Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Have you met Australia's Most Successful Crime Writer? - 7 Comments
Whilst almost unknown in his home country Arthur Upfield is one
of the world's most loved and widely acclaimed crime writers.
And while his books are out of print here in Australia they still
sell in their thousands overseas. In France for instance
50,000(1) Upfield novels are sold each year!
Arthur Upfield first found fame as a result of an unbelievable -
but true - story. Having come up with "the perfect murder" to
feature in his novel The Sands of Windee, one of Upfield's friends,
stockman Snowy Rowles, decided to put the plan into deadly effect,
even before the book was published.
The plan, as it turned out, wasn't flawless and Snowy Rowles was
tried and hung for murder in 1934. This remarkable true story
catapulted Upfield's name on to the world stage. Upfield went on to
author over 30 books and was the first Australian accepted into the
American Society of Crime Fiction Writers.
(1) Jean-Claude Zylberstein, Publisher, France. Cited
in In
Search of Bony.
7 Comments so far
2 - At 12:53 PM on May 29 2009, HB wrote
This is a great TV movie revealing a forgotten piece of WA history. A must watch.
3 - At 10:18 AM on June 3 2009, Marcus R wrote
Been in Australia since 1970 and at that time read only The sands of Windee. Also remember well the TV series.
Now after 30 years decided to finish off all his novels after visiting Mungo and reading Death of a Swagman.
Most of the novels can be found in the Sutherland Library though I cannot locate the following:
•The Devil’s steps 1946
•The Bachelors of Broken Hill 1950
•The New Shoe 1951
•The Will of the Tribe 1962
Great insight into life in Australia back in the early part of the 20th C.
Keep up the series!
4 - At 6:19 PM on June 15 2009, James Leadbetter wrote
Have read all of Upfields books, however i have heard that there could possibly be another book somewhere that he was suppose to have wrote called Venomous house. I've never been able to find it, and i've been told that it could of been re-titled. Is there anyone that could shed some light on this, as I would love to know what book it was. My email is jimmy007au@yahoo.com.au
5 - At 10:57 PM on June 16 2009, Kees de Hoog wrote
My website at http://www.collectingbooksandmagazines.com/upfield.html has a list of all the Upfield books that have ever been published, with alternative English titles. One of them is called Venom House which looks like the one you are looking for. So far as I know it has never been published in English by another name.
Venom House in not currently in print so you will not find it in shops that sell only new books and only a few second-hand bookshops. Your local library should be able to find a copy to lend you, or you may be able to buy it through online bookshops such as http://www.booksandcollectibles.com.au/ in Australia and http://www.abebooks.com/ in the US.
6 - At 8:25 PM on July 27 2009, Gini wrote
Has Marcus R tried Ebay and Oztion Action Sites - if he's willing to buy these books. Had no trouble getting a copy of The Clue of the New Shoe Recently
7 - At 2:42 PM on January 2 2010, Anonymous wrote
i find it so frustrating that they retitle the books and not tell you the previous title. then you think you've found a new book....... and you haven't.
1 - At 12:15 PM on May 28 2009, Sam Wright wrote
Yikes! How do we not know this stuff! Im going to go out and get me and Upfield book!