The Man Who Killed Himself

By Julian Symons

Book Overview

When meek, submissive little Arthur Brownjohn decides to murder his dominating wife Clare he consults all the best authorities, reading the stories of famous murderers and trying to avoid their mistakes. But Arthur has been ineffectual all his life, and he is a bungling murderer. When his plans go wrong he seeks the aid of the flamboyant Major Easonby Mellon, who for various reasons needs to disappear from his shady matrimonial agency. What has timid Arthur Brownjohn to do with dashing Easonby Mellon? That is the heart of a story which is comic, fantastic, and full of surprises.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140041435
• ISBN13: 9780140041439
• Release Date: June 1977
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.0" x 5.0"

Customer Reviews

Psychological

A shy introverted man named Arthur Brownjohn has assumed a second identity, to free himself from his overbearing and obnoxious wife. Major Eason Allenby is everything ArthurBrownjohn is not, a bold, slightly shady, skirt chaser. However the complications of living two lives start to pile up, Brownjohn decides to give up the second life, but if only he could get rid of his wife, then his first life wouldn't be so unbearable. But how to commit the perfect murder? The answer is obvious- pin the murder on Allenby, who will then disappear forever. A very entertaining story from Symons, a study in psychology as the author lets us inside Arthur Brownjohn's head; showing us what brings him to create an alternate personality, then drives him to commit a seemingly perfect murder, and then what makes it all fall apart in the end.