I am not a very big comedy fan. In many cases it doesn’t really make me laugh, and situation comedy causes me great anxiety (No! Not that one! The other one! There! He just left through the other door! etc. Not amusing).

The little comedy I do like is British humor. Here, as with detective stories, the British rule supreme. Their comedy (or at least the kind of comedy I like) has a streak of sadness or complexity, as it speaks of life and the funny bitter-sweet or horrible but still laughable things we live with. To write these comedies one has to have a discerning eye for detail, a deep understanding of human behavior, irony and compassion – not bad traits for an author.

It is therefore not surprising that some of Britain’s great comedians have turned out to be excellent authors as well. Today I will present two of my personal favorites, and I will be happy to be introduced to more such authors.

First and Foremost – Sthephen Fry. This genuine multi-talent is one of the funniest, saddest, most interesting people on earth. Do take a moment to examine the extent and breadth of his work – it’s amazing. Alone and with friends he has written and participated in some of the most hilarious comedy you will ever set eyes on.

As an author he remains highly entertaining yet touching, bordering on some heavy issues in a refreshing and intelligent manner. of the novels he published I read The Hippopotamus (highly amusing) and Making History (fantastic), and The Stars’ Tennis Balls is next on my reading list. Not to be missed!

The Eedgier Option – Julian Clary. This fantastic comedian has made a carrer of being sarcastic, mean and over-the-top camp. He just tears me up. When I stumbled upon his first novel, Murder Most Fab, in a second-hand book store, I just had to have it. And it didn’t disappoint. Funny, shocking and a great read, with the added bonus of an interview with the author at the end of the book. Very much recommended. I understand he has written another novel, Devil in Disguise, and I definitely intend to read it.

Have fun with it!

Tags: British authors, Comedy, Devil in Disguise, Julian clary, Making History, Murder Most Fab, Stephen Fry, The Hippopotamus, The Stars' Tennis Balls

Well, some of my story-hoarding friends may find this hard to believe or even offensive, but to me there is nothing like a good detective story. A lower art, some may say, but I beg to differ – a good detective story is a masterpiece of the imagination and the mind. They are smart books, but to my taste – not geekish. A true pleasure.

In this art form the British definitely set the tone, and today I will discuss three of my all time favorites.  I provide no specific recommendations – anything by these authors is definitely worth reading.

First and foremost, Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The father of all detectives. The mesmerizing story lines, the enigmatic, charismatic character of Sherlock Holmes and the comic and emotional relief the character of Dr. Watson brings to the stories combine into a thrilling, challenging and highly enjoyable series of books and stories. Holmes’ powers of deduction and his encyclopedic knowledge in various scientific and cultural realms is fascinating.

The great Dame – Agatha Christie

Ms. Christie lived in a man’s world but managed to express her extraordinary talent, introducing two of the most unlikely but shrewd detectives – the flamboyant (and probably gay) Hercule Poirot and the seemingly frail old spinster, Miss Marple. These two exhibit a surprising acute perception of minute details in the ongoings around them, making for many books that have a fantastic mixture of a sensitively described social scene, a humorous take on that same scene and the detectives themselves, and great suspense.

Last but not Least – P.D. James and her poet-detective Adam Dalgliesh

Don’t you just adore a man that is both a hard-working, no-nonsense police officer and a sensitive, tortured poet? This author is much more modern than the previous two, and her books reflect that in the more complex, full characters she presents and in letting us into the lives of both victims, murderers and the people who investigate the crimes. Apart from being wonderfully and thoughtfully written, these books offer a wonderful mixture of great detective work and pure old good story telling.

Do you have more recommendations for great detective books?

Tags: Adam Dalgliesh, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, detective, Dr. Watson, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, P.D. James, police, Sherlock Holmes