artdecodiva
February 6th, 2009, 05:58 AM
DLS needed to pay the bills.
She was good at her ad agency work, but her poems weren't bringing in any money, and there was her son to consider. Having her cousin provide care cost money. She was also expected to help support her extended family.
Later, when she married, her husband's health was dicey, and he was not able to earn much money.
She was a fan of Wodehouse (me, too) and thought a spoof of Bertie, plus the "morality" of detective stories might pan out. (C.f. the "Bertie Wooster in horn rims" of Murder Must Advertise; it probably amused her to write that line).
Peter became progressively less ridiculous and then perhaps a little too real to her, but he was a brilliant creation.
Many authors had a similar idea; the Knuts of Wodehouse's idealized Edwardian world was popular, and so was the mystery, but Sayers pulled them together with rare skill.
On a less analytical note, why do I love these books?
I adore Lord Peter and would like to think he exists. Although I cannot follow all of Sayers' quotes (certainly not the Greek) I can and do appreciate the world she provided.
She was good at her ad agency work, but her poems weren't bringing in any money, and there was her son to consider. Having her cousin provide care cost money. She was also expected to help support her extended family.
Later, when she married, her husband's health was dicey, and he was not able to earn much money.
She was a fan of Wodehouse (me, too) and thought a spoof of Bertie, plus the "morality" of detective stories might pan out. (C.f. the "Bertie Wooster in horn rims" of Murder Must Advertise; it probably amused her to write that line).
Peter became progressively less ridiculous and then perhaps a little too real to her, but he was a brilliant creation.
Many authors had a similar idea; the Knuts of Wodehouse's idealized Edwardian world was popular, and so was the mystery, but Sayers pulled them together with rare skill.
On a less analytical note, why do I love these books?
I adore Lord Peter and would like to think he exists. Although I cannot follow all of Sayers' quotes (certainly not the Greek) I can and do appreciate the world she provided.