Safety First

Josephine Bell

May 2012 · Pan Macmillan

About this ebook

In these four stories, Josephine Bell traces the consequences of too great an adherence to the slogan ‘Safety First’: on Muriel and Arthur, who go to Cornwall on holiday with their sons Ronald and Barry; on Jim, who takes his yacht Seaspray on a cruise while his wife Evie is expecting their longed-for child; on the local and county society who try to obtain a Birthday Honour for Winifred Batten; and on Sam and Marie-Claire Chilwood whose marriage had been so good until the War.

With characters set firmly into the background of everyday contemporary life, these stories displays a sure knowledge of the complacency, muddled motives and timidity which guide most people in their search for security.

About the author

Josephine Bell was born Doris Bell Collier in Manchester, England. Between 1910 and 1916 she studied at Godolphin School, then trained at Newnham College, Cambridge until 1919. At the University College Hospital in London she was granted M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. in 1922, and a M.B. B.S. in 1924.

Bell was a prolific author, writing forty-three novels and numerous uncollected short stories during a forty-five year period.

Many of her short stories appeared in the London Evening Standard. Using her pen name she wrote numerous detective novels beginning in 1936, and she was well-known for her medical mysteries. Her early books featured the fictional character Dr. David Wintringham who worked at Research Hospital in London as a junior assistant physician. She helped found the Crime Writers' Association in 1953 and served as chair during 1959-60.