Amelia Peabody

[lexin]

To talk about something different than my impending retirement, I’ve been drawn in by the Amelia Peabody mysteries by Elizabeth Peters. I think several people on my friends list already read these, but for those who don’t at the start of the stories she’s a thoroughly modern Victorian lady, married to an Egyptologist, who has adventures in Egypt and on one occasion in London and Kent.

I was drawn in by the first story, Crocodile on the Sandbank where Amelia meets her best friend Evelyn in Rome, and they travel to Egypt to fall in with Radcliffe Emerson (the Egyptologist) and his philologist brother Walter. Shenanigans of a detective nature ensue while Amelia and Evelyn chase a mummy around the Armana plateau – I forget exactly why, I’ve slept since then.

Amelia is great fun – she’s a feisty heroine who deserves the term and yet doesn’t annoy you – feisty is so often a cover for bad manners and the only bad mannered thing that Amelia does is poke people with her parasol in order to get past. I think she can be forgiven that. Having said that, her habit of dispensing medicines to the Egyptians without a licence rather bothers me, but I suppose it may be something that people did in those days. Thoughts?

I also like the cat Bastet. Doesn’t behave much like a cat, but I like her.

Highly recommended. And there are nineteen of them, so enough to keep one occupied for a long time.

Comments

[gattagrigia]

I remember constantly confusing Ellis Peters with Elizabeth Peters, they occupied the same shelf in the bookstores. At the time I was only interested in Cadfael, and was annoyed if I had picked up Amelia. (I have never seen any of the BBC Cadfael, so miffed was I that Gareth Thomas wasn't cast as Cadfael.) I will add Amelia to my reading list, those should all be available as ebooks today.

I recently read and enjoyed Agatha Christy's memoir of excavating in Syria, Come, Tell Me How You Live, and her book about going around the world. Neither of which are Victorian,of course, but still an alien world.

I hope all goes well as you transition to your new life. I've found it not so easy, between lack of scheduled activities and persistent health problems. Turns out I'm not a very good boss of me.








I wish you well

[stranger]

Goodness, I read Crocodile a while ago, and as you say Amelia is a go-getting heroine. I promptly bought the next twenty or so in the series (used books stores are marvelous), and have them stockpiled for my retirement reading. I've retired by now, but find I have stacks of other mysteries stockpiled as well. Am currently reading a Wodehouse knock-off with spirits, ghosts and grimoires amid the Bright Young Things, the gentleman, and the gentleman's gentleman. Is fun.

[lexin]

I confuse Elizabeth Peters with Ellis Peters, too.

I didn't know Agatha Christie had done a memoir, I must pick that up.

I'm a bit nervous about the prospect of not having a job and having nothing to do day after day, but I do think I'll keep myself occupied one way or another.

[lexin]

What's the name of the Wodehouse knock off, because that sounds fun?

I'm reading through the Amelia books, but won't have finished by the time I retire next Wednesday.

[stranger]

The book is by Elisa De Carlo. The title is Strong Spirits. This is the origin story: young man-about-town develops psychic powers and sees ghosts, is nonplussed. Gentleman's gentleman comes to the rescue. Various complications ensue. It's a bit better than the other book by that name (I wonder if it's a pseudonym, since the bio is very thin), The Devil You Say, which takes the characters through Another Adventure.

By the way, have you seen any of Elizabeth Peters' other books? I like her four or five Jacqueline Kirby mysteries, set in the present day. Well, it was present day when they were written.

[watervole]

We've got a stack of Amelia books in the bookshop at present. They're selling reasonably well, but if anyone has requests and is willing to pay postage, we have around a dozen titles at £2 each.