The Sands of Crime by Harriet Vane

Thanks to The Times 

Title: The Sands of Crime

Author: Harriet Vane

Publisher: Trufoot’s (probably)

Source book: Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers

Well-known, not to say notorious, mystery writer Harriet Vane is persuaded to attend a Gaudy (a college feast or reunion) at her old Oxford College; Shrewsbury. Having been prosecuted for the murder of her lover but then, due to the efforts of Lord Peter Wimsey, set free without a stain on her character, Harriet is accustomed to being sent poison pen letters and not particularly surprised to receive one during the Gaudy weekend.

Some time later, when Shrewsbury College is gravely upset by a spate of similarly unpleasant letters and some nasty vandalism, Harriet is asked to come back to the College to investigate. Eventually she asks Lord Peter Wimsey to help her in her investigation, and this leads to the discovery of the culprit, and to Harriet finally accepting Lord Peter’s proposal of marriage.

Dr Margaret Baring, the Warden of Shrewsbury College apparently loves The Sands of Crime, Harriet’s most recent book. Several other characters in Gaudy Night appear to have enjoyed it too but unfortunately we do not learn anything at all of the plot. However, we do know that during the course of Gaudy Night Harriet uses her research for A Study of Sheridan Lefanu as an excuse for her protracted stay at Shrewsbury. Also by Harriet Vane: Death Twixt Wind and Water.

Since many of the characters are dons, or at least academics, a lot of them are published authors, but sadly [for our purposes at any rate] we learn very little of their books. Although Miss Lydgate, the English tutor is depicted battling to correct the proofs of her forthcoming work on the Prosodic elements in English verse from Beowulf to Bridges, we still don’t get a title. But it is to be published by the Oxford University Press. Miss Barton has written a history of women in the modern state, but again there is no actual title given.

Perhaps Dorothy Sayers thought too many details about the books her characters have written would be dreary for her readers. Although, there’s Mock Turtle by Tasker Hepplewater, Passion-flower Pie by Mrs Snell-Wilmington, and Gas-Filled Bulbs by Jacqueline Squills, which contains a malicious exposé of Ms Squills’ second divorced husband’s habits and character. Hyphens were very popular in the 1930s. Then there are books for which we have no author: Serpent’s Fang, Dusk and Shiver, Ariadne Adams, The Squeezed Lemon, Primrose Dalliance and Jocund Day.

Thanks to British Vogue