PD James, queen of crime fiction who gave the world detective Adam Dalgliesh, dies aged 94 PD James died peacefully at her Oxfordshire home this morning The writer is considered one of the best crime novelists of her time The authors Adam Dalgliesh series has been adapted in film and on TV David Cameron led tributes to one of the UKs greatest crime writers By JENNIFER SMITH and MIA DE GRAAF FOR MAILONLINE PUBLISHED: 13:40, 27 November 2014 | UPDATED: 15:57, 27 November 2014 18 shares 48 View comments The acclaimed crime novelist PD James has died at the age of 94. James, who became Baroness James of Holland Park in 1991, is the author of 20 detective novels and creator of popular Adam Dalgliesh series. She is survived by her two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Scroll down for video PD James has died aged 94. The novelist is considered one of the best crime writers in modern history +10 PD James has died aged 94. The novelist is considered one of the best crime writers in modern history Her most famous works are the Adam Dalgliesh series, immortalised by actor Roy Marsden in film and television. It is with great sadness that the family of author P D James, Baroness James of Holland Park OBE, FRSL, FRSA, announce that she died peacefully at her home in Oxford on the morning of 27 November 2014, aged 94, a much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. The family have requested privacy at this time, a spokesman for the novelist said this morning. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Weve always had a weird chemistry. Somehow it works, said Robert Webb Have you met my other half? From Mitchell and Webb to... Stay Far from the Madding Crowd: Downton Abbey writer Julian... SHARE THIS ARTICLE Share Since publishing her first novel at the age of 42, Baroness James has become known as one of the countrys finest crime writers. The author, born Phyllis Dorothy James in Oxford in 1920, always had a keen interest in literature, inventing fictional characters for her younger siblings when they were children. Besieged by austerity and in charge of her two siblings at the age of 14, she was forced to abandon her dreams of writing for a job at the theatre. A career in the NHS and Civil Service followed, providing the writer with a vast understanding of such environments which would become commonplace in her later crime series. The 94-year-old won a series of accolades for her crime novels +10 Alongside a career in fictional writing PD James also worked for the civil service for 30 years +10 Baroness James is the author of 20 successful detective books and also spent 30 years working in departments of the British Civil Service Roy Marsden brought Jamess fictional character Adam Dalgliesh to life in the on-screen adaptation of her novels +10 The much-loved author is survived by her grandchildren, children and great-grandchildren +10 Actor Roy Marsden (left) brought Baroness Jamess fictional protagonist Adam Dalgliesh to live in the on-screen adaptation of 14 of the 20 detective novels she wrote throughout her career In an interview in the years before her death, the 94-year-old spoke of how she was very unsentimental +10 In an interview in the years before her death, the 94-year-old spoke of how she was very unsentimental She did not publish her first novel until the age of 42 after months of secrecy, her only fan being her husband who, at the time, was being treated in a psychiatric hospital. A doctor in the war, he returned in poor mental health. Describing herself in interviews as a late starter, Baroness James was quickly rewarded for her literary talents. The Adam Dalgliesh novels, starting with Cover Her Face, were adapted by ITV in 1983 in a 10-part series starring Roy Marsden. In 2003 the BBC took over to adapt two more starring Martin Shaw. Her 1992 novel Children of Men was made into a film by Alfonso Cuarón in 2006, starring Clive Owen, and despite some significant plot changes, she said she was very happy with the final cut. One of the UKs greatest crime writers, who thrilled and inspired generations of readers David Cameron In 2011, the then 91-year-old reproduced Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice to critical acclaim. Her other fictional work, The Children of Men, also received praise. Among her many accolades is the International Crime Writing Hall of Fame 2008 and the Grand Master Award from Mystery Writers of America, 1999. In her role as Governor of the BBC, Ms James challenged the then-director general of the BBC, during her own guest-edit of BBC Radio 4 to demand that BBC salaries be published. Now they are, and in 2010 she won the Nick Clarke Award for her ‘tenacity’ in that interview. While Baroness James spoke of her lack of sentimentality in fiction, she enjoyed a strong connection to the Church and its values in reality. Speaking at St Pauls Cathedral in May last year, she told the congregation: Even our religious duties must come secondary to meeting the need of another human being. When we see that need we should meet it and not have excuses. Fellow crime write Ian Rankin was among the first to publically pay tribute to the woman this morning. So sad about PD James. Every event I did with her was a joy. Sharp intellect, ready wit. She will be missed, he wrote on Twitter. US crime writer Patricia Cornwell said: RIP PD James and thanks for encouraging me when I was getting started, while Chelsea Clinton wrote: Very sad to hear of P.D. James passing, one of the all time great mystery writers. