Sun 10 Aug 2014
Reviewed by Marvin Lachman: CHRISTIANNA BRAND – Green for Danger.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[5] Comments
by Marv Lachman
CHRISTIANNA BRAND – Green for Danger. Lane, UK, hardcover, 1945. Dodd Mead, US, hardcover, 1944. Reprinted many times in both hardcover and soft, including Carroll & Graf, US, 1990.
Christiana Brand’s Green for Danger has been reprinted more than most mysteries, such is its reputation. The latter has undoubtedly been enhanced by the popular 1947 British film version with Alistair Sim, Leo Gena, and Trevor Howard. Now, Carroll & Graf has reprinted it in trade paperback at $7.95, and if this attractive edition garners some new readers for the book, it will have served its purpose.
It is an ingeniously plotted tale of murder at a British hospital during an air raid, but it is equally a splendid picture of human beings who are exhausted and operating at the end of their endurance. This is a book which can speak very nicely for itself, but this version has two bonuses in the form of a fine preface by H. R F. Keating and an equally good introduction by Otto Penzler which put the book and its author’s career into perspective.
August 10th, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Our central a/c decided to conk out on us yesterday, but luckily the repair guy will be able to help us out early tomorrow. I hope. I have a cover image to add, but I can’t until I can get to the computer in my upstairs study, which is so hot I think you could fry bacon up there.
I wish I could say that I’ve read this one, but even though it’s an acknowledged classic — it is, isn’t it? — this isn’t one of the Brand novels that I’ve ever gotten to.
Nor the movie, either, come to think of it.
August 10th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
You haven’t seen or read this one?
Lucky devil, you have such a treat in store. Alistair Sims Cockerill is one of the finest sleuth interpretations of all time and the Gilliatt and Launder film as brilliant as the book.
I can’t even begin to describe the treat you are in for.
August 11th, 2014 at 4:25 am
Great book, very good film.
August 11th, 2014 at 5:54 am
What David said. It’s a very good book and one of the best adaptations ever.
And Robin Cook’s COMA is a blatant ripoff and it is hard to understand why no one else has mentioned this.
August 12th, 2014 at 12:06 pm
I haven’t read the book but I saw the film for the first time a couple of years ago and was very impressed.