'Fascinated with people . . . and what they do'

 

“I don't know that I am fascinated with crime. I'm fascinated with people and their characters and their obsessions and what they do. And these things lead to crime, but I'm much more fascinated in their minds.” –  Ruth Rendell

 

Born in England on Feb. 17, 1930 Rendell created a brand of crime fiction that explored the psychological background of both criminals and victims.  In the process she became one of the world’s leading crime and mystery writers.

 

Rendell started writing in her late 20s and then just never really stopped until her death in 2015.   During that 60-year career, she wrote hundreds of novels and short stories, 24 featuring a Chief Inspector named Wexford, and some successfully adapted for television. 

 

She also wrote 30 stand-alone mystery and crime novels and 15 under the pseudonym Barbara Vine.  She won virtually every major mystery and crimewriting award and was honored with the title of Baroness by the Queen.  

 

“I have had quite a lot of prizes,” she said, “but I don't think it makes any difference to the ease or difficulty to the writing process.”