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. Crime novelist PD James has passed away at 94 years old Big screen adaption of PD James novel Children of Men The author drew on a wealth of knowledge about the NHS and the Civil Service to compose her novels +10 She is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren +10 Having always shown an interest in writing, Baroness James was forced to abandon pursuing a career as a writer at a young age and take a job in the theatre to support her younger siblings In her youth the author worked for the NHS before joining the British Civil Service where she worked for more than three decades, following in the footsteps of her father +10 In her youth the author worked for the NHS before joining the British Civil Service where she worked for more than three decades, following in the footsteps of her father The Prime Minister paid tribute to one of the countrys greatest crime writers who thrilled and inspired generations of readers. Saddened to hear of the death of PD James, one of the UKs greatest crime writers, who thrilled and inspired generations of readers, David Cameron added. The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor of St Pauls Cathedral and a friend of Baroness James, said: We are desperately sad to hear of P D James death. Her creative genius put her alongside the great authors of detective fiction, not least Dorothy L Sayers whom Lady James greatly admired. The Prime Minister led tributes to the writer this morning, describing her as one of the UKs greatest crime writers who thrilled and inspired generations of readers The Prime Minister led tributes to the writer this morning, describing her as one of the UKs greatest crime writers who thrilled and inspired generations of readers She was a woman of sharp intellect and profound grace and those of us who met her here at St Paul’s were hugely privileged to have done so. The Rev Richard Coles added: RIP PD James. I looked after her when she stayed at my theological college researching a book. Call me Phyllis, she said, while Im here BBC Womens Hour Jenni Murray praised the writer whom she described as a great friend to the programme. Baroness Stowell, Leader of the Lords, said: In addition to being an acclaimed novelist who brought so much pleasure to so many through her writing, PD James also made a great contribution to public life as a civil servant, a BBC Governor and as a peer of the realm. She was a loyal member of the Conservative party and was much loved by all sides of the House of Lords. Her contributions in the chamber were characteristically modest and considered, and we shall all miss her greatly. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time. Crime novelist PD James talks about her love for Jane Austen HE IS A MALE VERSION OF ME, BRAINIER THAN ME, BUT HIS EMOTIONS ARE MINE: PD JAMES AND HER BELOVED PROTAGONIST ADAM DALGLIESH +10 PD James became known as the queen of crime fiction for her portrayal of the life of the fictional New Scotland Yard detective, Adam Dalgliesh. The protagonist of 14 of her mystery detective novels, Dalgliesh first appeared in the 1962 work Cover Her Face. Speaking of the character in an interview as she approached her 90th birthday, Ms James said she considered her protagonist a male version of herself. He is a male version of me, brainier than me, but his emotions are mine. The empathy is mental rather than physical. I never describe Dalgliesh getting up and getting dressed. I’m very unsentimental. Very, she told the Daily Telegraph. Of the series which brought her critical acclaim, the novelist prescribed her sort of murderous fiction for middle class readers. I can write about it if I have to but mostly my murderers are respectable, upper-middle-class people. Actor Roy Marsden (right) brought the character to life on television. Read more: dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2851824/Acclaimed-crime-novelist-PD-James-dies-aged-94.html#ixzz3KHl24WmU Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 16:03:04 +0000
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