The book’s format itself is like one of the forms of bell ringing. The notes for the years of his life had to be guessed. Thus, “The Nine Tailors” are rung for this man who ended up dead in their village. Men receive 9 rings, followed by a note for each year of their life. These are rung in groups of three: there are 6 rings for women, followed by a note for each year of their life. Tailor Paul is the deep, sonorous bell that tolls the passing of souls in the village. Paul’s, for it is a commitment that the village perform such service for any strangers who die unclaimed in their midst. One that has been rendered unrecognizable and with no obvious means of death as all injuries to the body were done post-mortem. I was captivated.Īnd yes, there is a body. In his discussions with the rector, we learn about Stedmans, Grandsire Triples, and other mathematical “changes” that have been developed over the years. Lord Peter had experience change-ringing in his own college years and when one of the eight ringers was also laid low with the flu, Lord Peter is asked to help.

Lord Peter Wimsey and “his man”, Bunter, end up in a ditch about a mile from the village and seek help at the rectory. Unfortunately, influenza has visited the village and laid low so many of the ringers. It will take 9 hours to accomplish and they planned to have 12 ringers so some could fill in while others took a break. Paul’s is attempting to ring 15,840 Kent Treble Bob Majors to match an 1868 feat accomplished in a college church with only 8 men to ring the 8 bells.

In our story, it is New Year’s Eve and Fenchurch St. Campanology is the study of bells, of change-ringing specifically, which adheres to mathematically precise ways in which the bells are rung. The word itself is mysterious, and so is its subject. Written in 1934, this 11th novel in the Lord Peter Wimsey series shines a light on another topic that I knew nothing at all about.

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers