Murder Manners And Mystery
$25.99
Highlighting popular works by P.D. James, Colin Dexter, Ian Pears and Umberto Eco, among others, this subtle and intelligently written monograph examines the treatment of religion in the genre of contemporary murder mystery novels, and the implications of this phenomenon for understanding Christian thought in a post-Christian society.
The book begins by considering the critical question of authorial intent and the question of genre criticism and what makes a genre, a “serious” literary specialism. Is crime fiction ever destined to be written by “serious authors”? Erb argues that P D James proves this possible, writing for a multi-faceted, secular, popular audience and setting her books in a Christian context. The question, what is mystery is fully explored in the opening chapter, where Erb examines James’ A Taste for Death and Devices and Desires, and contrasts their treatment of mystery with Colin Dexter’s treatment in Death is now my Neighbour.
The second chapter considers the popularity of detective fiction at large focussing on James’ Original Sin and Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose.
The third chapter focuses on the problem of justice. Who is the murderer? This is the key to all detective novels: the murder itself is secondary. The narrative depends on the murderer’s ability to replace a crime with a convincingly constructed illusion of innocence, and to escape punishment by means of good manners. Erb explores this problem, first evident in Exodus, in P D James’ A Certain Justice and Ian Pears’ An Instance of the Fingerpost.
Finally Erb looks at retribution. Can justice ever be anything more than retribution, death without hope? What satisfaction can be made for the loss of a human life? How can a murderer ever fully confess a crime and experience thanksgiving in final release from the consequences? These questions are considered in light of James’ Death in Holy Orders, and Colin Dexter’s A Remorseful Day.
in stock within 3-5 days of online purchase
SKU (ISBN): 9780334041078
ISBN10: 0334041074
Peter Erb
Binding: Trade Paper
Published: January 2007
Publisher: SCM Press
Print On Demand Product
Related products
-
Weight Of Glory
$16.99Add to cartSelected from sermons delivered by C. S. Lewis during World War II, these nine addresses show the beloved author and theologian bringing hope and courage in a time of great doubt. “The Weight of Glory,” considered by many to be Lewis’s finest sermon of all, is an incomparable explication of virtue, goodness, desire, and glory. Also included are “Transposition,” “On Forgiveness,” “Why I Am Not a Pacifist,” and “Learning in War-Time,” in which Lewis presents his compassionate vision of Christianity in language that is both lucid and compelling.
-
God I Never Knew
$16.00Add to cartWho is the Holy Spirit, and exactly what does He do?
Many people find the Holy Spirit mysterious, confounding-even controversial. Why is the third person in the Godhead-the one Jesus said would be the believer’s ultimate source of truth and comfort-the source of such confusion?
In The God I Never Knew, Robert Morris clearly explains that the Holy Spirit’s chief desire is for relationship–to offer us the encouragement and guidance of a trusted friend. This insightful and biblically-based book moves beyond theological jargon, religious tradition, and cultural misconceptions to clarify what the Holy Spirit promises to do in your life:
* Dwell within you
* Be your helper
* Guide you into all truth
* Comfort you
* Pray for you
* Show you things to come
* Never leave youIt’s time to experience the Holy Spirit in a fresh, new way-to meet the God you may have never known.
Includes a small group study guide!
-
Screwtape Letters
$17.99Add to cartWormwood, a demon apprentice, must secure the damnation of a young man who’s just become a Christian. He seeks the advice of an experienced devil, his uncle Screwtape. Their correspondence offers invaluable—and often humorous—insights on temptation, pride, and the ultimate victory of faith over evil forces. Paperback with French flaps and deckled page edges.
-
Unshakable Hope Study Guide (Student/Study Guide)
$12.99Add to cartThe Unshakable Hope group Bible study provides groups of all sizes the opportunity to discuss and apply what they experience during the twelve-week Unshakable Hope church campaign.
In this 12-week study, bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado reveals how the heroes in the Bible came from all walks of life. They were rulers, servants, teachers, doctors. They were male, female, single, married. Yet one common denominator united them: they all put their faith in God’s promises. Because of God’s promises, Noah built an ark on dry land, Abraham went to a distant land, Joshua claimed the Promised Land, David became king, Peter preached the first sermon, and John caught a glimpse of the future.The stories of the men and women in Scripture were different, but the theme was the same: they were people of the Promise. Since the beginning of time, God’s relationship to humankind has been shaped by specific requirements and promises. These covenants were unchangeable decrees that defined the outflow of history. Some of the promises were positive, the assurance of blessings. Some of them were negative, the guarantee of consequence. But all the promises were binding.
This world has a tremble to it. There are things that seem unsteady in this life. But when we belong to God, it allows us to filter our problems through the promises of God. When crises arise, we can simply mutter, “But God said…” When struggles threaten, we can be seen flipping through the Bible, saying, “I know that God said something about this.” When we choose to be people of the promise, we choose to build our lives on promises of God not the circumstances of life.
It is through the great and precious promises that we participate in the divine nature of God. They sit like golden stones in the pathway to God’s world. They are strong boulders that form the bridge over which we walk from our sin to salvation. They aren’t just great, they are “very great”; and they aren’t just valuable, they are “precious.” To bind them around our neck is to adorn ourselves with the finest jewels of the universe. As Dwight Moody put it, “If you would spend a month feeding on the precious promises of God-you wouldn’t be going about complaining how poor you are. You would lift up your head and proclaim the riches of His Grace, because you couldn’t help doing it.”
Sessions include:
1. You Are Stamped with God’s Image
2. God Will Win the Victory
3. You Are an Heir of God
4. Your Prayers Have Power
5
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.