| Author |
Message |
Jim Ward
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 2:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
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On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 11:53:50 +0000, Robin Bignall
<docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I've got them all, and they're good reads not just because of the cops
and robbers aspects, but also their insights into the social
conditions obtaining in SA. Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
|
I read the whole series (took awhile to track down "The Fire Engine
That Disappeared"). I even bought a kid's CD so I could hear "The
Laughing Policeman". |
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Jess Askin
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 3:06 am
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
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"Robin Bignall" <docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:em89p0dclsli6mbb0ec1ma03145aoe1tf9@4ax.com...
| Quote: | On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:33:38 -0500, Jim Ward
tomcatpolka@NyOaShPoAoM.com> wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 03:50:06 GMT, Tony Cooper
tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
You know it's one of a series, don't you? McClure wrote several books
about the same policemen. I've never seen any of the other books in
my favorite used bookstores.
In case anyone is wondering, the complete series is:
The Steam Pig (1971)
The Caterpillar Cop (1972)
The Gooseberry Fool (1974)
Snake (1975)
The Sunday Hangman (1977)
The Blood of an Englishman (1980)
The Artful Egg (1984)
The Song Dog (1991)
I keep meaning to dig into, but never get a round tuit.
I've got them all, and they're good reads not just because of the cops
and robbers aspects, but also their insights into the social
conditions obtaining in SA. Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
|
As does Smilla's Sense of Snow, somewhat later on. |
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Robin Bignall
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 3:06 am
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
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On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 12:42:47 +0000, Laura F Spira
<laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:
| Quote: | Robin Bignall wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:33:38 -0500, Jim Ward
tomcatpolka@NyOaShPoAoM.com> wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 03:50:06 GMT, Tony Cooper
tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
You know it's one of a series, don't you? McClure wrote several books
about the same policemen. I've never seen any of the other books in
my favorite used bookstores.
In case anyone is wondering, the complete series is:
The Steam Pig (1971)
The Caterpillar Cop (1972)
The Gooseberry Fool (1974)
Snake (1975)
The Sunday Hangman (1977)
The Blood of an Englishman (1980)
The Artful Egg (1984)
The Song Dog (1991)
I keep meaning to dig into, but never get a round tuit.
I've got them all, and they're good reads not just because of the cops
and robbers aspects, but also their insights into the social
conditions obtaining in SA. Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
Henning Mankell, too.
|
Yes, he's good too, and writing about today's Sweden. But reading
several in a row, as I recently did, makes me wonder how a guy who
never seems to have his gun, torch, pen, paper... available when he
needs them most could bumble through as a police inspector. And his
love life is almost as non-existent as Morse's!
What also strikes me about these books, which were written in Swedish,
is the clarity and simplicity of the English translations.
--
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Hertfordshire
England |
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Robin Bignall
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 3:06 am
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
|
On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 07:52:44 -0500, Jim Ward
<tomcatpolka@NyOaShPoAoM.com> wrote:
| Quote: | On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 11:53:50 +0000, Robin Bignall
docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote:
I've got them all, and they're good reads not just because of the cops
and robbers aspects, but also their insights into the social
conditions obtaining in SA. Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
I read the whole series (took awhile to track down "The Fire Engine
That Disappeared"). I even bought a kid's CD so I could hear "The
Laughing Policeman".
|
Gets you going, doesn't it. It was a favourite on BBC radio record
request programmes (such as 'Family Favourites') when I was a kid well
over 50 years ago, and it seems to have aged well.
--
wrmst rgrds
Robin Bignall
Hertfordshire
England |
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Jim Ward
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 3:06 am
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
|
On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 23:30:23 +0000, Robin Bignall
<docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Gets you going, doesn't it. It was a favourite on BBC radio record
request programmes (such as 'Family Favourites') when I was a kid well
over 50 years ago, and it seems to have aged well.
|
Sure does. The only other song I can recall off the CD is about the
teddy bears having a picnic. |
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Mark Brader
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 6:04 am
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
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| Quote: | ... Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
As does Smilla's Sense of Snow, somewhat later on.
|
For values of "Sweden" that equal "Denmark".
--
Mark Brader, Toronto "Not looking like Pascal is not
msb@vex.net a language deficiency!" -- Doug Gwyn |
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Laura F Spira
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
|
Robin Bignall wrote:
| Quote: | On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 12:42:47 +0000, Laura F Spira
laura@DRAGONspira.fsbusiness.co.uk> wrote:
Robin Bignall wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:33:38 -0500, Jim Ward
tomcatpolka@NyOaShPoAoM.com> wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 03:50:06 GMT, Tony Cooper
tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
You know it's one of a series, don't you? McClure wrote several books
about the same policemen. I've never seen any of the other books in
my favorite used bookstores.
In case anyone is wondering, the complete series is:
The Steam Pig (1971)
The Caterpillar Cop (1972)
The Gooseberry Fool (1974)
Snake (1975)
The Sunday Hangman (1977)
The Blood of an Englishman (1980)
The Artful Egg (1984)
The Song Dog (1991)
I keep meaning to dig into, but never get a round tuit.
I've got them all, and they're good reads not just because of the cops
and robbers aspects, but also their insights into the social
conditions obtaining in SA. Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
Henning Mankell, too.
Yes, he's good too, and writing about today's Sweden. But reading
several in a row, as I recently did, makes me wonder how a guy who
never seems to have his gun, torch, pen, paper... available when he
needs them most could bumble through as a police inspector. And his
love life is almost as non-existent as Morse's!
What also strikes me about these books, which were written in Swedish,
is the clarity and simplicity of the English translations.
|
Yes, his lack of the essential equipment does seem unusual. I thnk he
actually has more of a love life than Morse but it's supremely unsuccessful.
I guess that Mankell's prose style is pretty spare, which is very
appropriate for the gloominess of the books. The translations vary,
though. I can't remember the names of the translators offhand but I know
I prefer the style of the male one to any of the several female ones.
My latest find is Fred Vargas, a French (female) crime author.
--
Laura
(emulate St. George for email) |
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the Omrud
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 3:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
|
Jim Ward typed thus:
| Quote: | On Fri, 12 Nov 2004 23:30:23 +0000, Robin Bignall
docrobin@ntlworld.com> wrote:
Gets you going, doesn't it. It was a favourite on BBC radio record
request programmes (such as 'Family Favourites') when I was a kid well
over 50 years ago, and it seems to have aged well.
Sure does. The only other song I can recall off the CD is about the
teddy bears having a picnic.
|
What? Not "Little Red Monkey"?
Oops, sorry Laura.
--
David
=====
replace the first component of address
with the definite article. |
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Jess Askin
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2004 9:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
|
|
"Mark Brader" <msb@vex.net> wrote in message
news:10pb4n39rik4b11@corp.supernews.com...
| Quote: | ... Similarly, the series of crime thrillers
by Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö set in Sweden during the 1970s open
one's eyes to how the poor live in this archetypal welfare state.
As does Smilla's Sense of Snow, somewhat later on.
For values of "Sweden" that equal "Denmark".
|
Oops, of course, sorry all you Danes out there. |
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Jim Ward
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2004 9:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Redneck in South Africa, etc. |
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| Is Fred Vargas in English translation? |
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