Crime Fiction
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Author Description
Crime Fiction provides a lively introduction to what is both a wide-ranging and hugely popular literary genre. Using examples from a variety of novels, short stories, films and televisions series, John Scaggs: *presents a concise history of crime fiction - from biblical narratives to James Ellroy - broadening the genre to include revenge tragedy and the gothic novel *explores the key sub-genres of crime fiction, such as 'Rational Criminal Investigation', The Hard-Boiled Mode', 'The Police Procedural' and 'Historical Crime Fiction' *locates texts and their recurring themes and motifs in a wider social and historical context *outlines the various critical concepts that are central to the study of crime fiction, including gender, narrative theory and film theory *considers contemporary television series like C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation alongside the 'classic' whodunnits of Agatha Christie. Accessible and clear, this comprehensive overview is the essential guide for all those studying crime fiction and concludes with a look at future directions for the genre in the twentieth-first century.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the historical development, thematic evolution, and critical frameworks that define the crime fiction genre. John Scaggs, an academic expert in the field, synthesizes a vast array of primary sources ranging from classical literature to modern television. He argues that crime fiction is not a static category but a fluid, expansive genre that reflects shifting social anxieties and narrative conventions throughout history.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A historical survey spanning from biblical narratives to contemporary works by James Ellroy.
- Analysis of sub-genres including Rational Criminal Investigation, The Hard-Boiled Mode, and The Police Procedural.
- Application of critical concepts such as gender studies, narrative theory, and film theory to crime texts.
- Comparative studies between classic whodunnits and modern media like C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and students frequently cite this work as a foundational, accessible introduction to the academic study of crime literature. Readers often note the clarity of the prose, which manages to balance complex theoretical concepts with a broad overview of the genre's history.
Page Count:
184
Publication Date:
2005-01-01
Publisher:
London ; Routledge, 2005.
ISBN-10:
0203598539
ISBN-13:
9780203598535
Crime
Suspense fiction
Nonfiction
Reference
Film Studies
Literary Criticism
