Three Bags Full

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Three Bags Full

Hardcover edition
Author Leonie Swann
Original title Glennkill: Ein Schafskrimi
Translator Anthea Bell
Country Germany
Language German
Genre(s) Detective novel
Publisher Transworld Publishers Limited, Doubleday Publishing, Randomhouse Inc.
Publication date 2005
Published in
English
2006
Pages 368 pp
ISBN ISBN 0385609949

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story (original German title: Glennkill: Ein Schafskrimi) is a work of detective fiction which features a flock of anthropomorphic Irish sheep out to solve the murder of their shepherd. Written originally in German by Leonie Swann, the novel has been translated in to more than 15 languages.[1]

Contents

[edit] Plot introduction

The sheep belonging to George Glenn awake to find their shepherd dead with a spade in his middle, and resolve to solve his murder. The story is set in the fictional Irish village of Glennkill.

[edit] Major themes

Largely humorous in character, the novel displays a strong knowledge of sheep behavior, biology, husbandry and breeds (the merino and hebridean are present, among others).[2] [3] Using the perspective of the flock, Swann makes comedic jabs at human character and institutions.[4] [5]

[edit] Characters

  • George Glenkill — the murdered shepherd
  • Maude — a ewe with a powerful sense of smell
  • Sir Ritchfield — the lead ram of the flock
  • Miss Maple — the cleverest sheep in the flock, Glenkill, and possibly the world
  • Heather — a lively young sheep
  • Cloud — the wooliest sheep in the flock
  • Mopple the Whale — a merino ram, memory sheep of the flock
  • Othello — a black Hebridean ram with four horns
  • Zora — a black–faced ewe
  • Rameses — a young ram
  • Lane — the quickest sheep in the flock
  • Sara — a ewe
  • A Lamb — the eyewitness to the murder
  • Melmoth — Sir Ritchfield's twin brother
  • Cordelia — a ewe that likes odd words
  • Maise — a naive young ewe
  • Willow — the second–most silent sheep in the flock
  • Gabriel's Ram — a very strange sheep
  • Fosco — a sheep that thinks himself clever

[edit] References

  1. ^ Brunskill, Ian. "Graze anatomy", The Times. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 
  2. ^ Jakeman, Jane. "Four legs good, two legs bad", The Independent, June 23, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 
  3. ^ Ephron, Hallie. "Sherlocks in sheep's clothing", The Boston Globe, June 24, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 
  4. ^ Sansom, Ian. "A shaggy sheep story", The Guardian, July 22, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 
  5. ^ Vishrup, Amy. "Books Newly Released", The New York Times, June 21, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-01-13. 

[edit] External links


Languages