Partage des connaissances

Nom légal: Potter, Margaret Edith Newman
Autres noms: Newman, Margaret
Potter, Margaret
Evans, Margaret
Betteridge, Anne
Melville, Anne
Date de naissance: 1926-06-21
Date de décès: 1998-08-26
Sexe: female
Nationalité: UK
Lieu de naissance: Harrow, London, England, UK
Lieu du décès: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Lieux de résidence: Harrow, London, England, UK
Egypt
London, England, UK
Twickenham, Middlesex, London, England, UK
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Études: Oxford University (St. Hugh's College)
Harrow County School for Girls
Professions: novelist
mystery novelist
children's book author
editor
Relations: Newman, Bernard (father)
Potter, Jeremy (husband)
Courte biographie: Margaret Edith Newman was born on 21 June 1926 in Harrow, Middlesex, London, England, UK, the eldest daughter of Marjory Edith (Donald), a former teacher, and Bernard Newman, author of fiction and non-fiction books and considered an authority on spies. She had two sisters, Hilary (Mrs. Richard Hipkin) and Lauriston (Mrs. Malcolm Norris). She was educated at Harrow County School for Girls, from 1937 to 1944; and studied her Major scholar at St Hugh's College, Oxford form 1944 to 1947, she aslo earned her B.A. in 1947 and her M.A. in 1952. On 11 February 1950, she married (Ronald) Jeremy Potter, a publisher and later also published writer of mystery novels. They had a daughter, Jocelyn, and a son, Jonathan.

Before writing, she worked in various jobs, as teacher in Egypt and England, from 1947 to 1950; as editor at King's Messenger children's magazine in London, from 1950 to 1955; and as adviser at Citizen's Advice Bureau in Twickenham, Middlesex, from 1962 to 1970.

On 1959, she published her first mystery novel, Murder to Music as Margaret Newman. Her next novels were published under the pseudonym of Anne Betteridge, a tribute to her father's pseudonym Don Betteridge. Under her married name, Margaret Potter, she published Children's fiction. Under the pseudonym Anne Melville, she signed her historical novels since 1977. As Margaret Evans, she published two historical novels. She continued publishing until her death.

Widow since 15 November 1997, she died less than a year later on 26 August 1998 in Oxford, Oxfordshire.

Membres

Critiques

Murder to Music par Margaret Newman

As his girlfriend Delia Jones is part of the choir, Detective Superintendent Simon Hudson is attending the Metropolitana Choir’s concert. But his position becomes awkward when the conductor dies at the end of the performance, and she is one of the suspects. But will this be the last death connected to the choir.
An enjoyable cozy mystery with enough suspects and motives in the mix.
Originally written in 1959.
A NetGalley Book

Signalé

Vesper1931 | 1 autre critique | Jul 29, 2021 |

Murder to Music par Margaret Newman

Police Detective-Superintendent Simon Hudson happens to be on the scene of the crime as a murder is committed. He is in the audience for the debut performance of a Mass in which his paramour Delia Jones is performing, when the conductor collapses on stage at the end of the performance. It turns out he was shot from the audience. Owen Burr was an arrogant but talented musician who angered and humiliated many people and therefore there's plenty of suspects. Hudson's job is to find the killer.

This is an excellent detective story set in the post WWII London. It was written in the 1950's, and is not stale or out-dated. It's a puzzle type whodunnit written in the Golden Age style with a closed circle of suspects. Aside from an entertaining plot, there's plenty of interesting characters. The overarching theme is the musical background in which the story takes place: the characters are members of the Metopolitana, a choral society with a "Managing Committee" in which most of the suspects participate. Several plot twists are introduced as Hudson, aided by Delia, investigates Burr's murder: illegitimate children, embezzlement of funds, anonymous written confessions, and disappearing guest vocalists. Things move along briskly and there's a dramatic conclusion with the revelation of the murderer's identity. All in all, it's an entertaining mystery story.

