The Crime at Black Dudley - Literary Significance & Criticism

Literary Significance & Criticism

The hero of The Crime at Black Dudley is George Abbershaw; Campion starts as a minor character, and grows far faster than the other characters do. This is most evident when Allingham takes time to explain when and why Abbershaw changes, while Campion's development seems to happen naturally.

Apparently, Allingham intended Abbershaw to be the hero/sleuth of this book and any future mysteries. He is, after all, a pathologist, and that could lead to many interesting stories. Campion got in the way and manages to become a far more memorable character, so much so that the American publishers strongly encouraged Allingham to focus on Campion.

Even in this first Campion novel, there are hints of his willingness to work outside the law. Though he and Scotland Yard are familiar with one another, it is clear that he is not working in any official capacity. Abbershaw had even encountered Campion before, although Campion was using a different name.

Campion's mysterious past is also brought out. He admits to using a number of names, and that Campion is not his real one (Mystery Mile has more information). Campion goes so far as to mention the name of his mother to Abbershaw, who is struck speechless by the revealed name. Could he be one of Edward VII's illegitimate children? He never really hints at who his father was, and to British readers in the late 1920s the thought may have been natural.

If Campion was developed to poke fun at other sleuths, most notably Dorothy Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey, The Crime at Black Dudley shows a glimmer of a character that will stand very much on his own.