Gaudy Night cover art

Gaudy Night

Lord Peter Wimsey, Book 12

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Gaudy Night

By: Dorothy L. Sayers
Narrated by: Jane McDowell
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About this listen

The best of the golden age crime writers, praised by all the top modern writers in the field including P. D. James and Ruth Rendell, Dorothy L. Sayers created the immortal Lord Peter Wimsey. The twelfth book featuring Lord Peter (the third novel to feature Harriet Vane) is set in an Oxford women's college.

Harriet Vane has never dared to return to her old Oxford college. Now, despite her scandalous life, she has been summoned back....

At first she thinks her worst fears have been fulfilled, as she encounters obscene graffiti, poison pen letters, and a disgusting effigy when she arrives at sedate Shrewsbury College for the Gaudy celebrations.

But soon Harriet realises she is not the only target of this murderous malice - and asks Lord Peter Wimsey to help.

©1935 The Trustees of Anthony Fleming (deceased) (P)2015 Hodder & Stoughton Crime Fiction Mystery Traditional Detectives Fiction Crime Detective

Critic Reviews

"I admire her novels...she has great fertility of invention, ingenuity and a wonderful eye for detail." (P. D. James)
All stars
Most relevant
some attitudes no longer appropriate, but it was written more than 100years ago, once you accept that, the book is great

complexity of plot

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The performance was spoilt for me by a simple mispronunciation- the hideous ‘mischievEEOus’ for mischievous
Otherwise I found it well and sympathetically read.
As a love story with a detective interest it is one of, if not the, best.

A great classic nicely presented

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I was so excited to learn of this narration of one of my favourite books. The narrator’s diction was lovely, but such a robotic delivery! And I would have thought that, before embarking on a narration of a book containing so much Latin, some research on Latin pronunciation might have been in order, but alas!

Disappointing narration of a wonderful book

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It was a fascinating time and place. I enjoyed learning about the culture and traditions of Oxford.
Good plot. Lots of intellectual snobbery which wasn't the most pleasant thing to listen to, but other than that great book.

An intelligently written book.

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Every now and then I try to listen to this again because I love the story so much. However every time I do I’m mystified by how this narrator came to be employed for such iconic stories. She has a lovely vocal timbre but her delivery would be more suitable for an instruction manual. There is no characterisation, no warmth, no sense of Oxford and the stiff jerky pace is jarring. I kept longing for Edward Petherbridge or Harriet Walter - the best Peter and Harriet ever. This recording is six years old now. Surely it’s time for some better versions??

Horrible narration wonderful book

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