Prime Detectives in English Literature

There have been many successful series in English
literature; the detective stories of Sherlock Holmes
and Hercule Poirot are among the most popular ones.
Their secret depends partly on the main character.
Does it mean that the protagonist of a successful
series should never change? Is it true in the case of
Holmes and Poirot? What is the importance of their
stationary character, or, on the contrary, that of
their transformation? This work aims at answering
these questions in three main chapters. In the first
one, it is examined whether the two detectives
changed throughout their stories. The second chapter
is about the possible reasons for the changes or the
lack of changes in the two serial protagonists.
Finally, the third chapter contains the answer to the
main question about the importance of changing or
keeping the serial main character in its original
form. Reading this book may help those interested in
these detectives or in the development of literary
series have a clearer picture of how and why serial
characters may change, as well as of the complex
influence of these changes on the reading public, on
the author, and on the literary work.

Autorentext
Cecilia Simonics Turai, Studies: MA in English at Pázmány PéterCatholic University, and BA in French at Eszterházy KárolyCollage. Teacher at Bálint Márton Primary and Secondary School,Törökbálint, Hungary.

Klappentext
There have been many successful series in Englishliterature; the detective stories of Sherlock Holmesand Hercule Poirot are among the most popular ones.Their secret depends partly on the main character.Does it mean that the protagonist of a successfulseries should never change? Is it true in the case ofHolmes and Poirot? What is the importance of theirstationary character, or, on the contrary, that oftheir transformation? This work aims at answeringthese questions in three main chapters. In the firstone, it is examined whether the two detectiveschanged throughout their stories. The second chapteris about the possible reasons for the changes or thelack of changes in the two serial protagonists.Finally, the third chapter contains the answer to themain question about the importance of changing orkeeping the serial main character in its originalform. Reading this book may help those interested inthese detectives or in the development of literaryseries have a clearer picture of how and why serialcharacters may change, as well as of the complexinfluence of these changes on the reading public, onthe author, and on the literary work.