
A Shilling for Candles (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Murder Mystery (Inspector Alan Grant Book)By Josephine TeyLength8h 37m
About this audiobook
A Shilling for Candles (1936) is a deft Golden Age detective novel in which Inspector Alan Grant investigates the apparent drowning of film star Christine Clay, whose death on a lonely beach soon reveals currents of celebrity, secrecy, and social performance. Tey's prose is lucid, ironic, and observant, less dependent on mechanical puzzle-making than on character, atmosphere, and the unstable meanings created by public reputation. Set within the interwar tradition of British crime fiction, it broadens the genre by treating detection as a study of manners and psychology. Josephine Tey was the pen name of Elizabeth MacKintosh, a Scottish writer who also achieved success as the dramatist Gordon Daviot. Her experience in theatre is evident here: scenes are sharply staged, dialogue carries implication, and the victim's cinematic world allows Tey to examine the fabrication of identity. Writing in the 1930s, she brought to crime fiction a distinctive skepticism about appearances and institutions. This novel is recommended to readers who admire classic detection but want more than a formal riddle. Elegant, intelligent, and quietly subversive, A Shilling for Candles offers both a compelling investigation and a sophisticated portrait of modern fame, making it an essential work for admirers of Tey and Golden Age crime.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreMystery and Thriller
Length8 hrs 37 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 11, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Lilac Girl (Annotated)
1121
2Introduction
1222
3Synopsis
1323
4Historical Context
1424
5A Shilling for Candles
1525
Show all chaptersShow less
61 (pt. 1)
1626
71 (pt. 2)
1727
81 (pt. 3)
18Analysis
919
19Reflection
1020
20Memorable Quotes