Theology in suspense : how the detective fiction of P.D. James provokes theological thought

James, P. D. (Phyllis Dorothy), 1920- --Criticism and interpretation;James, P. D. (Phyllis Dorothy), 1920- --Religion;Detective and mystery stories--History and criticism;Christianity and literature;Theology in literature

Sharkey, Jo Ann ; Hopps, Gavin ; Hopps, Gavin

University:University of St Andrews

Department:Divinity (School of)

关键词: James, P. D. (Phyllis Dorothy), 1920- --Criticism and interpretation;    James, P. D. (Phyllis Dorothy), 1920- --Religion;    Detective and mystery stories--History and criticism;    Christianity and literature;    Theology in literature;   

Others  :  https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/3156/JoAnnSharkeyMPhilThesis.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y

来源: DR-NTU

【 摘 要 】

The following dissertation argues that the detective fiction of P.D. Jamesprovokes her readers to think theologically. I present evidence from the body ofJames’s work, including her detective fiction that features the Detective AdamDalgliesh, as well as her other novels, autobiography, and non-fiction work. I alsopresent a brief history of detective fiction. This history provides the reader with abetter understanding of how P.D James is influenced by the detective genre as well ashow she stands apart from the genre’s traditions.This dissertation relies on an interview that I conducted with P.D. James inNovember, 2008. During the interview, I asked James how Christianity hasinfluenced her detective fiction and her responses greatly contribute to thisdissertation. However, James’s novels should be interpreted and explored in themanner that they are received by the reader. How the reader receives and responds tothe novels, not only how James writes the novels, is what causes her stories toprovoke theological thinking.By examining Christian symbolism that is present in setting, character, theDetective Adam Dalgliesh, and plot, this dissertation seeks to assert that Jamescontributes to a theological conversation through her popular detective fiction.