''We, the Accused'' is a 1935

crime novel Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...

by the British writer

Ernest Raymond Ernest Raymond (31 December 1888 – 14 May 1974) was a British novelist, best known for his first novel, '' Tell England'' (1922), set in World War I. His next biggest success was ''We, the Accused'' (1935), generally thought to be a reworki ...

. It is inspired by the

Edwardian era The Edwardian era or Edwardian period of British history spanned the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910 and is sometimes extended to the start of the First World War. The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 marked the end of the Victori ...

Doctor Crippen Hawley Harvey Crippen (September 11, 1862 – November 23, 1910), usually known as Dr. Crippen, was an American homeopath, ear and eye specialist and medicine dispenser. He was hanged in Pentonville Prison in London for the murder of his wife Co ...

case. The novel is written to engage the reader's sympathy for the murderous protagonists.

Synopsis

Schoolteacher Paul Presset lives with his domineering wife. When he realises there is a chance of finding happiness with a kinder woman, his thoughts turn increasingly to murder.

Adaptation

In 1980, it was made into a five-part television series of the same name, starring

Ian Holm Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert (12 September 1931 – 19 June 2020) was an English actor who was knighted in 1998 for his contributions to theatre and film. Beginning his career on the British stage as a standout member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, ...

Angela Down Angela Down (born 15 June 1946) is an English actress. She is known for her role in the BBC drama programme ''Take Three Girls'' portraying cockney art student Avril for the first series before being replaced in the second. Career Down played ...

and Iain Cuthbertson.Baskin p.175

References

Bibliography

*Baskin, Ellen. ''Serials on British Television, 1950-1994''. Scolar Press, 1996. * Dalrymple, Roger. ''Crippen: A Crime Sensation in Memory and Modernity''. Boydell & Brewer, 2020. * Hilfer, Tony. ''The Crime Novel: A Deviant Genre''. University of Texas Press, 2014. *Priestman, Martin . ''The Cambridge Companion to Crime Fiction''. Cambridge University Press, 2003. 1935 British novels Novels set in London British crime novels Novels by Ernest Raymond Cassell (publisher) books British novels adapted into television shows {{1930s-crime-novel-stub