Margery Allingham

Margery Allingham was a renowned English author, born in Ealing, London, in 1904. She was born into a family deeply rooted in literature, with both her parents being writers. Her father, Herbert, was an editor and writer of pulp fiction novels, while her mother contributed to women's magazines. Allingham's aunt also ran a magazine. Given this literary background, it is no surprise that Allingham published her first story at the age of eight in her aunt's magazine and continued to write plays and stories throughout her schooling.

Allingham's family moved to Essex, London, soon after her birth, where she attended a local school and later the Perse Girls' School in Cambridge. She returned to London in 1920 to train for drama and speech at the Regent Street Polytechnic, where she met her future husband, Philip Youngman Carter. It was during this time that she developed her writing skills and overcame her childhood stammer.

Allingham's writing career began with the publication of her first novel, Blackkerchief Dick, in 1923. However, she gained significant recognition in 1929 with the publication of her second novel, The Crime at Black Dudley, which introduced the character of Albert Campion, albeit as a minor character. Her American publishers, impressed with Campion, encouraged Allingham to bring him back in future novels, leading to the creation of 17 novels and over 20 short stories featuring Campion. Allingham's writing career was marked by her ability to write thrilling and mysterious stories, making her one of the most respected authors of her time.

Allingham's success was not without its challenges. She faced a battle with breast cancer, which ultimately led to her death in 1966. However, her legacy lived on through her husband, who finished her last novel, A Cargo of Eagles, at her request, and published it in 1968. Allingham's unique storytelling abilities and contributions to the crime fiction genre have cemented her place as one of the most respected and admired authors in English literature.