meanwhile Oxford professor Gervase Fen is standing as an Independent parliamentary candidate and finding the round of speeches and meetings rather wearing…
Crispin is a really clever writer with a feel for the visual impact of his scenes, and a sharp wit - particularly when he pokes fun at both Conservatives and socialists in the political scenes. The characters he conjures up are amusing and memorable, centred on Fen whose mixture of grumpiness and kindness works well. The plot in this book is quite simple, but its glorious chaos makes up for that.
Crispin is a really clever writer with a feel for the visual impact of his scenes, and a sharp wit - particularly when he pokes fun at both Conservatives and socialists in the political scenes. The characters he conjures up are amusing and memorable, centred on Fen whose mixture of grumpiness and kindness works well. The plot in this book is quite simple, but its glorious chaos makes up for that.
June 8, 2024
This was my first meting with Gervase Fen. I usually start series with #1, but this one was offered to me.
I like Gervase's character, especially his down to earth calm way of taking things in, though I didn't completely enjoy the book. There was a mystery, with a couple of murders (and I had absolutely not guessed at the culprit), but the background political satire on the England of the time took a lot of space, and this type of thing is not my cup of tea.
I'm curious about other books where maybe I would see more of him as an English teacher at Oxford.
There were a lot of hilarious details on many things, from cars to house renovations.
Alas, I didn't understand the title!!
I'll give Gervase a second chance.
I like Gervase's character, especially his down to earth calm way of taking things in, though I didn't completely enjoy the book. There was a mystery, with a couple of murders (and I had absolutely not guessed at the culprit), but the background political satire on the England of the time took a lot of space, and this type of thing is not my cup of tea.
I'm curious about other books where maybe I would see more of him as an English teacher at Oxford.
There were a lot of hilarious details on many things, from cars to house renovations.
Alas, I didn't understand the title!!
I'll give Gervase a second chance.
March 24, 2021
No one is buried at all in this book, so the title is as mis-chosen as the denoument. A mindless little read in which Fen decides to stand for Parliament. The humour is a little laboured, as is the explanation of the crime. My reaction to that was, "Really?" The funniest line is the one where Fen says you can't buy your way into Parliament. I guess this was long before the pounds for peerages scandals.
Not as bad as some of the Fen novels; just a bit dull.
Not as bad as some of the Fen novels; just a bit dull.
January 25, 2024
I am permanently amazed that Edmund Crispin was/is not better known - his work is excellent.
This is another book set away from Oxford which doesn’t bring out the best in Professor Gervase Fen. The murders are confused in his mind with his rather bizarre political campaign (is it ever thus in the world of politics?) but the humour and satire is very neatly written.
If you enjoy Golden Age of Crime writing then you must acquaint yourself with this author and his work. You will not be disappointed I am sure.
This is another book set away from Oxford which doesn’t bring out the best in Professor Gervase Fen. The murders are confused in his mind with his rather bizarre political campaign (is it ever thus in the world of politics?) but the humour and satire is very neatly written.
If you enjoy Golden Age of Crime writing then you must acquaint yourself with this author and his work. You will not be disappointed I am sure.
September 3, 2017
I enjoy the piquant adjectives and striking nouns that E. Crispin uses in his writing. I have to admit that he finds many words with which I am not familiar. Those that I know, however, really color his writing. Gervase Fen, the Oxford don, is again working to solve a mystery. There is a touch of humor in this writing, and it is especially delightful when Fen decides that he is going to stand for parliament. Apparently politics is about the same everywhere; the electorate is pretty much just like we know of in the U. S.! While electioneering, he is busy solving two murders and an attempted murder. At the end, we get a full explanation of his methods, and it all becomes clear.
June 15, 2025
This author devoted most of his life to his career as a composer, but between 1944 and 1953 he wrote nine mysteries and a number of short stories featuring eccentric Oxford professor Gervase Fen. His books and stories were popular when they were published and lovers of classic English mysteries (and whimsical humor) continue to discover and fall in love with them.
This one has Fen going to an English backwater village to run for Parliament. The reasons for his doing so are never clearly articulated. It's just one of Fen's many bizarre notions that lead him into the barmy situations that make his adventures so compelling to the reader.
