ORIENTALIST DEPICTIONS IN ENGLISH DETECTIVE AND CRIME FICTION OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

This thesis explores the use of Orientalist depictions in early 20th-century English detective and crime fiction, focusing on prominent works by authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, and Sax Rohmer. The genre’s fascination with the "exotic East" often reflected colonial anxieties and racial stereotypes. Through analysis of key texts, this article illustrates how Orientalist themes were utilized to create villains, exotic settings, and mysterious crimes, reinforcing Western notions of superiority over Eastern cultures. Despite being presented as mere narrative devices, these representations played a significant role in shaping Western perceptions of the East during the colonial era.