Inspector Gabriel Hanaud is a fictional French detective depicted in a series of five novels and one novella by the British writer A. E. W. Mason. He has been described as the "first major fiction police detective of the Twentieth Century".

Background

Hanaud was modelled on two real-life heads of the

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, Monsieur Macé and Monsieur Goron, whose respective memoirs Mason had studied.

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was also an inspiration. Mason wanted Hanaud to be a professional detective who was as physically unlike

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as possible so, in contrast to the slender Holmes, Hanaud became stout and broad-shouldered. He was to be a genial and friendly soul ready, "as the French detective does", to trust his flair or intuition and to take the risk of acting upon it. In the stories, Hanaud often relies on

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methods to solve cases. He is generally assisted by his friend, the fastidious Julius Ricardo, a former

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financier. Hanaud made his first appearance in the 1910 novel '' At the Villa Rose'' set in the south of France. He appeared in a further four novels and a novella. His last appearance was in the 1946 novel '' The House in Lordship Lane''. Hanaud has been portrayed on screen several times – with adaptations of '' At the Villa Rose'' and '' The House of the Arrow''. He has been seen as one of a number of influences on the creation of

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictiona ...

's Belgian detective

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Hanaud works

* '' At the Villa Rose'' (1910) * '' The Affair at the Semiramis Hotel'' (1917) (novella) * '' The House of the Arrow'' (1924) * '' The Prisoner in the Opal'' (1928) * '' They Wouldn't Be Chessmen'' (1934) * ''"The Ginger King"'' (1940) (Short Story) * '' The House in Lordship Lane'' (1946) * ''Inspector Hanaud's Investigations'' (1931) (omnibus volume of first three novels)

Film adaptations

* '' At the Villa Rose'' (1920) starring

Teddy Arundell Teddy Arundell (1873 in Devon – 5 November 1922, in London) was a British film actor of the silent era. Selected filmography * ''The Lyons Mail'' (1916) * ''Justice'' (1917) * ''Nelson'' (1918) * '' The Swindler'' (1918) * ''The Splendid Cowar ...

* '' At the Villa Rose'' (1930) starring

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* ''Le mystère de la villa rose'' 'The Mystery of the Villa Rose''(1930) * '' The House of the Arrow'' (1930) starring

Dennis Neilson-Terry Dennis Neilson-Terry (21 October 1895 – 14 July 1932) was a British actor, theatre manager and producer, who starred in a number of films between 1917 and 1932. He was the son of the actor Fred Terry and his wife, the actress Julia Neilson ...

* ''

La Maison de la Fléche ''La Maison de la Fléche'' is a 1930 French mystery film directed by Henri Fescourt, starring Alice Field, Léon Mathot and Gaston Dupray. The film was based on the 1924 novel '' The House of the Arrow'' by A.E.W. Mason, and was made at Twi ...

'' 'The House of the Arrow''(1930) * '' At the Villa Rose'' (1940) starring

Kenneth Kent Kenneth Kent (20 April 1892 – 17 November 1963) was an English actor. He is most notable for his roles as Inspector Hanaud in the film '' At the Villa Rose'' (1940) and as Emperor Napoleon in the film ''Idol of Paris'' (1948). Partial filmo ...

* '' The House of the Arrow'' (1940) starring Kenneth Kent * '' The House of the Arrow'' (1953) starring

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References

Bibliography

* * Bargainnier, Earl F. ''Twelve Englishmen of mystery''. Bowling Green University Popular Press, 1984. * Pitts, Michael R. ''Famous Movie Detectives III''. Scarecrow Press, 2004 * Queen, Ellery ''Queen's Quorum: a History of the Detective-Crime Short Story''. New York, 1969. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hanaud, Inspector Fictional police detectives Fictional French people

Inspector Hanaud Inspector Gabriel Hanaud is a fictional French detective depicted in a series of five novels and one novella by the British writer A. E. W. Mason. He has been described as the "first major fiction police detective of the Twentieth Century". B ...

Literary characters introduced in 1910 Characters in British novels of the 20th century Fictional male detectives