The main thing is that there's a mystery and in short order politics takes a back seat to investigation. I was surprised to find that this (the sixth in the series) introduces Inspector Humbleby of Scotland Yard. I've always thought of him as a fixture in the Fen books, like Sherlock Holmes's Dr Watson. Humbleby is no buffoon, but a deceptively effective copper and almost as unique as the Professor himself. The two men are perfect foils as they work together amicably and entertainingly.
In the end, the mystery is less important than the cast of off-beat, but entirely believable characters and Crispin's shrewd, acerbic, hilarious comments on English society, laws, customs, and politics. Crispin loved the English countryside, but he was also a fine observer of the absurdities of human nature. His books are treasures. If you haven't read them, you're missing something.
This one has Fen going to an English backwater village to run for Parliament. The reasons for his doing so are never clearly articulated. It's just one of Fen's many bizarre notions that lead him into the barmy situations that make his adventures so compelling to the reader.
The main thing is that there's a mystery and in short order politics takes a back seat to investigation. I was surprised to find that this (the sixth in the series) introduces Inspector Humbleby of Scotland Yard. I've always thought of him as a fixture in the Fen books, like Sherlock Holmes's Dr Watson. Humbleby is no buffoon, but a deceptively effective copper and almost as unique as the Professor himself. The two men are perfect foils as they work together amicably and entertainingly.
In the end, the mystery is less important than the cast of off-beat, but entirely believable characters and Crispin's shrewd, acerbic, hilarious comments on English society, laws, customs, and politics. Crispin loved the English countryside, but he was also a fine observer of the absurdities of human nature. His books are treasures. If you haven't read them, you're missing something.
December 19, 2009
I went on a hunt for works by Edmund Crispin after coming across the better-known Moving Toyshop. Buried for Pleasure is part of the same series starring the eccentric Gervase Fen, professor of English at Oxford and amateur sleuth. The book satisfies any died-in-the-wool fan of the golden age of mysteries, but does not leap off the page except for a single speech given by Fen near the end of his disastrous attempt at becoming the local M.P. for a rural constituency.
Fen, no doubt speaking for Crispin and the rest of us, gives a rousing denunciation of the entire political system (his politics are mildly conservative, but mostly undefined). The book is worth reading for that speech alone in chapter 19.
Then he really says what he thinks. This is wonderful stuff, but there is not enough of it for the book to be excellent.
Fen, no doubt speaking for Crispin and the rest of us, gives a rousing denunciation of the entire political system (his politics are mildly conservative, but mostly undefined). The book is worth reading for that speech alone in chapter 19.
It is often asserted that the English are unique among the nations for their good sense in political matters. In actual fact, however, the English have no more political sense than so many polar bears.
Then he really says what he thinks. This is wonderful stuff, but there is not enough of it for the book to be excellent.
September 29, 2019
I thought I had read almost all of Crispin, but apparently I missed this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it - as always.
Fen has decided to broaden his horizons by running for Parliament. So he goes down to the borough he is campaigning for and learns about campaigning. He worries whether he will win the election since he has waited so late to start his campaign, but his contact assures him that is what will win - he's taken his oppponets by surprise and they aren't ready to deal with him. The only inn he can stay in has an overzealous owner who is trying to remodel it on his own and begins work promptly at 7 o'clock every morning - which is way too early for Fen. He sees a man staying at the inn who looks familiar though he can't recall his name or occupation. There is also a mysterious good-looking girl who attracts his attention. But mostly, he thinks he just wants to win the seat he is running for. The usual cast of characters (and I mean 'characters') makes this fun.
Fen has decided to broaden his horizons by running for Parliament. So he goes down to the borough he is campaigning for and learns about campaigning. He worries whether he will win the election since he has waited so late to start his campaign, but his contact assures him that is what will win - he's taken his oppponets by surprise and they aren't ready to deal with him. The only inn he can stay in has an overzealous owner who is trying to remodel it on his own and begins work promptly at 7 o'clock every morning - which is way too early for Fen. He sees a man staying at the inn who looks familiar though he can't recall his name or occupation. There is also a mysterious good-looking girl who attracts his attention. But mostly, he thinks he just wants to win the seat he is running for. The usual cast of characters (and I mean 'characters') makes this fun.
