Charles Parker (detective)
Encyclopedia
Charles Parker is a fictional police detective who appears in several Lord Peter Wimsey
stories by Dorothy L. Sayers
, and eventually becomes Lord Peter's brother-in-law.
He is first introduced in Whose Body?
as a Detective Inspector from Scotland Yard
. In the next book, Clouds of Witness
, he is summoned to assist the local police in the North Riding of Yorkshire
who are investigating the death of Captain Dennis Cathcart, the fiancé of Peter's sister, Lady Mary Wimsey, apparently at the hands of Wimsey's brother, the Duke of Denver
.
Parker first sees Lady Mary at the inquest into Cathcart. Travelling to Paris, where Cathcart had lived previously, he uncovers evidence which implicates Lady Mary in Cathcart's death - which makes Parker very depressed, since he is clearly in love with her. Lady Mary later confesses to killing Cathcart. Lord Peter, however, proves that Mary was lying to protect her secret lover Goyles, with whom she had been planning to elope on the night of Cathcart's death. Parker is happy to see Mary break off the relationship, as Goyles proves to be unreliable and cowardly.
At the end of the case, when Denver is proved innocent, Wimsey, Parker and another of Wimsey's friends, the financier the Hon. Freddy Arbuthnot, all become roaring drunk when celebrating the outcome.
Parker subsequently assists Wimsey in his investigations in Unnatural Death
and The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
. He has meanwhile invited Lady Mary to dinner several times but is nervous of making their relationship public, in spite of Wimsey's encouragement.
In Strong Poison
, Parker has apparently made a good case against mystery writer Harriet Vane
for the murder of her former lover Philip Boyes. Wimsey, who has instantly fallen in love with Harriet, forces Parker to re-examine the case. Parker's investigations are inconclusive but Wimsey, with Parker's help, discovers and unmasks the true murderer. Parker has meanwhile at last proposed to Lady Mary. The Duke of Denver and his wife are opposed to the marriage but Wimsey insists that "one of these days he'll be a big man, with a title, I shouldn't wonder, and everything handsome about him".
In the Five Red Herrings
, Parker assists the Dumfriesshire
constabulary by easily tracing a suspect who has fled to London in disguise (although he proves to be innocent). He does not feature in Have His Carcase
, but by the time of the next book, Murder Must Advertise
, he and Mary are married with two small children, Charles Peter and Mary Lucasta. Wimsey is investigating the death of a copywriter
, which proves to be linked to Parker's official enquiries into a drug-smuggling ring. Parker is attacked and injured by a suspect when he is mistaken for Wimsey.
The book also notes the ingenious solution found for the problems inherent in a marriage where the wife is far richer then her husband: Mary's money was placed into a trust fund, administered by her brothers on behalf of her children, from which she gets every three months a sum equal to that earned by her husband in the same period. Mary, an outspoken left-winger disgusted with her aristocratic origins, is quite happy with the arrangement.
In The Nine Tailors
, Parker once again assists a county police force, this time the Lincolnshire Constabulary, in Wimsey's investigation into the case of an unlawfully buried body. One suspect is a former burglar from London; two other suspects flee to London or attempt to conceal evidence in the metropolis.
Parker does not feature in Gaudy Night
, and appears only very briefly at the wedding of Wimsey and Harriet Vane in Busman's Honeymoon
. The Duchess of Denver is snobbishly opposed to the match and writes to a friend, "Mary's policeman was bad enough, but he is at any rate quiet and well-behaved...".
In "A Presumption of Death", the Wimsey WWII novel by Jill Paton Walsh
, Harriet takes the three children of Charles and Mary to Talboys, together with her two - both to keep them safe from bombed London and to free their parents for helping fully with the war effort.
"The Attenbury Emeralds
", Walsh's latest addition to the Wimsey series, includes a flashback to Wimsey and Parker's first meeting in 1921, never described in the original Sayers books. As depicted here, Wimsey was a shell-shocked WWI veteran who accidentally discovered in himself a talent for detection when present in the house of a fellow aristocratic family when emerald heirlooms mysteriously disappeared, Parker a police sergeant assigned to the case, and with Wimsey being struck by the sergeant's unusual choice of reading Origen
in his spare time.
Parker has evidently received a good education, and before meeting Wimsey, one of his pursuits was evangelical theory. He is mentioned as reading some Biblical commentary as a relaxation before going to sleep.
In Clouds of Witness it is noted that Parker is not usually given to sudden bright flashes of insight or spectactular displays of happy guesswork, which are "more in Wimsey's line". Rather, he had "made his way from modest beginnings to a respectable appointment in the C.I.D.
by a combination of hard work, shrewdness and caution".
His skill as a detective and the resources of the Metropolitan Police (for example, he is able to summon a handwriting expert at the push of a button) often lead to his being summoned to assist baffled county police forces, who have sometimes literally trampled over vital evidence. (He remarks to Peter in Clouds of Witness as they both examine the ground where Cathcart's body was found, "Oh, that's a constable. I put him at eighteen stone.") He sometimes has to console officers from other forces who feel their efforts are inadequate.
A passage in "Unnatural Death
" indicates a rather unequal division of labor between Parker and Wimsey in joint investigations, where it is tacitly taken for granted that any needed long and tedious legwork would fall to Parker. When involved in such investigation on a hot London day, Parker - grabbing a hasty snack at a sleazy restaurant - feels rather resentful when thinking of Wimsey at the same time eating at his club. However, later feeling elated by having discovered an important clue, Parker never expresses this resentment directly to Wimsey.
By appearance he is apparently nondescript, although just under six foot in height, and athletically built. He is able to mix easily in the circles frequented by Wimsey by donning the appropriate clothing (e.g. a formal evening suit). The series of books is set against a background of sometimes artificial class distinctions. When a maidservant in the household of a wealthy lady remarks (in The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club) that Parker appears to be "Quite the gentleman", the cook rebukes her, saying "No Nellie; gentlemanlike I will not deny; but a policeman is a person and I will trouble you to remember it."
Parker is the only intimate friend Wimsey has, as demonstrated by their ability to engage in witty repartee without competition or malice. The only other character with whom Peter achieves this sort of intellectual companionship is Harriet Vane. Parker is also on congenial terms with the Dowager Duchess of Denver, owing to her close relationship with her second son. (The most in-depth descriptions of the friendship between Parker and Wimsey are in "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" in which Ms. Sayers actually describes the two men's interactions with each other.)
. In these, Parker was played by Mark Eden
.
In the 1980s three more stories (involving Harriet Vane) were made into television serials. This time Wimsey was played by Edward Petherbridge
and Parker was portrayed by David Quilter
.
Lord Peter Wimsey
Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey is a bon vivant amateur sleuth in a series of detective novels and short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers, in which he solves mysteries; usually, but not always, murders...
stories by Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy L. Sayers
Dorothy Leigh Sayers was a renowned English crime writer, poet, playwright, essayist, translator and Christian humanist. She was also a student of classical and modern languages...
, and eventually becomes Lord Peter's brother-in-law.
He is first introduced in Whose Body?
Whose Body?
Whose Body? is a 1923 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, which introduced the character of Lord Peter Wimsey.-Plot introduction:Lord Peter is intrigued by the sudden appearance of a naked body in the bath of an architect, and investigates...
as a Detective Inspector from Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
. In the next book, Clouds of Witness
Clouds of Witness
Clouds of Witness is a 1926 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, the second in her series featuring Lord Peter Wimsey.It was adapted for television in 1972, as part of a series starring Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter.-Plot introduction:...
, he is summoned to assist the local police in the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
who are investigating the death of Captain Dennis Cathcart, the fiancé of Peter's sister, Lady Mary Wimsey, apparently at the hands of Wimsey's brother, the Duke of Denver
Duke of Denver
The fictitious title of Duke of Denver was created by Dorothy Sayers for the family of Lord Peter Wimsey. Lord Peter is the second of the three children of Mortimer Wimsey, 15th Duke of Denver...
.
Parker first sees Lady Mary at the inquest into Cathcart. Travelling to Paris, where Cathcart had lived previously, he uncovers evidence which implicates Lady Mary in Cathcart's death - which makes Parker very depressed, since he is clearly in love with her. Lady Mary later confesses to killing Cathcart. Lord Peter, however, proves that Mary was lying to protect her secret lover Goyles, with whom she had been planning to elope on the night of Cathcart's death. Parker is happy to see Mary break off the relationship, as Goyles proves to be unreliable and cowardly.
At the end of the case, when Denver is proved innocent, Wimsey, Parker and another of Wimsey's friends, the financier the Hon. Freddy Arbuthnot, all become roaring drunk when celebrating the outcome.
Parker subsequently assists Wimsey in his investigations in Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death is a 1927 mystery novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her third featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. It has also been published in the United States as The Dawson Pedigree.-Plot introduction:...
and The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club
The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club is a 1928 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her fourth featuring Lord Peter Wimsey.- Plot outline:General Fentiman is found dead at the Bellona Club in London, where his body went unnoticed for some hours. His wealthy sister also passed away the same day and under...