My thanks to Agora Books and Netgalley for providing a complementary advanced reading copy of this book. The comments about it are my own.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

BrianEWilliams | 1 autre critique | Dec 9, 2020 |

Debutante par Anne Melville

From the book blurb, I thought Debutante would be a frothy manners novel, with some social backstabbing, romance, and pretty dresses. And this is how the novel starts. Eligible young women from established families (or from rich families with social aspirations) will be presented to the queen to begin their Season of competition fashion, upscale social events and serious husband-hunting.

The season ends with the beginning of World War 2, and the book changes, by degrees, into a story of how these four girls survive the war. The debs take up high-class, voluntary work at first, but as the war gets closer to home, these lighter jobs disappear. The girls' hobbies as debs -- speaking foreign languages, driving a motorcar, etc. -- turn into essential skills in the war efforts. Money and privilege can't protect them from the horrors of war, and although the book started as a social drama, it doesn't hold back.

I particularly liked how the four girls grew over the course of the novel. Their goals and priorities changed quite a lot over the years, but their underlying personalities didn't.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

TheFictionAddiction | 1 autre critique | Aug 12, 2020 |

Schicksalsjahre der Lorimers: Glanz und Schatten… par Anne Melville

Lord und Lady Glanville geben auf Schloss Blaize einen Ball zum einundzwanzigsten Geburtstag Von Brinsley. Doch noch am gleichen Abend erhält Brinsley seinen Marschbefehl an die Westfront. Als die Familie Brinsley auf dem Bahnhof verabschiedet, erfährt Margaret, dass sich auch ihr Sohn Robert verpflichtet hat. Gleichzeitig kommen die ersten Verletzten in London an. Lord Glanville richtet mit Margarets Unterstützung auf Schloss Blaize ein Lazarett ein. Brisleys Schwester Kate entschließt sich, als Ärztin den Soldaten im Krieg zu helfen und wird nach Serbien geschickt. Doch die Gefahr kommt näher und sie müssen sich immer mehr zurückziehen. Als die notwendigen Medikamente und Hilfsmittel feststecken, versucht sie diese in St. Petersburg für ihre Schutzbefohlenen freizubekommen. Sie begegnet dem Fürsten Aminow und verliebt sich in ihn. Als die Revolution ausbricht, wird es gefährlich. Doch Kate entschließt sich, dass ihre Soldaten sie brauchen.
Auf Blaize geht Margaret bis ans Ende ihrer Kräfte, um den Verletzten zu helfen. Ralph schickt seinen ungeliebten Sohn Grant nach England und Margaret nimmt sich des behinderten Jungen an.
Der grauenhafte Krieg tobt in Europa und bringt viel Unheil. Auch an den Lorimers geht das Schicksal nicht vorbei, auch sie müssen Verluste hinnehmen.
Die Autorin hat einen gut zu lesenden Schreibstil. Die Geschichte der Familie Lorimer gefällt mir sehr gut und erhält unter den fürchterlichen Bedingungen des Krieges, der allen viel abverlangt, noch mehr Tiefe.
Die Charaktere sind interessant und viele von ihnen sind im Laufe der Jahre an ihren Aufgaben gewachsen. Besonders gut gefällt mir Margaret, die für alle da ist und sich neben der verantwortungsvollen Arbeit als Ärztin noch um ihre Verwandten hingebungsvoll kümmert. Aber auch Kate ist eine starke Person, die für die ihr anvertrauten Menschen da ist.
Dieser Roman wirft uns in die grauenhafte Zeit des ersten Weltkrieges, die viel Leid über die Menschen bringt. Manche Menschen werden stärker durch die Schicksalsschläge, andere zerbrechen daran.
Die Geschichte der Familie Lorimer hat mir gut gefallen und dieser Band ganz besonders.… (plus d'informations)

Signalé

buecherwurm1310 | Jan 4, 2020 |

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