December 23, 2017
One of my favorite Gervase Fen mysteries. Fen runs for a seat in the House of Commons. Great local dialect and Crispin's sense of humor at its best.
'We was in the gorse by fourth green.' [said Harry]
' The gorse. Surely, in the gorse, you can't have been...' [said Fen]
' We was mollocking,' said Harry with distinct satisfaction. 'She'm a rare un for mollocking, is Olive.'
Olive appeared gratified by the tribute. 'Me Grammer alius says: "When oats be cutting, maids be riggish."'
'Your grandmother is clearly a depraved old woman. What time did you...' [said Fen]
'We was in the gorse by fourth green.' [said Harry]
' The gorse. Surely, in the gorse, you can't have been...' [said Fen]
' We was mollocking,' said Harry with distinct satisfaction. 'She'm a rare un for mollocking, is Olive.'
Olive appeared gratified by the tribute. 'Me Grammer alius says: "When oats be cutting, maids be riggish."'
'Your grandmother is clearly a depraved old woman. What time did you...' [said Fen]
November 19, 2025
I sometimes think that I could write a book and then I read Crispin and realise that I am kidding myself. The man's command of The English language is masterful. I gave it 5 stars the first time I read it and have no hesitation in giving it 5 again.
December 23, 2013
Over and over I am thoroughly tickled by this satire of a Parliament election, and laugh my head off at the dénouement.
November 23, 2016
Gervase Fen runs for Parliament until he's distracted by finding a murdered man
February 25, 2023
Fen arrives in Sanford Angelorum to stand for Parliament - for no other reason, it seems, than that he's become bored of being a professor and thinks life as a politician might be more interesting. The discussions between Fen and his agent, Captain Watkyn, are a little too true to be funny at times:
"Oh. But look here: this says I advocate the abolition of capital punishment, and really, you know, I'm not at all sure that I do."
"My dear sir, it doesn't matter whether you do or not, " said Captain Watkyn with candour. "You must rid yourself of the idea that you have to try and implement any of these promises once you're actually elected."
And on presenting the police with some information about the Rector's field-glasses which may or may not be relevant in solving a murder, "Wolfe thanked him with the civil insincerity of a small boy who has anticipated an aeroplane for Christmas and been given a copy of the Bible."
Crispin actually tries to make a couple of his female characters realistic in this novel too - instead of merely labelling them 'blonde' or 'brunette' and describing their figures, he does attempt to say something about their personalities, although it's all still fairly one-dimensional. And I really didn't like the way he writes about Jacqueline, the barmaid at the inn - there's a very uncomfortable scene early on where Fen and the landlady, Myra, talk about Jacqueline in front of her, discussing her figure, and calling her a dumb blonde.
Fen then discovers that someone he knows has been murdered, and the day after, he's worrying that standing for election will hinder his ability to get involved in the investigation. "Aggravatingly, he found himself in the position of a man who, weighing the merits of one entertainment against those of another, has chosen...wrongly." I guess it's meant to be funny, but it really grated on me that he's describing investigating the murder of a friend as 'entertainment'.
The plot is finished off fairly satisfactorily, although there were a couple of things that never get explained because the only people who could explain them are dead...which I suspect was really because Crispin couldn't actually come up with an explanation! But it does all feel quite rushed and heavily based on coincidence. This was the last of three Fen novels I picked up in a charity shop, and I don't think I'll be reading any more - while I appreciate the writing style and some of the humour, the plots are on the flimsy side, but I think the real reason is that undercurrent of nastiness in the humour. I can see why some people love his books, but they're just not right for me.
"Oh. But look here: this says I advocate the abolition of capital punishment, and really, you know, I'm not at all sure that I do."
"My dear sir, it doesn't matter whether you do or not, " said Captain Watkyn with candour. "You must rid yourself of the idea that you have to try and implement any of these promises once you're actually elected."
And on presenting the police with some information about the Rector's field-glasses which may or may not be relevant in solving a murder, "Wolfe thanked him with the civil insincerity of a small boy who has anticipated an aeroplane for Christmas and been given a copy of the Bible."
Crispin actually tries to make a couple of his female characters realistic in this novel too - instead of merely labelling them 'blonde' or 'brunette' and describing their figures, he does attempt to say something about their personalities, although it's all still fairly one-dimensional. And I really didn't like the way he writes about Jacqueline, the barmaid at the inn - there's a very uncomfortable scene early on where Fen and the landlady, Myra, talk about Jacqueline in front of her, discussing her figure, and calling her a dumb blonde.
Fen then discovers that someone he knows has been murdered, and the day after, he's worrying that standing for election will hinder his ability to get involved in the investigation. "Aggravatingly, he found himself in the position of a man who, weighing the merits of one entertainment against those of another, has chosen...wrongly." I guess it's meant to be funny, but it really grated on me that he's describing investigating the murder of a friend as 'entertainment'.
The plot is finished off fairly satisfactorily, although there were a couple of things that never get explained because the only people who could explain them are dead...which I suspect was really because Crispin couldn't actually come up with an explanation! But it does all feel quite rushed and heavily based on coincidence. This was the last of three Fen novels I picked up in a charity shop, and I don't think I'll be reading any more - while I appreciate the writing style and some of the humour, the plots are on the flimsy side, but I think the real reason is that undercurrent of nastiness in the humour. I can see why some people love his books, but they're just not right for me.
January 11, 2025
I bought this on spec for my sister who is a fan of detective fiction. She was most enthusiastic and made sure I got it back.
Let me review it simply by saying that I enjoyed it immensely because I felt the author was enjoying writing it. He is excellent at feeding the information in bit by bit, depicts people without any attempt to delve into their characters - they are drawn very nicely, but superficially - because they serve the purpose of the story and are not there for their own sake. Having said which, Gervase Fen, the Oxford Professor who, in this novel, has chosen to amuse himself by standing for Parliament as an independent in Sanford Angelorum, is spoken of in rather more detail, but without recourse to the psychological whys and wherefores that may motivate him.
Stock characters abound, all entertainingly portrayed, and I couldn't help feeling that when Houghton the butler to the seventeenth Earl of Sanford makes his appearance, Crispin was relishing to opportunity to take the mickey by turning him into a Jeeves-type figure. Captain Watkyn, Fen's election agent, is also a spirited portrayal of an ex-army officer taking command of a pretty hopeless election prospect with energetic optimism and a loudspeaker van that never fails to break down.
All very delightful, and for me there was the bonus of Crispin being a writer who enjoys both the well made sentence and an excuse to use a rare word. It's not often you come across a novel containing philoprogenitive, flagitious, maffick, mollock, nescience, renegation, quadrifoliate, ecchymoses and pernoctation.
Let me review it simply by saying that I enjoyed it immensely because I felt the author was enjoying writing it. He is excellent at feeding the information in bit by bit, depicts people without any attempt to delve into their characters - they are drawn very nicely, but superficially - because they serve the purpose of the story and are not there for their own sake. Having said which, Gervase Fen, the Oxford Professor who, in this novel, has chosen to amuse himself by standing for Parliament as an independent in Sanford Angelorum, is spoken of in rather more detail, but without recourse to the psychological whys and wherefores that may motivate him.
Stock characters abound, all entertainingly portrayed, and I couldn't help feeling that when Houghton the butler to the seventeenth Earl of Sanford makes his appearance, Crispin was relishing to opportunity to take the mickey by turning him into a Jeeves-type figure. Captain Watkyn, Fen's election agent, is also a spirited portrayal of an ex-army officer taking command of a pretty hopeless election prospect with energetic optimism and a loudspeaker van that never fails to break down.
All very delightful, and for me there was the bonus of Crispin being a writer who enjoys both the well made sentence and an excuse to use a rare word. It's not often you come across a novel containing philoprogenitive, flagitious, maffick, mollock, nescience, renegation, quadrifoliate, ecchymoses and pernoctation.