. He has meanwhile invited Lady Mary to dinner several times but is nervous of making their relationship public, in spite of Wimsey's encouragement.
In Strong Poison
Strong Poison
Strong Poison is a 1929 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her fifth featuring Lord Peter Wimsey.-Plot introduction:It is in Strong Poison that Lord Peter first meets Harriet Vane, an author of police fiction. The immediate problem is that she is on trial for her life, charged with murdering her former...
, Parker has apparently made a good case against mystery writer Harriet Vane
Harriet Vane
Harriet Deborah Vane, later Lady Peter Wimsey, is a fictional character in the works of British writer Dorothy L. Sayers ....
for the murder of her former lover Philip Boyes. Wimsey, who has instantly fallen in love with Harriet, forces Parker to re-examine the case. Parker's investigations are inconclusive but Wimsey, with Parker's help, discovers and unmasks the true murderer. Parker has meanwhile at last proposed to Lady Mary. The Duke of Denver and his wife are opposed to the marriage but Wimsey insists that "one of these days he'll be a big man, with a title, I shouldn't wonder, and everything handsome about him".
In the Five Red Herrings
Five Red Herrings
Five Red Herrings is a 1931 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers. It was retitled Suspicious Characters for its first publication in the United States, but reverted to its original title in subsequent printings....
, Parker assists the Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
constabulary by easily tracing a suspect who has fled to London in disguise (although he proves to be innocent). He does not feature in Have His Carcase
Have His Carcase
Have His Carcase is a 1932 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her seventh featuring Lord Peter Wimsey and her second novel in which Harriet Vane appears...
, but by the time of the next book, Murder Must Advertise
Murder Must Advertise
Murder Must Advertise is a Lord Peter Wimsey mystery novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, published in 1933.Most of the action takes place in an advertising agency, a setting with which Sayers was very familiar. One of her advertising colleagues, Bobby Bevan, was the inspiration for the character Mr Ingleby...
, he and Mary are married with two small children, Charles Peter and Mary Lucasta. Wimsey is investigating the death of a copywriter
Copywriting
Copywriting is the use of words and ideas to promote a person, business, opinion or idea. Although the word copy may be applied to any content intended for printing , the term copywriter is generally limited to promotional situations, regardless of the medium...
, which proves to be linked to Parker's official enquiries into a drug-smuggling ring. Parker is attacked and injured by a suspect when he is mistaken for Wimsey.
The book also notes the ingenious solution found for the problems inherent in a marriage where the wife is far richer then her husband: Mary's money was placed into a trust fund, administered by her brothers on behalf of her children, from which she gets every three months a sum equal to that earned by her husband in the same period. Mary, an outspoken left-winger disgusted with her aristocratic origins, is quite happy with the arrangement.
In The Nine Tailors
The Nine Tailors
The Nine Tailors is a 1934 mystery novel by British writer Dorothy L. Sayers, her ninth featuring sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey.- Plot introduction :For this novel, set in the Fens, Sayers had to learn about change ringing...
, Parker once again assists a county police force, this time the Lincolnshire Constabulary, in Wimsey's investigation into the case of an unlawfully buried body. One suspect is a former burglar from London; two other suspects flee to London or attempt to conceal evidence in the metropolis.
Parker does not feature in Gaudy Night
Gaudy Night
Gaudy Night is a mystery novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, the tenth in her popular series about aristocratic sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey, and the third featuring crime writer Harriet Vane....
, and appears only very briefly at the wedding of Wimsey and Harriet Vane in Busman's Honeymoon
Busman's Honeymoon
Busman's Honeymoon is a 1937 novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her eleventh featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. It is the fourth and last novel to feature Harriet Vane.-Plot introduction:...
. The Duchess of Denver is snobbishly opposed to the match and writes to a friend, "Mary's policeman was bad enough, but he is at any rate quiet and well-behaved...".
In "A Presumption of Death", the Wimsey WWII novel by Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh
Jill Paton Walsh, CBE, FRSL is an English novelist and children's writer.Born as Gillian Bliss and educated at St. Michael's Convent, North Finchley, London, she read English Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford...
, Harriet takes the three children of Charles and Mary to Talboys, together with her two - both to keep them safe from bombed London and to free their parents for helping fully with the war effort.
"The Attenbury Emeralds
The Attenbury Emeralds
The Attenbury Emeralds is the third Lord Peter Wimsey detective novel to be written by Jill Paton Walsh. It was published by Hodder & Stoughton in September 2010.Closely following Lord Peter creator Dorothy L...
