Send for Paul Temple: Green Popular Penguins: Green Popular Penguins

Francis Durbridge

juli 2013 · Penguin Group Australia

Om den här e-boken

After a series of robberies, Scotland Yard are mystified. In the latest, a night watchman is attacked and in his last breath he manages to gasp out, 'The Green Finger.' This is not the first time the phrase has come to the attention of the Yard; it was also said by a man who was wanted in connection with another robbery, as he died from drowning. Who or what is the 'Green Finger'? The public are alarmed and the press demand that the Yard 'send for Paul Temple!' Aided by a young, pretty reporter, Paul is faced with solving a deepening and widening mystery.

The Green Popular Penguins Story

It was in 1935 when Allen Lane stood on a British railway platform looking for something good to read on his journey. His choice was limited to popular magazines and poor quality paperbacks. Lane's disappointment at the range of books available led him to found a company – and change the world.

In 1935 the Penguin was born, but it took until the late 1940s for the Crime and Mystery series to emerge. The genre thrived in the post-war austerity of the 1940s, and reached heights of popularity by the 1960s.

Suspense, compelling plots and captivating characters ensure that once again you need look no further than the Penguin logo for the scene of the perfect crime.

Om författaren

Francis Durbridge was one of Britain's most popular crime novelists and playwrights. Born in Hull, he was educated at Bradford and read English at Birmingham University. His first play, 'Promotion', was broadcast by the BBC in 1933. Encouraged by its success he was asked to contribute further plays. 'Send For Paul Temple' proved so popular that the BBC received 7,000 letters asking for more. 'The Adventures of Paul Temple' ran for over 30 years.

In 1969 BBC Television, having just started broadcasting in color, commissioned Durbridge to write a 26-part series of Paul Temple starring Francis Matthews.

It was not until 1971 that Durbridge wrote his first thriller directly for the theatre. The play, 'Suddenly at Home' (the title was taken from the death notice column of The Times newspaper) starred Gerald Harper and Penelope Keith and was a huge success in London's West End.

Durbridge also wrote 'Murder With Love' (1976), 'House Guest' (1980) and 'Fatal Encounter' (1996). Critics were apt to dismiss his plays, but the public did not. Durbridge himself said: 'My thrillers are not so much who dunnits as will-he-get-away-with-its.'