The Nine Tailors

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The Nine Tailors
Early paperback edition cover
Early paperback edition cover
Author Dorothy L. Sayers
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series Lord Peter Wimsey
Genre(s) Mystery Novel
Publisher Gollancz
Released 1934
Media Type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
ISBN NA
Preceded by Murder Must Advertise
Followed by Gaudy Night

The Nine Tailors is a 1934 mystery novel by British writer Dorothy L. Sayers, her ninth featuring sleuth Lord Peter Wimsey.

[edit] Plot introduction

For this novel, Sayers had to learn about change ringing. In it, Lord Peter not only rings one of eight church bells in a record-setting series of sound patterns called "changes", but also uses his knowledge of bell-ringing to solve a 20-year-old mystery, located in the Fens, involving a stolen emerald necklace.

[edit] Explanation of the novel's title

The title refers to the nine times a church bell was rung to signal a death in the parish. There is a ring of eight bells at the local church, each with its own name and history. The largest is Tailor Paul, the great bell that is rung nine times at the death of a man in the parish, and six times for the death of a woman.

[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The Nine Tailors was adapted for television in 1973 as part of a series starring Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter.