More Work for the Undertaker

Last updated

More Work for the Undertaker
More Work for the Undertaker.jpg
First edition
Author Margery Allingham
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Series Albert Campion
Genre Crime novel
Publisher William Heinemann
Publication date
1948
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Preceded by Coroner's Pidgin  
Followed by The Tiger in the Smoke  

More Work for the Undertaker is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1948, in the United Kingdom by William Heinemann, London and in the United States by Doubleday, New York. It is the thirteenth novel in the Albert Campion series.

Contents

The book focuses on Apron Street, an isolated neighbourhood in London. Going "up Apron street" has become a byword for a criminal vanishing. This proves to be done by the Bowels family, the undertakers of the title. More sinister proves to be the effort of the local banker to eliminate the eccentric Palinode family, which has inherited shares of stock once thought worthless. The banker proves also to be the moving force behind the service the Bowels family runs for criminals.

Note on the Title

Allingham may have taken the title from a comical music-hall song More Work for the Undertaker written in 1895 by Fred W. Leigh (1871 - 1924) [1] [2]

The chorus of this song is traditionally sung by Yale when they are winning against Harvard. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margery Allingham</span> English writer of detective fiction, editor

Margery Louise Allingham was an English novelist from the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", and considered one of its four "Queens of Crime", alongside Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh.

Albert Campion is a fictional character in a series of detective novels and short stories by Margery Allingham. He first appeared as a supporting character in The Crime at Black Dudley (1929), an adventure story involving a ring of criminals, and would go on to feature in another 18 novels and over 20 short stories.

<i>Mystery Mile</i> 1930 novel by Margery Allingham

Mystery Mile is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1930, in the United Kingdom by Jarrolds Publishing, London, and in the United States by Doubleday, Doran, New York. Following his first, supporting appearance in The Crime at Black Dudley (1929), it is the first of many novels starring the mysterious Albert Campion, and introduces his butler/valet/bodyguard Magersfontein Lugg.

<i>The Crime at Black Dudley</i> Novel by Margery Allingham

The Crime at Black Dudley, also known in the United States as The Black Dudley Murder, is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1929, in the United Kingdom by Jarrolds, London and in the United States by Doubleday Doran, New York. It introduces Albert Campion, her misleadingly vapid detective, who would go on to appear in another 18 novels and many short stories over the next 30 years.

<i>Dancers in Mourning</i> 1937 novel by Margery Allingham

Dancers in Mourning is a crime novel by English writer Margery Allingham, first published in 1937, in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London and in the United States by Doubleday Doran, New York City; later U.S. versions used the title Who Killed Chloe?.

<i>Flowers for the Judge</i> 1936 novel by Margery Allingham

Flowers for the Judge is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in February 1936, in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London, and in the United States by Doubleday, Doran, New York. It is the seventh novel to feature the mysterious Albert Campion, aided by his grouchy manservant Magersfontein Lugg.

<i>Look to the Lady</i> 1931 novel by Margery Allingham

Look to the Lady is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in January 1931, in the United Kingdom by Jarrolds Publishing, London, and in the United States by Doubleday, Doran, New York, as The Gyrth Chalice Mystery. It is the third novel featuring the mysterious Albert Campion, accompanied by his butler/valet/bodyguard Magersfontein Lugg.

<i>Police at the Funeral</i> Novel by Margery Allingham

Police at the Funeral is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in October 1931, in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London and in 1932 in the United States by Doubleday, Doran, New York. It is the fourth novel with the mysterious Albert Campion, aided as usual by his butler/valet/bodyguard Magersfontein Lugg and his policeman friend Stanislaus Oates.

<i>The Case of the Late Pig</i> 1937 novel by Margery Allingham

The Case of the Late Pig is a crime novel by English writer Margery Allingham, first published 1937, by Hodder & Stoughton. It is the ninth novel featuring the mysterious Albert Campion and his butler/valet/bodyguard Magersfontein Lugg.

<i>Death of a Ghost</i> 1934 novel by Margery Allingham

Death of a Ghost is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in February 1934, in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London and in the United States by Doubleday, Doran, New York. It is the sixth novel with the mysterious Albert Campion, aided by his policeman friend Stanislaus Oates.

<i>Sweet Danger</i> Novel by Margery Allingham

Sweet Danger is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in October 1933, in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London and in the United States by The Crime Club as Kingdom of Death; later US versions used the title The Fear Sign. It is the fifth adventure of the mysterious Albert Campion, aided as usual by his butler/valet/bodyguard Magersfontein Lugg, and introduces the recurring character of Amanda Fitton.

<i>Traitors Purse</i>

Traitor's Purse is a crime novel written by Margery Allingham. It was originally published in 1941 in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London and in the United States by Doubleday, New York as The Sabotage Murder Mystery. It is the eleventh novel in the Albert Campion series and is set during the Second World War.

<i>The Fashion in Shrouds</i> 1938 novel by Margery Allingham

The Fashion in Shrouds is a crime novel by English writer Margery Allingham. It was originally published in 1938 in the United Kingdom by Heinemann, London and in the United States by Doubleday, New York. It is the tenth novel in the Albert Campion series.

<i>Coroners Pidgin</i> 1945 novel by Margery Allingham

Coroner's Pidgin is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1945, in the United Kingdom by William Heinemann, London and in the United States by Doubleday Doran, New York as Pearls Before Swine. It is the twelfth novel in the Albert Campion series.

<i>The Beckoning Lady</i> 1955 novel by Margery Allingham

The Beckoning Lady is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1955 in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus, London; and in the United States by Doubleday, New York under the title The Estate of the Beckoning Lady. It is the 15th novel in the Albert Campion series.

<i>Cargo of Eagles</i> 1968 novel by Margery Allingham

Cargo of Eagles is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1968, in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus, London. It was incomplete at her death in 1966 and completed by her husband Philip Youngman Carter. It is the nineteenth novel in the Albert Campion series.

<i>Hide My Eyes</i> 1958 novel by Margery Allingham

Hide My Eyes is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1958, in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus, London. It was published in the U.S. under the titles Tether's End or Ten Were Missing. It is the sixteenth novel in the Albert Campion series. It was a runner-up for the Gold Dagger Award.

<i>The China Governess</i> Novel by Margery Allingham

The China Governess is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1963, in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus, London. It is the seventeenth novel in the Albert Campion series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Noble</span> English publisher and novelist

Barbara Noble was an English publisher and author. She wrote 6 novels of her own, and as head of the London office of Doubleday was instrumental in the publication of thousands of others.

References

  1. "More Work" song music
  2. "More Work" song lyrics
  3. Mark F. Bernstein, Football: The Ivy League Origins of an American Obsession p. 70 (Univ. of Pennsylvania Press,2001)