Detecting Women: Cultural Evolution in Detective Fiction
Date
2023-10-26
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Southern New Hampshire University
Abstract
Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh are the universally
acknowledged Queens of Crime from the Golden Age of detective fiction. However, despite
being ruled by female authors, this genre—now known as the “cozy”—is often criticized for its
conservative portrayal of women’s roles in society, as well as other social issues. The popularity
of their work has waxed and waned over the years, but their writing continues to speak to readers
today. This paper argues that each author’s work reflects the social issues of their time and
provides subtle commentary that continues to influence writers of detective fiction today.
Modern detective fiction continues to reflect our views of women in society through the
decisions authors make when crafting their plots and characters, just as today’s social dynamics
echo those of the interwar period.
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