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Whose Body?
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Whose Body? Paperback -

by Dorothy L. Sayers


About this book

Whose Body? is the first novel written by Dorothy L. Sayers, and was first published in England by T. Fisher Unwin in 1923. This crime novel begins with the discovery of the naked body of a murder victim in the bathtub, and the confusion surrounding the identity of the victim. Sayers was a popular author in her lifetime, and is well known for feminist ideas, though she described here characterizations of both men and women as being descriptions of "ordinary human beings." Whose Body? is The first book of the Lord Peter Wimsey Series, which is popular among fans of detective stories still, almost a century after it was first published.

From the publisher

The body had been removed a few hours previously, and when the bathroom and the whole flat had been explored by the naked eye and the camera of the competent Bunter, it became evident that the real problem of the household was old Mrs. Thipps. Her son and servant had both been removed, and it appeared that they had no friends in town, beyond a few business acquaintances of Thipps's, whose very addresses the old lady did not know. The other flats in the building were occupied respectively by a family of seven, at present departed to winter abroad, an elderly Indian colonel of ferocious manners, who lived alone with an Indian man-servant, and a highly respectable family on the third floor, whom the disturbance over their heads had outraged to the last degree. The husband, indeed, when appealed to by Lord Peter, showed a little human weakness, but Mrs. Appledore, appearing suddenly in a warm dressing-gown, extricated him from the difficulties into which he was carelessly wandering.
"I am sorry," she said, "I'm afraid we can't interfere in any way. This is a very unpleasant business, Mr.- I'm afraid I didn't catch your name, and we have always found it better not to be mixed up with the police. Of course, if the Thippses are innocent, and I am sure I hope they are, it is very unfortunate for them, but I must say that the circumstances seem to me most suspicious, and to Theophilus too, and I should not like to have it said that we had assisted murderers. We might even be supposed to be accessories. Of course you are young, Mr.-"
"This is Lord Peter Wimsey, my dear," said Theophilus mildly. She was unimpressed.
"Ah, yes," she said, "I believe you are distantly related to my late cousin, the Bishop of Carisbrooke. Poor man! He was always being taken in by impostors; he died without ever learning any better. I imagine you take after him, Lord Peter."
"I doubt it," said Lord Peter. "So far as I know he is only a connection, though it's a wise child that knows its own father. I congratulate you, dear lady, on takin' after the other side of the family. You'll forgive my buttin' in upon you like this in the middle of the night, though, as you say, it's all in the family, and I'm sure I'm very much obliged to you, and for permittin' me to admire that awfully fetchin' thing you've got on. Now, don't you worry, Mr. Appledore. I'm thinkin' the best thing I can do is to trundle the old lady down to my mother and take her out of your way, otherwise you might be findin' your Christian feelin's gettin' the better of you some fine day, and there's nothin' like Christian feelin's for upsettin' a man's domestic comfort. Good-night, sir-good-night, dear lady-it's simply rippin' of you to let me drop in like this."
"Well!" said Mrs. Appledore, as the door closed behind him. - Taken from "Whose Body?" written by Dorothy L. Sayers

First Edition Identification

First editions can command up to $2,000.00 for the UK edition, and first U.S. editions, printed by Boni and Liverlight the same year, can range up to $1,500.00. This book remains highly collectible, as the first work of an important author and of an important series in the amateur detective genre. Common defects included damage to the cover and spine (of the book, not the victim in the story), and age-tanned pages. 

Details

  • Title Whose Body?
  • Author Dorothy L. Sayers
  • Binding Paperback
  • Pages 138
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Independently Published
  • ISBN 9781689031028 / 1689031026
  • Weight 0.47 lbs (0.21 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.02 x 5.98 x 0.32 in (22.91 x 15.19 x 0.81 cm)
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC