There's a good deal of exciting contemporary crime fiction being written these days, but I'm equally excited by the way that advances in publishing, including but not limited to the digital revolution, have made a great many wonderful books from the past available for 21st century readers. A splendid new example is The Death Cap, by R.T. Campbell, just published by Lomax Press,a very interesting independent publisher based in one of my favourite places in Scotland, namely Stirling.
The title, a play on the judge's black cap, and a form of deadly mushroom, is one that was considered by Robert Eustace and Dorothy L. Sayers for their joint novel, a few years earlier. They rejected it in favour of The Documents in the Case, but I think The Death Cap is a better title. This book has an introduction by Peter Main and extensive annotations. It's beautifully produced with great jacket artwork, and is available in a limited edition of 300 copies. My copy arrived just today, and I'm really looking forward to reading it.
4 comments:
Martin - That is good news; thanks for sharing it. It's always so nice when publishers bring back some of the classics. It lets them find a new audience and get some of the recognition they deserve.
The link to Lomax Press is no good. Click here to get to their site.
I like Prof. Stubbs. As I've said before he reminds me a more earthy Henry Merrivale, if that is possible. I'd like to buy a copy and read this one as it is nearly impossible to find in its original edition. Thanks for this news!
Thanks, Margot. I very much agree.
Hi John, thanks for that. Duly corrected - and there was I, thinking I was getting slightly better at links! It's a really well produced book, I must say.
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