Allingham, Margery - Introduction

Allingham, Margery 1904–1966

Allingham, an English mystery writer and social historian, is known primarily as the creator of Albert Campion, the self-effacing sleuth who appears in all her mystery novels except the first. Her mystery novels are generally divided into two periods: the early works, which are characterized by their fast-paced plots with much physical action, and the later works, which have more subtle character development. Allingham's husband, Philip Youngman Carter, completed her last book, Cargo of Eagles, after her death, then went on to write two additional Albert Campion mysteries. (See also Contemporary Authors, Vols. 5-8, rev. ed.; obituary, Vols. 25-28, rev. ed.; Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vol. 4.)