--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The detective story, as created by Poe…" description: "\"“The detective story, as created by Poe, is something as specialised and as intellectual as a chess problem, whereas the best English detective fiction..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/t-s-eliot-2-1761_detection_the-detective-story-as-created-by-poe-is_1679578.jpg" --- # The detective story, as created by Poe, is something as… ![“The detective story, as created by Poe, is something as specialised and as intellectual as a chess problem, whereas the best English detective fiction has relied less on the beauty of the mathematical problem and much more on the intangible human element. [...] In The Moonstone the mystery is…” quote by T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/t-s-eliot-2-1761_detection_the-detective-story-as-created-by-poe-is_1679578.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/t-s-eliot-2-1761_detection_the-detective-story-as-created-by-poe-is_1679578.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7b/t-s-eliot-2-1761_detection_the-detective-story-as-created-by-poe-is_1679578.jpg) > ““The detective story, as created by Poe, is something as specialised and as intellectual as a chess problem, whereas the best English detective fiction has relied less on the beauty of the mathematical problem and much more on the intangible human element. \[...\] In The Moonstone the mystery is finally solved, not altogether by human ingenuity, but largely by accident. Since Collins, the best heroes of English detective fiction have been, like Sergeant Cuff, fallible.”” [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. English detective fiction shifted from logical puzzles to emphasizing human flaws and chance, making stories more relatable. **In simple terms:** Detective stories now focus on human error and luck. Key Takeaway Appreciate the role of imperfection in narratives. Themes literature detective fiction humanism Mood analytical contemplative Type literary criticism inspirational When to use this quote - reading groups - creative writing - film adaptations - teaching literature Key Concepts narrative structure chance vs. logic Questions to Reflect On - Why do readers enjoy imperfect heroes? - How does chance affect storytelling? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on human error can reduce intellectual challenge for some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Detection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detection/) [Detective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective/) [Detective fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective-fiction/) [Detective stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective-stories/) [Detective Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detective-story/) [Detectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/detectives/) [English Detective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/english-detective-942711/) [Moonstone Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonstone-mystery-942712/) [Mysteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysteries/) ## Related quotes > [I've always had a great fondness for English detective fiction such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazuo-ishiguro/i-ve-always-had-a-great-fondness-for-english-detective-fiction-such/) [Kazuo Ishiguro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kazuo-ishiguro/) > [The detective story itself is in a dilemma. 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