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Dexter Introduces Hammett

“Nightmare Town” is the title of a new collection of twenty, long out of print stories by the “hard-broiled” crime fiction pioneer, Dashiell Hammett. He led a colourful life that included working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency and as a writer for the ground breaking pulp magazine “Black Mask”. He is best known for the novels, “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Thin Man” which both became celebrated Hollywood movies. This collection is to be introduced by Colin Dexter. It will certainly be interesting to read what Dexter has to say about one of his famous past-masters in crime fiction. For those new to Hammett, these short stories would serve as a sturdy introduction. The collection was published by Picador in April 2002 and is priced at £16.
 

Philip Attwell

Back To Basics Weekend
Saturday 15th September 2001
 

Dinner At Magdalen College

We convened in the bar of Magdalen College which is arguably one of the most beautifully set of all the Oxford colleges, and began to drink in earnest. Our pre-prandial task was a quiz in which everyday household objects were lovingly stitched into cloth bags and pinned upon us. We had to mingle with our cloth bags and feel the objects in each other’s bags then write down our conclusions on a little bits of paper. The bar was a hive of activity as the various Morse enthusiasts attempted to prove their own detective prowess. Some of the objects were easy, some were more difficult and others would have been unrecognisable even out of their cloth cases but it was all good fun and our eventual winner was Anne Smith having amazingly missed only four of the thirty-three objects.

We were in due course joined by our honorary society member, Colin Dexter, and for the first time in the society’s history his glamorous wife Dorothy. Once the annual group photograph had been taken in the college chapel we were led to the fellow’s dining room.

The food was superb and the wine free flowing. We were lucky enough to each be given souvenirs in the form of an Inspector Morse mug and the dinner menu cards which Colin had already signed.

Much on our minds for the entire weekend had been our American friends, who after the tragic events of that week were stuck in the States and unable to attend our gathering. We were lead by Antony in a toast to them and to the thousands who were invariably affected by the atrocity. At this point we also raised a glass to John Thaw to wish him our support and fondest regards. Also toasted were our first time attendees (as is the tradition) and the people who had volunteered (or been forced!) to compete in the ‘Morse Weakest Link’, which was to follow!

As usual the beauty of the surroundings and the very special bonds that had been and were being forged between us as a society added to the wonderful memory, which I am sure we will always have of the evening.