Meny

Sample of literary figures

  • Harriet Vane

    Female

    At the age of 29, crime writer Harriet Vane stands trial accused of having poisoned her lover. She is shown to be innocent by Lord Peter Wimsey, who falls in love with her and then in some of Dorothy L. Sayers’ novels courts the independent Vane. She participates in his investigations, but is not interested in a more intimate relationship with him. Eventually, however, she gives in, they get married and have three sons.

    Further reading

  • Erast Fandorin

    Male

    A Russian police officer, secret agent and spy in Tsarist Russia in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Erast Petrovich Fandorin never knew his mother, and when his bankrupt father died when Erast was 19 years old, he is forced to break off his studies and start working in the police force. His brilliant career is described in a row of books by Boris Akunin (pseudonym for Grigory Chkhartishvili).

    Further reading

  • Harry Hole

    Male

    Harry Hole is Jo Nesbø’s creation. Hole is immensely popular among readers even outside Nesbø’s native Norway. He is a police officer with a serious drinking problem and countless scars acquired in the line of duty. His methods are unconventional, he is headstrong and he is unpopular with both his superiors and his colleagues. The stories about him are more like hardboiled American thrillers than traditional detective stories.

    Further reading

  • Endeavour Morse

    Male

    Detective Chief Inspector Morse, who operates in Oxford, is one of the most popular detectives of 20th century crime fiction. Several television productions have been based on Colin Dexter’s Morse books. Morse is deeply human, but he is not without faults and is sometimes rude to his sergeant, Lewis, another important character. But he is an astute detective who solves crime in an academic setting.

    Further reading