Thursday, August 03, 2006

Happy Birthday, P. D. James!

The Writer's Almanac from American Public Media: "It's the birthday of mystery author P D (Phyllis Dorothy) James, (books by this author) born in Oxford, England (1920). She's known for her novels starring Detective Inspector Adam Dalgliesh, who first appears about fifty pages into her first novel when he is sent out by Scotland Yard to investigate a death among the gentry at a remote country estate. He's a dedicated, hard-working policeman who is also a sensitive and successful poet.

She said, 'The classical detective story affirms our belief that we live in a rational and generally benevolent universe.'"

6 comments:

Carl V. Anderson said...

Isn't there a movie coming out soon based on a PD James novel?

Unknown said...

Hadn't heard that. TV or theatrical release?

Anonymous said...

Sadly, leaving aside all the tv adaptations of her good crime fiction, it's probably the film of her ridiculous sf novel, THE CHILDREN OF MEN, that you're thinking of. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/ (I refrain from suggesting it's her NUMBER...because as far as I know she didn't have any medical excuse)

Carl V. Anderson said...

That's it, The Children of Men. The trailer looks very interesting...of course that's mostly because I'm a Clive Owen fan.

Vince said...

By coincidence, Bill, it's also Clifford Simak's birthday, whom you single out in your book meme post below. Quite a line-up -- and I'm not just saying that because it's also my birthday.

Unknown said...

Simak is one of my all-time favorites, and Happy Birthday, Vince!