The best historical detectives: books

Historical detectives are books that always attract a large number of readers. After all, on the one hand, it's a fascinating and exciting story, and on the other - intellectual reading. If the author is good, then such a novel will be saturated with real details and signs of the described time.

Genre of a historical detective

Historical detectives have not lost their relevance. Books written in this genre tell about the events of the past. In some cases, the detective living in our time, is investigating the affairs of days gone by. By and large, this is a historical novel in which a detective plot-forming line has been developed in detail.

A reliable description of the chosen era is one of the main requirements that are imposed on the author, who writes historical detectives. Books in this genre should not only entertain the reader, but also bear an educational function. This genre is also called an intellectual detective.

True, it is worth acknowledging that real historical events and participation in the narrative of truly historical characters are not necessary conditions. They may not correspond to the historical detectives. Books should make the reader believe that the events described could have happened to the heroes in the past. This is important.

Of course, like in any other artwork, there is fiction. Books in the genre of the "historical detective story" can contain an author's assessment of really existing personalities and events described.

Another difference between the historical detective and the ordinary is that the profession of a professional detective only appeared in the eighteenth century. Therefore, if the author describes earlier time, then the crime should be investigated by law enforcement agencies or by ordinary people who happened to be in this position accidentally.

Historical Detective in Russia

The historical detective (the best books written in this genre, will be named further) appeared in Russia in the late XIX - early XX centuries. At that time, the detective story in Russian literature was not yet framed in a separate genre. As a rule, these were works in which criminal offenses or court hearings were described.

The founders and ancestors of the Russian criminal novel are Nikolai Akhsharumov and Alexander Shklyarevsky.

Akhsharumov and Shklyarevsky

Nikolai Akhsharumov lived in the XIX century. He was a writer and literary critic. In reviews of his works, researchers noted that he was a writer of a small talent, brought up in somewhat outdated literary concepts. At the same time he wrote entertaining novels and stories. But if the characters and characters were not elaborated, then the story took the reader from the first pages.

The plot of his works Akhsharumov built on psychiatry, unnatural play of passions, phantasmagoria. His novel "The Ends in the Water" is considered the ancestor of the Russian thriller.

Alexander Shklyarevsky was a famous novelist, born in the year of Pushkin's death, and died in 1883. The greatest popularity was brought to him by "The Stories of a Judicial Investigator", which were published separately in magazines and in separate editions.

Boris Akunin

Of our contemporaries, the main representative of this genre is Boris Akunin. His novels top the rating of historical detectives. Books of this author are pleased to film the directors.

One of his most famous novels is "Azazel." He enters the series, telling of the adventures in St. Petersburg of the young detective Erast Fandorin at the beginning of the XX century.

In this novel Fandorin is only 20 years old. He is lucky, he is not afraid of anything, handsome and noble. But the main thing is his quality - he is a born detective. Erast Fandorin serves in the police department in a small position as a clerk. At the same time, without any fear, he undertakes any business, no matter how complex and confusing it may seem at first glance.

In the novel "Azazel" he has to untangle the suicide of a student who is the heir of a large fortune. The investigation leads Fandorin to an underground organization in which influential persons are implicated.

"Turkish gambit"

"Turkish Gambit" - another classic Russian historical detective. The books of this genre are especially successful for Akunin.

This time the events unfold in 1877, during the Russian-Turkish war. In the center of the narrative is the nihilist Varvara Suvorova, who is sent for the groom to the front line. At the front, she meets Fandorin. A lot of incredible adventures await them. That it is only a meeting with the Bashi-Bazouks, detachments of the Ottoman army. Save them only Russian Cossacks.

At this time, a detective story unfolds against the backdrop of historical events. General Mizinov informs Fandorin that a Turkish intelligence officer is preparing a secret operation in the rear of the Russian army.

The plot later becomes not only detective, but also romantic, as Varya plays in the novel not the last role.

"Leviathan"

We love fans one more detective from the series "The Adventures of Erast Fandorin" under the name "Leviathan". This time the scene is Paris. 1878 year. At the very beginning a terrible crime is committed - the murder of Lord Littleby, his two children and seven servants. At the same time, the criminal does not steal anything, except for the statue of Lord Shiva, which at first glance is not of great value. Moreover, soon a figurine is found on the bottom of the Seine.

The key evidence is the passenger icon of the first class of the ship "Leviathan", which was clamped in the hand of the murdered lord. Under suspicion are some passengers who were supposed to fly from Littlebee to Indian Calcutta.

Erast Fandorin is involved in the investigation of this crime. It is he who finds one more clue. An attacker turns out to be a doctor who is vaccinating against cholera that broke out at that time in Paris. However, instead of the vaccine, he injected his patients with a lethal dose of morphine. What goals did he pursue? This is to be clarified to the Russian detective.

"The Name of the Rose"

In Europe, historical detectives are also very popular. Foreign books are actively translated in our country. One of the most famous works of recent years is the novel by Umberto Eco "The Name of the Rose."

The main characters of this narration are Wilhelm Baskervilsky and his young companion Adson Melk. They are investigating the mysterious death of the Benedictine monk Adelma Otrantsky, which occurred in 1327. There is a lot of incomprehensible in this death. For certain, even the place where everything happened happened is unknown. In historical documents, only the terrain on the border of France and Liguria is called.

All events in the novel occur within one week. Wilhelm, who previously engaged in a diplomatic mission (in particular, organized a meeting of the Pope with the Bavarian emperor), now has to prove his academic reputation. She is also supported by stories that in the past he was a famous inquisitor.