Margery Allingham
Margery Allingham: A Prolific Mystery Writer
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Margery Allingham was born on May 20, 1904, in London, England, to Herbert Allingham and Ada Miller. Her given name is often spelled "Margaret," but she preferred "Margery." The author's friends and family also referred to her as Peggy.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: May 20, 1904
Died: June 6, 1966
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Margery Allingham was a British mystery writer. Throughout her career, she wrote numerous novels, short stories, and essays that have captivated readers for generations.
Early Life and Background
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Growing up in London's East End, Margery developed an interest in writing at an early age. Her father, Herbert Allingham, was a prominent figure in the literary world as well; he published several books on history and biography. This exposure to literature fostered Margery's passion for storytelling. She began writing short stories during her teenage years and submitted them to various magazines under pseudonyms.
Major Accomplishments
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Margery Allingham is renowned for creating the Albert Campion series, a collection of mystery novels that follow the adventures of a charming detective. The series debuted in 1929 with The Crime at Black Dudley, followed by numerous other installments. Her notable works include:
Look to the Lady (1931)
Police at the Funeral (1931)
Sweet Danger (1933)Notable Works or Actions
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In addition to her Albert Campion series, Margery Allingham wrote standalone novels and short stories. Some notable examples include:
The Mystery of a Butcher's Shop (1927) - Her first published novel
* X.Y.Z. (1935) - A collection of short stories featuring the enigmatic detective Albert Campion
Impact and Legacy
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Margery Allingham's contributions to the mystery genre are undeniable. She influenced many authors, including her contemporaries and successors. Her writing style often explored themes of social class, morality, and female roles in society during the interwar period.
Her most significant impact lies in her ability to create relatable characters that captivated readers. The Albert Campion series has been praised for its unique blend of humor, wit, and clever plot twists. As a result, Margery Allingham remains an iconic figure in mystery literature, inspiring new generations of writers and readers alike.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Margery Allingham's writing is often cited as a prime example of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Her influence can be seen in various adaptations, parodies, and references to her works in popular culture. As an author who pushed boundaries with her characterizations, storylines, and themes, she continues to fascinate readers and inspire writers.
Margery Allingham's remarkable legacy serves as a testament to the enduring power of mystery fiction. Her commitment to crafting engaging stories that reflected the complexities of human nature has cemented her place in literary history.
Quotes by Margery Allingham
If one cannot command attention by one's admirable qualities one can at least be a nuisance.
His name is Albert Campion,” she said. “He came down in Anne Edgeware’s car and the first thing he did when he introduced himself was to show me a conjuring trick with a two-headed penny – he’s quite inoffensive, just a silly ass.
THE main thing to remember in autobiography, I have always thought, is not to let any damned modesty creep in to spoil the story. This adventure is mine, Albert Campion’s, and I am fairly certain that I was pretty nearly brilliant in it in spite of the fact that I so nearly got myself and old Lugg killed that I hear a harp quintet whenever I consider it.
George Abbershaw’s prosaic mind quivered on the verge of poetry when he looked at her.
Consider, o consider the lowly mole. His small hands are sore and his snout bleedeth.
Mr. Campion felt that among the ordeals by fire and by water there should now be numbered the ordeal by dinner at Socrates Close.
He used to be a burglar, you know. It’s the old story – lost his figure. As he says himself, it cramps your style when your only means of exit are the double doors in the front hall.
Women are terribly shocking to men, my dear. Don’t understand them. Like them. It saves such a lot of hurting one way and the other.
Most oddly he was not frightened. That alone he had learned from experience. With the danger would come the courage.
Mourning is not forgetting,’ he said gently, his helplessness vanishing and his voice becoming wise. ‘It is an undoing. Every minute tie has to be untied and something permanent and valuable recovered and assimilated from the knot. The end is gain, of course. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be made strong, in fact. But the process is like all other human births, painful and long and dangerous.