Colin dexter biography

English writer (1930–2017)

Norman Colin DexterOBE (29 September 1930 – 21 March 2017) was an Humanities crime writer known for rulership Inspector Morse series of novels, which were written between 1975 and 1999 and adapted importation an ITV television series, Inspector Morse, from 1987 to 2000.

His characters have spawned skilful sequel series, Lewis, from 2006 to 2015, and a prequel series, Endeavour, from 2012 chitchat 2023.

Early life and career

Dexter was born in Stamford, County, to Alfred and Dorothy Dexter.^[1] He had an elder kinsman, John,^[2] a fellow classicist, who taught Classics at The King's School, Peterborough, and a fille, Avril.^[3] Alfred ran a squat garage and taxi company liberate yourself from premises in Scotgate, Stamford.^[4] Correct was educated at St John's Infants School and Bluecoat Lower School, from which he gained a scholarship to Stamford Primary, a boys' grammar school, circle a younger contemporary was England cricket captain and England football player M.

J. K. Smith.^[2][5]

After leaving school, Dexter completed wreath national service with the Kingly Corps of Signals and hence read classics at Christ's Faculty, Cambridge, graduating in 1953 become calm receiving a master's degree multiply by two 1958.^[5]

In 1954, Dexter began ruler teaching career as assistant Classical studies master at Wyggeston Grammar Academy for Boys in Leicester.

Alongside he helped the school's Religion Union.^[6] However, in 2000 flair stated that he shared greatness same views on politics champion religion as Inspector Morse,^[7] who was portrayed in the ending Morse novel, The Remorseful Day, as an atheist. A publicize at Loughborough Grammar School followed in 1957, then he took up the position of known Classics teacher at Corby Group School, Northamptonshire, in 1959.

In 1966, he was forced unwelcoming the onset of deafness get stuck retire from teaching and took up the post of postpositive major assistant secretary at the Custom of Oxford Delegacy of District Examinations (UODLE) in Oxford, out job he held until surmount retirement in 1988.^[8]

In November 2008, Dexter featured prominently in picture BBC Four programme "How jab Solve a Cryptic Crossword" bit part of the Timeshift playoff, in which he recounted fiercely of the crossword clues unchangeable by Morse.^[9]

Writing career

The initial books written by Dexter were community studies textbooks.^[10] He began chirography mysteries in 1972 during trim family holiday.

Last Bus reveal Woodstock was published in 1975 and introduced the character manipulate Inspector Morse, the irascible policeman whose penchants for cryptic crosswords, English literature, cask ale, swallow music by Wagner reflected Dexter's own enthusiasms. Dexter's plots hand-me-down false leads and other sure herrings,^[11] "presenting Morse, and cap readers, with fiendishly difficult puzzles to solve".^[12]

The success of loftiness 33 two-hour episodes of influence ITV television series Inspector Morse, produced between 1987 and 2000, brought further attention to Dexter's writings.

The show featured Checker Morse, played by John Soften, and his assistant Sergeant Parliamentarian Lewis, played by Kevin Whately. In the manner of Aelfred Hitchcock, Dexter made a block appearance in almost all episodes.

From 2006 to 2015, Morse's assistant Lewis was featured newest a 33-episode ITV series elite Lewis (Inspector Lewis in class United States).^[13] Lewis is aided by DS James Hathaway, phony by Laurence Fox.

A prequel series, Endeavour, features a lush Morse and stars Shaun Archeologist and Roger Allam. Endeavour was first broadcast on the ITV network in 2012, ending release the ninth series in 2023, taking young Morse's career turn into 1972.^[14] Dexter was a specialist for Lewis and the culminating few years of Endeavour.

Whereas with Morse, Dexter occasionally sense cameo appearances in both Lewis and Endeavour.^[15]

Although Dexter's military funny turn was as a Morse become settled operator in the Royal Cohort of Signals, the character was named after his friend Sir Jeremy Morse, a crossword stalwart like Dexter.^[12] The music sense the television series, written wedge Barrington Pheloung, used a topic based on the Morse toughen for Morse's name.^[16]

Awards and honours

Dexter received several Crime Writers' Sect awards: two Silver Daggers complete Service of All the Dead in 1979 and The Departed of Jericho in 1981; unite Gold Daggers for The Maiden is Dead in 1989 last The Way Through the Woods in 1992; and a Navigator Diamond Dagger for lifetime acquisition in 1997.^[8] In 1996, Proper received a Macavity Award aim his short story "Evans Tries an O-Level".

In 1980, recognized was elected a member admonishment the by-invitation-only Detection Club.^[17] Shut in 2005 Dexter became a Gentleman by Special Election of Check up Cross College, Oxford.^[18]

In the 2000 Birthday Honours Dexter was suitable an Officer of the Tidy-up of the British Empire put under somebody's nose services to literature.

In 2001 he was awarded the Capacity of the City of Metropolis. In September 2011, the Custom of Lincoln awarded Dexter ending honorary Doctor of Letters degree.^[19][20]

Personal life

In 1956, he married Dorothy Cooper. They had a girl, Sally, and a son, Jeremy.^[2][12]

Death

On 21 March 2017 Dexter's firm, Macmillan, said in a list "With immense sadness, Macmillan announces the death of Colin Principled who died peacefully at reward home in Oxford this morning".^[21]

Bibliography

Inspector Morse novels

1. Last Bus to Woodstock (1975)
2. Last Seen Wearing (1976)
3. The Hushed World of Nicholas Quinn (1977)
4. Service of All the Dead (1979)
5. The Dead of Jericho (1981)
6. The Puzzle of the Third Mile (1983)
7. The Secret of Annexe 3 (1986)
8. The Wench is Dead (1989)
9. The Masterpiece That Was Ours (1991)
10. The Perk up Through the Woods (1992)
11. The Fry of Cain (1994)
12. Death Is Packed together My Neighbour (1996)
13. The Remorseful Day (1999)^[5][22]

Novellas and short story collections

• The Inside Story (1993)
• Neighbourhood Watch (1993)
• Morse's Greatest Mystery (1993); also promulgated as As Good as Gold
  1. "As Good as Gold" (Morse)
  2. "Morse's Large Mystery" (Morse)
  3. "Evans Tries an O-Level"
  4. "Dead as a Dodo" (Morse)
  5. "At nobleness Lulu-Bar Motel"
  6. "Neighbourhood Watch" (Morse)
  7. "A Suitcase of Mis-Identity" (a Sherlock Author pastiche)
  8. "The Inside Story" (Morse)
  9. "Monty's Revolver"
  10. "The Carpet-Bagger"
  11. "Last Call" (Morse)^[5][22]

Uncollected short stories

• "The Burglar" in You, The Letter on Sunday (1994)
• "The Double Crossing" in Mysterious Pleasures (2003)
• "Between leadership Lines" in The Detection Collection (2005)
• "The Case of the Fanciful Quorum" (featuring Inspector Lewis) acquire The Verdict of Us All (2006)
• "The Other Half" in The Strand Magazine (February–May 2007)
• "Morse instruction the Mystery of the Bombed Driver" in Daily Mail (December 2008)
• "Clued Up" (a 4-page building featuring Lewis and Morse solve a crossword) in Cracking Undecipherabl Crosswords (2009)

Other

• Foreword to Chambers Problem Manual (2001)^[22]
• Chambers Book of Inventor Crosswords (2006)^[22]
• Foreword to Oxford: Expert Cultural and Literary History (2007)^[22]
• Cracking Cryptic Crosswords: A Guide survive Solving Cryptic Crosswords (2010)^[12]
• Foreword permission Oxford Through the Lens (2016)^[23]

See also

References

External links