Sir Henry Merrivale
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Merrivale is a fictional detective created by "Carter Dickson", a pen name
of John Dickson Carr
(1906–1977). Also known as "the Old Man," by his initials "H. M." (a pun
on "His Majesty"), or "the Maestro", he appeared in twenty-two locked room mysteries
and "impossible crime" novels of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, as well as in two short stories.
He began as a fairly serious character but became more and more comic, at times even grotesque, as the series went on. When first introduced as a character, he was already an older man nearing retirement, and in the novel "And So to Murder," set in late 1939, he referred to himself as being almost 70. But his age became more ambiguous in subsequent novels.
He is a baronet
and a barrister
– in The Judas Window
he actually appears for the defence in court to try a murder case – and holds a medical degree. Besides these qualifications, he has a number of other talents, including stage magic, disguise and a vast knowledge of the history of crime. He is married, but his wife is not featured as a character in any of the books or stories.
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of John Dickson Carr
John Dickson Carr
John Dickson Carr was an American author of detective stories, who also published under the pen names Carter Dickson, Carr Dickson and Roger Fairbairn....
(1906–1977). Also known as "the Old Man," by his initials "H. M." (a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on "His Majesty"), or "the Maestro", he appeared in twenty-two locked room mysteries
Locked room mystery
The locked room mystery is a sub-genre of detective fiction in which a crime—almost always murder—is committed under apparently impossible circumstances. The crime in question typically involves a crime scene that no intruder could have entered or left, e.g., a locked room...
and "impossible crime" novels of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, as well as in two short stories.
He began as a fairly serious character but became more and more comic, at times even grotesque, as the series went on. When first introduced as a character, he was already an older man nearing retirement, and in the novel "And So to Murder," set in late 1939, he referred to himself as being almost 70. But his age became more ambiguous in subsequent novels.
He is a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
and a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
– in The Judas Window
The Judas Window
The Judas Window is a famous locked room mystery novel by the American writer John Dickson Carr , writing under the name of Carter Dickson, published in 1938 and featuring detective Sir Henry Merrivale....
he actually appears for the defence in court to try a murder case – and holds a medical degree. Besides these qualifications, he has a number of other talents, including stage magic, disguise and a vast knowledge of the history of crime. He is married, but his wife is not featured as a character in any of the books or stories.
External links
- Appraisal of all the HM books
- John Dickson Carr at Books and Writers