Who Invented the “Whodunit”?
Summary
This episode investigates the origins of the whodunit genre, tracing its evolution from Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle to Agatha Christie. The hosts explore how Victorian penny dreadfuls, the "Golden Age" of crime fiction, and post-war trauma shaped the puzzle-driven mystery format. They discuss the cultural impact of these stories, including the creation of iconic characters like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, and the rise of TV adaptations. The episode concludes with a twist revealing that film reviewer Mayne Reid, not the famous authors, coined the term "whodunit."
Topics discussed
Sponsors and introduction to the whodunit theme
Defining the whodunit genre and setting the investigation
Chapter 1: Introducing Arthur Conan Doyle
Victorian appetite for crime and penny dreadfuls
Dick Turpin and the shift to detective protagonists
Conan Doyle's life, medical inspiration, and Sherlock Holmes
Edgar Allan Poe's influence and the rise of mass publishing
Chapter 2: Agatha Christie's background and WWI service
The Golden Age of Crime and Christie's writing style
Post-war psychology, Cluedo, and puzzle culture
The Detection Club rules and formulaic structures
WWII impact and the shift to darker mysteries
Chapter 3: David Suchet's portrayal of Hercule Poirot
Modern adaptations and the resilience of the genre
The reveal: May Tene coined the term 'whodunit'
Promotion for BBC Sounds Whodunits and sponsors
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