", Walsh's latest addition to the Wimsey series, includes a flashback to Wimsey and Parker's first meeting in 1921, never described in the original Sayers books. As depicted here, Wimsey was a shell-shocked WWI veteran who accidentally discovered in himself a talent for detection when present in the house of a fellow aristocratic family when emerald heirlooms mysteriously disappeared, Parker a police sergeant assigned to the case, and with Wimsey being struck by the sergeant's unusual choice of reading Origen
Origen
Origen , or Origen Adamantius, 184/5–253/4, was an early Christian Alexandrian scholar and theologian, and one of the most distinguished writers of the early Church. As early as the fourth century, his orthodoxy was suspect, in part because he believed in the pre-existence of souls...
in his spare time.
Character and appearance
Parker appears from the books to be close to Wimsey's own age. He was born or raised in Barrow in Furness, a steelworks town created in the nineteenth century by the Industrial Revolution, which tends to increase the contrast between his origins and those of the aristocratic Wimsey. Parker has one elder unmarried sister, of whom he is fond though they meet seldom. (On one occasion he sends her lingerie from Paris).Parker has evidently received a good education, and before meeting Wimsey, one of his pursuits was evangelical theory. He is mentioned as reading some Biblical commentary as a relaxation before going to sleep.
In Clouds of Witness it is noted that Parker is not usually given to sudden bright flashes of insight or spectactular displays of happy guesswork, which are "more in Wimsey's line". Rather, he had "made his way from modest beginnings to a respectable appointment in the C.I.D.
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
by a combination of hard work, shrewdness and caution".
His skill as a detective and the resources of the Metropolitan Police (for example, he is able to summon a handwriting expert at the push of a button) often lead to his being summoned to assist baffled county police forces, who have sometimes literally trampled over vital evidence. (He remarks to Peter in Clouds of Witness as they both examine the ground where Cathcart's body was found, "Oh, that's a constable. I put him at eighteen stone.") He sometimes has to console officers from other forces who feel their efforts are inadequate.
A passage in "Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death
Unnatural Death is a 1927 mystery novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, her third featuring Lord Peter Wimsey. It has also been published in the United States as The Dawson Pedigree.-Plot introduction:...
" indicates a rather unequal division of labor between Parker and Wimsey in joint investigations, where it is tacitly taken for granted that any needed long and tedious legwork would fall to Parker. When involved in such investigation on a hot London day, Parker - grabbing a hasty snack at a sleazy restaurant - feels rather resentful when thinking of Wimsey at the same time eating at his club. However, later feeling elated by having discovered an important clue, Parker never expresses this resentment directly to Wimsey.
By appearance he is apparently nondescript, although just under six foot in height, and athletically built. He is able to mix easily in the circles frequented by Wimsey by donning the appropriate clothing (e.g. a formal evening suit). The series of books is set against a background of sometimes artificial class distinctions. When a maidservant in the household of a wealthy lady remarks (in The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club) that Parker appears to be "Quite the gentleman", the cook rebukes her, saying "No Nellie; gentlemanlike I will not deny; but a policeman is a person and I will trouble you to remember it."
Parker is the only intimate friend Wimsey has, as demonstrated by their ability to engage in witty repartee without competition or malice. The only other character with whom Peter achieves this sort of intellectual companionship is Harriet Vane. Parker is also on congenial terms with the Dowager Duchess of Denver, owing to her close relationship with her second son. (The most in-depth descriptions of the friendship between Parker and Wimsey are in "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club" in which Ms. Sayers actually describes the two men's interactions with each other.)
Film and TV adaptations
Several Peter Wimsey stories were made into television series in the 1970s, starring Ian CarmichaelIan Carmichael
Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE was an English film, stage, television and radio actor.-Early life:Carmichael was born in Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The son of an optician, he was educated at Scarborough College and Bromsgrove School, before training as an actor at RADA...
. In these, Parker was played by Mark Eden
Mark Eden
Mark Eden is a British actor.-Career:Born in London, Eden has appeared in repertory theatre in England and Wales and at the Royal Court Theatre. His many television and film roles include the Doctor Who serial Marco Polo in which he played Marco Polo...
.
In the 1980s three more stories (involving Harriet Vane) were made into television serials. This time Wimsey was played by Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge
Edward Petherbridge is a British actor. Among his many roles, he portrayed Lord Peter Wimsey in several screen adaptations of Dorothy L...
and Parker was portrayed by David Quilter
David Quilter
David Quilter is an English actor who has made numerous appearances in UK television plays and series since the mid 1960s.He was born in Northwood, London and attended Bryanston School, Dorset...
.