Colin Dexter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Colin Dexter
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| Born | Norman Colin Dexter 29 September 1930 Stamford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | 21 March 2017 (aged 86) Oxford, England |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Alma mater | Christ's College, Cambridge |
| Genre | Crime fiction |
| Notable works | Inspector Morse series (1975–1999) |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Cooper
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 2 |
Norman Colin Dexter (born September 29, 1930 – died March 21, 2017) was an English writer. He was famous for his detective novels featuring Inspector Morse. These books were written between 1975 and 1999.
The Inspector Morse books were turned into a very popular ITV television series. This show ran from 1987 to 2000. Later, two more TV series were made based on his characters. Lewis followed Morse's assistant from 2006 to 2015. Endeavour was a prequel, showing a younger Morse, from 2012 to 2023.
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Early Life and Education
Colin Dexter was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. His parents were Alfred and Dorothy Dexter. His father ran a small garage and taxi business.
Colin went to St John's Infants School and Bluecoat Junior School. He earned a scholarship to Stamford School. After school, he served in the Royal Corps of Signals.
He then studied Classics at Christ's College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1953 and later earned a master's degree.
Teaching Career
In 1954, Dexter started teaching Classics. His first job was at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester. He also taught at Loughborough Grammar School and Corby Grammar School.
In 1966, Colin Dexter had to stop teaching. This was because he started to lose his hearing. He then took a job at the University of Oxford. He worked there until he retired in 1988.
Writing Detective Stories
Colin Dexter began writing mystery novels in 1972. He got the idea during a family holiday. His first detective book, Last Bus to Woodstock, came out in 1975.
This book introduced his famous character, Inspector Morse. Morse was a detective who loved cryptic crosswords, English literature, traditional beer, and music by Richard Wagner. These hobbies were also things Colin Dexter enjoyed. Dexter's stories were known for their clever puzzles and false clues.
The Inspector Morse TV series made his books even more popular. There were 33 episodes, each two hours long. John Thaw played Inspector Morse, and Kevin Whately played his assistant, Sergeant Robert Lewis. Colin Dexter often made a short, uncredited appearance in almost every episode, like a fun hidden surprise.
After Inspector Morse ended, the character of Sergeant Lewis got his own show. Lewis ran for 33 episodes. Later, a show called Endeavour explored Morse's early career. Colin Dexter was a consultant for both Lewis and Endeavour. He also made cameo appearances in these shows.
The character Morse was named after Colin Dexter's friend, Sir Jeremy Morse. Jeremy Morse also loved crosswords. The music for the TV series even used a special tune based on the Morse code for Morse's name.
Awards and Recognition
Colin Dexter won many awards for his crime novels. He received several Crime Writers' Association awards:
- Two Silver Daggers for Service of All the Dead (1979) and The Dead of Jericho (1981).
- Two Gold Daggers for The Wench is Dead (1989) and The Way Through the Woods (1992).
- A special Cartier Diamond Dagger in 1997 for his lifetime achievements in writing.
In 1996, he won a Macavity Award for his short story "Evans Tries an O-Level". He was also invited to join the exclusive Detection Club in 1980.
In 2000, Colin Dexter was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his great contributions to literature. In 2001, he was given the Freedom of the City of Oxford. The University of Lincoln also gave him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2011.
Family Life
Colin Dexter married Dorothy Cooper in 1956. They had two children, a daughter named Sally and a son named Jeremy.
Death
Colin Dexter passed away peacefully at his home in Oxford on March 21, 2017. He was 86 years old.
See also
- Diogenes Small
- In Spanish: Colin Dexter para niños
