Barbara Havers
Encyclopedia
Barbara Havers is a fictional detective in The Inspector Lynley series created by American
mystery
author Elizabeth George
. The character of Detective Sergeant Havers serves as a sidekick
and foil
to the lead character, Detective Inspector
Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard
.
Their relationship is a complicated, multi-layered one that not only encompasses the tensions brought about by their investigations of difficult or high-profile murder cases but also from subtle interpersonal elements as well. DS Havers often clashes with DI Lynley not only because he is her superior officer, but because of her quick temper, which has caused her demotion to detective constable
(or DC) and earned her the reputation of being difficult. Their relationship underscores contemporary issues of gender and class. Lynley, the handsome and urbane Eighth Earl of Asherton, has a gilded existence as a member of the nobility
, whereas the working class
, unattractive and socially inept Havers finds life a struggle. Helping her aging parents is a particular grind. Initially Havers despises all Lynley stands for but she grudgingly comes to accept his innate, bemused decency while recognizing his faults.
Eleven of George's Lynley novels have been adapted for television by the BBC
as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
. Havers is portrayed by Scottish
actress Sharon Small
; Nathaniel Parker
plays Lynley. The series lasted for five complete seasons before being cancelled in August 2007. There are two episodes from an uncompleted sixth season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mystery
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
author Elizabeth George
Elizabeth George
Susan Elizabeth George is an American author of mystery novels set in Great Britain.Eleven of her novels featuring her lead character Inspector Lynley have been adapted for television by the BBC as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.-Biography:George was born in Warren, Ohio to Robert Edwin and Anne ...
. The character of Detective Sergeant Havers serves as a sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
and foil
Foil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
to the lead character, Detective Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
Thomas Lynley of Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
.
Their relationship is a complicated, multi-layered one that not only encompasses the tensions brought about by their investigations of difficult or high-profile murder cases but also from subtle interpersonal elements as well. DS Havers often clashes with DI Lynley not only because he is her superior officer, but because of her quick temper, which has caused her demotion to detective constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
(or DC) and earned her the reputation of being difficult. Their relationship underscores contemporary issues of gender and class. Lynley, the handsome and urbane Eighth Earl of Asherton, has a gilded existence as a member of the nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
, whereas the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
, unattractive and socially inept Havers finds life a struggle. Helping her aging parents is a particular grind. Initially Havers despises all Lynley stands for but she grudgingly comes to accept his innate, bemused decency while recognizing his faults.
Eleven of George's Lynley novels have been adapted for television by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries is a series of BBC television programmes about Detective Inspector Thomas "Tommy" Lynley, 8th Earl of Asherton of Scotland Yard and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers...
. Havers is portrayed by Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
actress Sharon Small
Sharon Small
Sharon Small is a Scottish actress acclaimed for her dramatic work in film, radio, theatre and television. Her best-known TV role is that of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George.-Education and personal life:Small...
; Nathaniel Parker
Nathaniel Parker
Nathaniel Parker is an English actor best known for playing Detective Inspector Thomas "Tommy" Lynley in the BBC crime drama series The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.-Personal life:...
plays Lynley. The series lasted for five complete seasons before being cancelled in August 2007. There are two episodes from an uncompleted sixth season.
External links
- The author's official website
- The Inspector Lynley Mysteries at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
- A Sharon Small Website
- American-based Yahoo Group Discussion Board
- UK-based Yahoo group for discussion of the BBC's Inspector Lynley TV series
- http://www.theinspectorlynleymysteries.net