The Attenbury Emeralds
Encyclopedia
The Attenbury Emeralds is the third Lord Peter Wimsey
detective novel to be written by Jill Paton Walsh
. It was published by Hodder & Stoughton
in September 2010.
Closely following Lord Peter creator Dorothy L. Sayers
’ own writing in her 11 novels and five collections of short stories, The Attenbury Emeralds recounts how Lord Peter begins his hobby of amateur sleuthing in 1921 by becoming involved in the recovery of the Attenbury Emeralds. Lord Peter Wimsey’s "first case" is a mystery mentioned by Sayers in a number of novels, but never fully told.
The novel is set after World War II, but in its first chapters this seems like a mere frame story
with Wimsey recounting to his wife Harriet the reminiscences of the start of his career in 1921. As a shell-shocked veteran of the First World War the young Wimsey had been invited to an engagement party at the house of the Attenburys, a fellow aristocratic family, was present when an emerald family heirloom disappeared, and discovered in himself a talent for detection - leading to discovery of the missing stone (and incidentally, saving his friends' daughter from marrying a rogue).
Soon, however, it turns out that in 1951 the story is still far from old history. There are numerous implications and mysteries behind mysteries: several other nearly identical emeralds, linked by inscribed verses from the Persian poet Hafez
; an Indian Maharaja
to whose ancestors all of them once belonged and who energetically seeks to reunite them; and a calculating and ruthless killer, with satanic patience, who over decades committed several murders for the sake of these emeralds.
Aside from the detective aspect, much of the book is concerned with the erosion of the British class system in the aftermath of the Second World War, manifested on the one hand in subtle changes in the relations between Wimsey and his long time servant and friend Bunter, and on the other in the increasing dispossession of the British aristocracy through the death duties
. At a cataclysmic moment in the book, Wimsey must assume — much against his will — the title and duties of the Duke of Denver
and also deal with the results of a huge fire which consumed much of the historic Wimsey Family seat; and Harriet Vane shows an unexpected aptitude to the role of Duchess.
In the fire, much of the historic building, with its imposing Elizabethan
and Jacobean
facade, is consumed by fire and utterly destroyed. However, the fire is stopped when reaching a sturdy, thick walled Norman
building — the Wimsey Family's original Medieval residence, which had been completely covered up, embedded and incorporated into the later structure, and forgotten for centuries, but which at the critical moment served to stop the fire and save the eastern wing and especially the library with its priceless old books. At the suggestion of Harriet, embraced by Peter, the decision is taken not to try to reconstruct the house as it was before the fire but to live in remaining part — an "odd but charming, asymmetrical structure" which is quite big enough for the present-day family — and plant a garden where the destroyed part had been. This could be taken as a metaphor for Britain — which had manifested the stamina to survive the conflagration of the Second World War but had to learn to live without its empire, at the time in which the plot is set.
Lord Peter Wimsey
Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey is a bon vivant amateur sleuth in a series of detective novels and short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers, in which he solves mysteries; usually, but not always, murders...
detective novel to be written by Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh, CBE, FRSL is an English novelist and children's writer.Born as Gillian Bliss and educated at St. Michael's Convent, North Finchley, London, she read English Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford...
. It was published by Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton is a British publishing house, now an imprint of Hachette.-History:The firm has its origins in the 1840s, with Matthew Hodder's employment, aged fourteen, with Messrs Jackson and Walford, the official publisher for the Congregational Union...
in September 2010.
Closely following Lord Peter creator Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy Leigh Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator and Christian humanist. She was also a student of classical and modern languages...
’ own writing in her 11 novels and five collections of short stories, The Attenbury Emeralds recounts how Lord Peter begins his hobby of amateur sleuthing in 1921 by becoming involved in the recovery of the Attenbury Emeralds. Lord Peter Wimsey’s "first case" is a mystery mentioned by Sayers in a number of novels, but never fully told.
The novel is set after World War II, but in its first chapters this seems like a mere frame story
Frame story
A frame story is a literary technique that sometimes serves as a companion piece to a story within a story, whereby an introductory or main narrative is presented, at least in part, for the purpose of setting the stage either for a more emphasized second narrative or for a set of shorter stories...
with Wimsey recounting to his wife Harriet the reminiscences of the start of his career in 1921. As a shell-shocked veteran of the First World War the young Wimsey had been invited to an engagement party at the house of the Attenburys, a fellow aristocratic family, was present when an emerald family heirloom disappeared, and discovered in himself a talent for detection - leading to discovery of the missing stone (and incidentally, saving his friends' daughter from marrying a rogue).
Soon, however, it turns out that in 1951 the story is still far from old history. There are numerous implications and mysteries behind mysteries: several other nearly identical emeralds, linked by inscribed verses from the Persian poet Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
; an Indian Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
to whose ancestors all of them once belonged and who energetically seeks to reunite them; and a calculating and ruthless killer, with satanic patience, who over decades committed several murders for the sake of these emeralds.
Aside from the detective aspect, much of the book is concerned with the erosion of the British class system in the aftermath of the Second World War, manifested on the one hand in subtle changes in the relations between Wimsey and his long time servant and friend Bunter, and on the other in the increasing dispossession of the British aristocracy through the death duties
Inheritance Tax (United Kingdom)
In the United Kingdom, Inheritance Tax is a transfer tax. It was introduced with effect from 18 March 1986 replacing Capital Transfer Tax.-History:...
. At a cataclysmic moment in the book, Wimsey must assume — much against his will — the title and duties of the Duke of Denver
Duke of Denver
The fictitious title of Duke of Denver was created by Dorothy Sayers for the family of Lord Peter Wimsey. Lord Peter is the second of the three children of Mortimer Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver...
and also deal with the results of a huge fire which consumed much of the historic Wimsey Family seat; and Harriet Vane shows an unexpected aptitude to the role of Duchess.
In the fire, much of the historic building, with its imposing Elizabethan
Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
and Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
facade, is consumed by fire and utterly destroyed. However, the fire is stopped when reaching a sturdy, thick walled Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
building — the Wimsey Family's original Medieval residence, which had been completely covered up, embedded and incorporated into the later structure, and forgotten for centuries, but which at the critical moment served to stop the fire and save the eastern wing and especially the library with its priceless old books. At the suggestion of Harriet, embraced by Peter, the decision is taken not to try to reconstruct the house as it was before the fire but to live in remaining part — an "odd but charming, asymmetrical structure" which is quite big enough for the present-day family — and plant a garden where the destroyed part had been. This could be taken as a metaphor for Britain — which had manifested the stamina to survive the conflagration of the Second World War but had to learn to live without its empire, at the time in which the plot is set.