June 30, 2018
‘Buried for Pleasure’ is the sixth book in the Gervase Fen series and the third I’d read.
It moves away from the Oxford-based mysteries, with Fen wanting to recuperate from editing Langland by running an parliamentary campaign. In some ways this shakes the series up a little but it does mean we miss two of my favourite elements of Fen’s stories; Lilly Christina III, his unruly car and Wilkes the Whisky-guzzler. There were also fewer literary jokes this time through, except the bit-part of a mystery writer who rehearses his fictional murder.
There was also a change in Fen’s character. While he did the usual thing of holding on to information, he was less moody then the early books. When confronting murder, he used to have a cold and icy rage but when a friend is killed, he doesn’t seem to care particularly. He is still arch, particularly in regard to politics (and gets to make a big anti-political speech) but breaks the fourth wall far less.
The mystery itself is not very involved but like the other books, it’s more a case of journey than destination and it’s a fun journey. Not many writers would distract the writer during the first big exposition section with the buzzing of insects… nor would they describe the noise of renovation as a ’piratical sea-fight with cutlasses’. Another piece of useful information is smuggled through the salty phrases of a grandma.
I do wonder why there isn’t a series of Gervase Fen mysteries, it’s an enjoyable world to be in and I shall pick up more whenever I see them.
Oh - and what was it with the poltergeist? Was it the landlady?
It moves away from the Oxford-based mysteries, with Fen wanting to recuperate from editing Langland by running an parliamentary campaign. In some ways this shakes the series up a little but it does mean we miss two of my favourite elements of Fen’s stories; Lilly Christina III, his unruly car and Wilkes the Whisky-guzzler. There were also fewer literary jokes this time through, except the bit-part of a mystery writer who rehearses his fictional murder.
There was also a change in Fen’s character. While he did the usual thing of holding on to information, he was less moody then the early books. When confronting murder, he used to have a cold and icy rage but when a friend is killed, he doesn’t seem to care particularly. He is still arch, particularly in regard to politics (and gets to make a big anti-political speech) but breaks the fourth wall far less.
The mystery itself is not very involved but like the other books, it’s more a case of journey than destination and it’s a fun journey. Not many writers would distract the writer during the first big exposition section with the buzzing of insects… nor would they describe the noise of renovation as a ’piratical sea-fight with cutlasses’. Another piece of useful information is smuggled through the salty phrases of a grandma.
I do wonder why there isn’t a series of Gervase Fen mysteries, it’s an enjoyable world to be in and I shall pick up more whenever I see them.
Oh - and what was it with the poltergeist? Was it the landlady?
May 7, 2023
Although this is not my favourite in the Gervase Fen mysteries, it still an enjoyable outing. Fen is in the small village of Sanford Angelorum, bizarrely standing as an independent candidate for Parliament. His reasons for doing so are fairly vague, but his musings - and speeches - on politics make enjoyable reading.
This novel involves an escaped lunatic from a nearby asylum, a pig which eats constantly but refuses to grow, several eccentric characters (this was published in 1949 and I was interested to read of the barmaid named Myra, a name which swiftly dropped from popularity after 1966) and, of course, murder. Crispin's mysteries are always fun - I cannot think of any other author who can write a creepy scene involving an attempted murder in a hospital and of a vicar who cheerfully hosts a poltergeist without making the book somewhat silly. These are fun and light, but often serious and the plots are involved but it is obvious that Fen takes murder seriously and so these still work well as crime novels.
This novel involves an escaped lunatic from a nearby asylum, a pig which eats constantly but refuses to grow, several eccentric characters (this was published in 1949 and I was interested to read of the barmaid named Myra, a name which swiftly dropped from popularity after 1966) and, of course, murder. Crispin's mysteries are always fun - I cannot think of any other author who can write a creepy scene involving an attempted murder in a hospital and of a vicar who cheerfully hosts a poltergeist without making the book somewhat silly. These are fun and light, but often serious and the plots are involved but it is obvious that Fen takes murder seriously and so these still work well as crime novels.
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