The Ascent of the Detective: Police Sleuths in Victorian and Edwardian EnglandThe figure of the detective has long excited the imagination of the wider public, and the English police detective has been a special focus of attention in both print and visual media. Yet, while much has been written in the last three decades about the history of uniformed policemen in England, no similar work has focused on police detectives. The Ascent of the Detective redresses this by exploring the diverse and often arcane world of English police detectives during the formative period of their profession, from 1842 until the First World War, with special emphasis on the famed detective branch established at Scotland Yard. The book starts by illuminating the detectives' socioeconomic background, how and why they became detectives, their working conditions, the differences between them and uniformed policemen, and their relations with the wider community. It then goes on to trace the factors that shaped their changing public image, from the embodiment of 'un-English' values to plebeian knights in armour, investigating the complex and symbiotic exchange between detectives and journalists, and analysing their image as it unfolded in the press, in literature, and in their own memoirs. |
Other editions - View all
The Ascent of the Detective: Police Sleuths in Victorian and Edwardian England Haia Shpayer-Makov No preview available - 2011 |
The Ascent of the Detective: Police Sleuths in Victorian and Edwardian England Haia Shpayer-Makov No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
1878 Commission agents anarchists appeared assistance became become Branch Britain British central century Chapter characters chief City classes commissioner Committee constable continued crime criminal criticism culture Daily detective department duties early effect employed England English evidence example experience fact fiction figure French greater head History Home individual Inspector interest John Journal journalists July justice knowledge less literary London major means memoirs Metropolitan Police Moreover murder newspapers nineteenth century novels observation occupation officers ordinary particular period police detectives police forces police officers Police Review policemen political popular position practice present private detective professional published ranks readers recruitment referred reports role Scotland Yard Sergeant served social society stories Street superintendent suspects tasks texts tion tives uniformed various Victorian writing