The Necklace Of Pearls Dorothy Sayers Summary
The Necklace of Pearls is a detective short story written by Dorothy Sayers. The story was originally published in 1929 and is part of a collection of Lord Peter Wimsey stories. The Necklace of Pearls follows the aristocratic detective Lord Peter Wimsey as he investigates the theft of a valuable necklace from a woman's dressing room. The story is set in London in the 1920s and features many of the cultural and social characteristics of the time.
Plot Summary
The story begins with the theft of the necklace from the dressing room of Lady Mary, who is the wife of the famous archaeologist Sir Charles. Lady Mary had been wearing the necklace at a dinner party the night before, and it had been kept in a locked drawer in her dressing room overnight. The necklace is worth a significant amount of money and is made up of valuable pearls.
Lord Peter Wimsey is called in to investigate the theft and begins to investigate the various people who were at the dinner party the night before. He discovers that many of the guests had motives for stealing the necklace, including a young man who was in debt and a woman who had been jilted by Sir Charles.
As Wimsey investigates, he uncovers a web of lies and deceit. He eventually discovers that the necklace was not stolen at all, but had been taken by the owner herself in order to get the insurance money and pay off her debts. Lady Mary had staged the theft and had hidden the necklace in her husband's archaeological dig, where it was eventually found.
Characters
The Necklace of Pearls features several key characters, including:
- Lord Peter Wimsey: The aristocratic detective who is called in to investigate the theft of the necklace.
- Lady Mary: The owner of the necklace who claims it was stolen from her dressing room.
- Sir Charles: Lady Mary's husband and a famous archaeologist.
- Miss Twitterton: Lady Mary's secretary who is suspected of being involved in the theft.
- Mr. Murbles: A detective who is hired by the insurance company to investigate the theft.
Themes
The Necklace of Pearls explores several themes, including greed, deception, and the corrupting influence of money. The story highlights how people can become obsessed with wealth and possessions and how this can lead them to do terrible things. It also shows how lying and deceit can have serious consequences and can ultimately lead to a person's downfall.
Conclusion
The Necklace of Pearls is a classic detective story that showcases Dorothy Sayers' skill at crafting intricate plots and memorable characters. The story is a fascinating exploration of human nature and the corrupting influence of wealth and power. It is a must-read for fans of the detective genre and anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
