Today we hear the sad news that Colin Dexter, author of the Inspector Morse books has died peacefully at home aged 86. A statement from his publisher today stated that “With immense sadness, MacMillan announces the death of Colin Dexter who died peacefully at his home in Oxford this morning.”
The author wrote thirteen Morse novels between 1975 and 1999, which were adapted for television to great success. The show saw John Thaw in the lead role and was one of the most successful and longest running ITV dramas of all time.
Dexter wrote Last Bus to Woodstock (US – UK), the first Morse novel in 1975 while on holiday in Wales and a dozen more books would follow, seeing Morse’s story through to the end across a collection of thirteen best sellers.
The author himself was a quiet, self-deprecating man, avoiding the limelight and preferring to be known through his bestselling works. People who knew the author said he was an inspiration and a joy, one of the sharpest minds and the biggest hearts. Born in 1930 in Stamford, Lincolnshire, Dexter studied classics at Cambridge University. He would go on to teach Latin and Greek between 1954 and 1966 before moving to Oxford to become a full time writer. In 2000, Dexter received an OBE for services to literature.
There’s no doubt the world has lost an author who has brought joy to many through his writing, but thankfully Morse at least remains immortal for as long as the books remain popular.
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