The Hidden Assassins

by: Robert Wilson

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Colin Dexter

Norman Colin Dexter was born on September 29, 1930 in Stamford, England. Author of the famous Inspector Morse series, Mr. Dexter wrote his final Morse novel 'The Remorseful Day' when he was about 68 years old. It was published in 1999. Colin Dexter had by that time written thirteen Inspector Morse novels, and along with his own need for a release from deadlines, he figured it was about time to let Morse die.

Mr. Dexter became a friend of John Thaw, the actor who played Morse on the TV series. Mr. Thaw died shortly after Colin Dexter wrote his final Morse book.

Colin Dexter was born of parents with little education, and left school at age 12. It's therefore all the more surprising that Mr. Dexter won a scholarship to the local grammar school, going on to study classics at Cambridge. Colin Dexter graduated from Cambridge in 1953, but continued and got himself a Masters there in 1958.

Colin Dexter taught school in the Midlands for 13 years, but was then forced to retire from teaching due to increasing deafness. Mr. Dexter eventually proceeded to a position on the Oxford Examining Board.

During a family vacation in Wales, when the weather was horrible and there was nothing else to do, Colin Dexter picked up two detective novels and read them. Those books - we're not told which ones they were! - made Mr. Dexter think he could do better, and he did. The result was his first Inspector Morse novel 'Last Bus to Woodstock,' published in 1975. Since then, not only has his character appeared in books, but in numerous short stories as well.

The character Morse has won several BAFTA awards, and Mr. Dexter himself has been the recipient of a number of Crime Writers Association awards. In addition, Colin Dexter was awarded an OBE in 2000 for his services to literature.

Since 1966 Colin Dexter has lived in Oxford with his wife, Dorothy. Mr. Dexter has two children. Like his fictional creation Inspector Morse, Mr. Dexter loves his beer - and he also likes classical music, cricket and crosswords. Actually, Colin Dexter is a former national crossword champion!

Also like Morse, Colin Dexter loves Wagner, A.E. Houseman, Vermeer, and Charles Dickens - plus he's a diabetic. One thing he DOESN'T share with his character is Morse' meaness. Mr. Dexter is always grateful to people and shows it - there's always a 'Thank you' from this delightful man.

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