Character Assassins

[Anson (Bob) Roberts]

Character Assassins
Fiona Lindsay
September 14, 2010

The death of fictional superstars by pen, pencil or type lies, quite literally, in the hands of their creators.

At the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival 2010, Fiona Lindsay conducts a forensic cross-examination of popular writers, put on trial to reveal their motives for killing off their leading characters. It's an age-old friction in fiction between creator and creation. And the assassination of an author's key character is often a result of a clash of egos.

Agatha Christie kept the death of her famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot secret for 30 years only to confess shortly before her own demise. She had no regrets and, as her biographer Laura Thompson reveals, was in no hurry to get Miss Marple on the case.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle detested Sherlock Holmes' public domination over his own life and murdered him merrily. Yet the firestorm of protest was so intense, resurrection was inevitable. Holmes expert David Stuart Davies and actor Roger Llewellyn incorporate the core of this controversy in their latest play.

Colin Dexter claims he didn't kill Morse: 'he died of natural causes'. A nation mourned, but the author is unrepentant, choosing kindly death over morose retirement.

Ian Rankin took the opposite view for the demise of Rebus, leaving the coffin lid open for a timely return. But since fictional characters are immortal, Fiona asks why kill them off at all?

Characters who become bigger than their authors, beware – they may have all the best lines, but their creator has the last word.

Fiona Lindsay cross-examines the witnesses and interrogates the accused as they try to justify their acts of literal 'murder'. Not so much a whodunnit as a 'why did they do it?'

Presenter/Fiona Lindsay, Producer/Chris Eldon Lee for Culture Wise Productions

[Lefevre of Montpellier]

This is a very good show, merci!
Lefevre

[Anson (Bob) Roberts]

I'm glad you like it. In light of the recent abominations presented as "Holmesian" by the BBC and "Big Finish," I am somewhat saddened that Doyle did not kill off Holmes for good.

If I see another "Holmes and the Ripper," I think I shall throw myself off a Thames bridge.

[Lefevre of Montpellier]

I would have preferred that Conan Doyle had Watson record many more of Sherlock's cases than he did, so there were enough to go 'round.

In the years before Holmes retired to his bee-keeping, he was obviously involved in many more adventures, Inexplicably, Watson did not, or was asked not to continue the reportage of his friend's activities. Notwithstanding the contents of Watson's box, all others remain the real mystery. Such is life, eh mon amie?

I have it on good authority that there will in fact be another Sherlockian adventure. I'll try not to give too much away here, but it involves Holmes's old gridiron nemesis, it will be entitled; "Holmes and the Gipper".

Do us all a favour and don't contemplate any unnecessary contact with water for a long while to come, save regular showers and the odd Turkish bath.

Bien regards
Lefevre

[Anson (Bob) Roberts]

If the recent Beeb offering is any indication, the next is likely to be "Holmes and the Zipper."

Then Big Finish could follow with"The Curious Case of the Detective and the Furniture Restorer, or Holmes and the Stripper." (We could keep this going for at least a week ... )

Sigh .. at least none of them is Matt Frewer, who may be the best argument for the return of silent movies.