Thomas Pitt (fictional character)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Pitt is the protagonist
in a series of detective novels by Anne Perry
.
Pitt is from a working class background in Victorian
London
. His father was a gamekeeper on a landed estate and Pitt was permitted to share the lessons with the son of the house. He was prompted to enter the police force after his father was wrongly accused of poaching game and was transported to Australia.
At the beginning of the series, Pitt is a Police Inspector, but was promoted to Superintendent. Later he is removed from his job as a result of investigating the "wrong people", i.e. those with sufficient influence and power, and joins the Special Branch, in which he becomes an Inspector.
His wife, Charlotte (née Ellison), is from an upper class family. Her sister Emily's first husband was a viscount
and her second husband is a rising politician. Charlotte frequently uses Emily's connections to the landed gentry
and aristocracy
to assist Pitt in his investigations. Charlotte also relies on her maid of all work, Gracie, to care for her two children, Jemima and Daniel, when she is investigating a mystery. Charlotte's well-intentioned interference in his investigations gives Pitt access to information which often enables the couple to solve the case together.
Vespasia Cumming-Gould, the elderly aunt of Emily's first husband, becomes a friend to both Emily and Charlotte and eases their way into society.
The first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was adapted for TV in 1998; it starred Eoin McCarthy
and Keeley Hawes
and featured Hannah Spearritt
in her acting debut.
Publishing dates confirmed from Fantastic Fiction website.
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
in a series of detective novels by Anne Perry
Anne Perry
Anne Perry is an English author of historical detective fiction. Perry was convicted of the murder of her friend's mother in 1954.-Early life:Born Juliet Marion Hulme in Blackheath, London, the daughter of Dr...
.
Pitt is from a working class background in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. His father was a gamekeeper on a landed estate and Pitt was permitted to share the lessons with the son of the house. He was prompted to enter the police force after his father was wrongly accused of poaching game and was transported to Australia.
At the beginning of the series, Pitt is a Police Inspector, but was promoted to Superintendent. Later he is removed from his job as a result of investigating the "wrong people", i.e. those with sufficient influence and power, and joins the Special Branch, in which he becomes an Inspector.
His wife, Charlotte (née Ellison), is from an upper class family. Her sister Emily's first husband was a viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
and her second husband is a rising politician. Charlotte frequently uses Emily's connections to the landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
and aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
to assist Pitt in his investigations. Charlotte also relies on her maid of all work, Gracie, to care for her two children, Jemima and Daniel, when she is investigating a mystery. Charlotte's well-intentioned interference in his investigations gives Pitt access to information which often enables the couple to solve the case together.
Vespasia Cumming-Gould, the elderly aunt of Emily's first husband, becomes a friend to both Emily and Charlotte and eases their way into society.
The first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was adapted for TV in 1998; it starred Eoin McCarthy
Eoin McCarthy
Eoin McCarthy is an Irish actor who has appeared in films such as Alien vs. Predator and television programmes such as Cadfael and Roman Mysteries.-External links:...
and Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes
Keeley Hawes is an English actress and model, known for many television roles. She is best known for her roles as Zoe Reynolds in Spooks and Alex Drake in Ashes to Ashes and Lady Agnes in the remake of Upstairs, Downstairs...
and featured Hannah Spearritt
Hannah Spearritt
Hannah Louise Spearritt is an English actress and singer. She was previously a member of the pop group S Club 7. She is also known for playing the role of Abby Maitland in the British drama Primeval....
in her acting debut.
Novels
Series is listed in internal chronological order- The Cater Street HangmanThe Cater Street HangmanThe Cater Street Hangman is a crime novel by Anne Perry. It is the first in a series which features the husband-and-wife team of Thomas and Charlotte Pitt.-Plot introduction:...
(1979) - Callander Square (1980)
- Paragon Walk (1981)
- Resurrection Row (1981)
- Bluegate Fields (1984)
- Rutland Place (1983)
- Death in the Devil's Acre (1985)
- Cardington Crescent (1987)
- Silence in Hanover Close (1988)
- Bethlehem Road (1990)
- Highgate Rise (1991)
- Belgrave Square (1992)
- Farrier's Lane (1993)
- The Hyde Park Headsman (1994)
- Traitors Gate (1995)
- Pentecost Alley (1996)
- Ashworth Hall (1997)
- Brunswick Gardens (1998)
- Bedford Square (1999)
- Half Moon Street (1998)
- The Whitechapel Conspiracy (2001)
- Southampton Row (2002)
- Seven Dials (2003)
- Long Spoon Lane (2005)
- Buckingham Palace Gardens (2008)
- Treason at Lisson Grove (2011)
Publishing dates confirmed from Fantastic Fiction website.