A missing husband. A mysterious murder. A respectable London family with far too much to hide.
Why did Margery Allingham leave her famous detective Albert Campion out of Black Plumes?
In this edition of Chesterton Radio’s Play of the Day — Behind the Curtain, we explore one of Allingham’s most intriguing departures from her celebrated Campion mysteries.
First published in 1940, Black Plumes takes us into the troubled world of the Ivory family, where a fashionable London art gallery becomes the setting for disappearance, suspicion, and murder.
We’ll explore Allingham’s distinctive place among the great Golden Age mystery writers, her remarkable gift for characterization, and why this story works so well as a BBC Saturday Night Theatre radio drama.
No spoilers — just an invitation to discover a wonderful mystery.
LISTEN TO THE COMPLETE RADIO PLAY
Black Plumes — BBC Saturday Night Theatre (approximately 85 minutes)
MORE MARGERY ALLINGHAM
Explore our Chesterton Radio feature, Margery Allingham: The Strange World of Albert Campion:
ABOUT PLAY OF THE DAY
Every day, Chesterton Radio opens its archives to rediscover great radio plays, forgotten masterpieces, literary mysteries, and extraordinary performances from the golden age of radio theatre.
Some selections also feature a short Behind the Curtain companion exploring the authors, stories, and history behind the productions.
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