Lord Peter Views the Body · Chapter
The Fascinating Problem of Uncle Meleager’s Will explained
Lord Peter Wimsey is recruited by his sister Mary to help Hannah Marryat find the missing will of her eccentric uncle, Meleager Finch, who left a fortune to the Primrose League unless a later will can be discovered.
What happens
Lord Peter Wimsey is recruited by his sister Mary to help Hannah Marryat find the missing will of her eccentric uncle, Meleager Finch, who left a fortune to the Primrose League unless a later will can be discovered. The search leads to a pile of crossword puzzles, which may hold the key to the hidden document.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Identity
Uncle Meleager's hidden will and crossword clues create a puzzle of deception and hidden meaning.
Wit and Intellect
Lord Peter uses his sharp intellect to decode the crossword puzzles and uncover the will's location.
Wealth and Greed
The inheritance of £250,000 drives the conflict between Hannah's socialist ideals and her need for money.
Characters to notice
- Lord Peter Wimsey
Agrees to help Hannah Marryat find her uncle's will, deduces clues from crossword puzzles.
- Lady Mary
Recruits Lord Peter to assist Hannah Marryat and joins in the search for the will.
- Hannah Marryat
The socialist niece seeking her uncle's hidden will to secure funds for her family.
- Bunter
Assists Lord Peter with crossword clues and manages household tasks.
- Uncle Meleager
Deceased eccentric who hid his will and enjoyed crossword puzzles.
Key passages
“old man left two wills, and, if she can’t find the latest one, they’ll prove the first one. He explained that to her carefully.”
The deceased uncle created two wills; if the newer one is not found, the older will be executed.
Mary explains the urgency of finding the latest will to Lord Peter.
“He wrote a funny sort of letter, which we can’t make head or tail of. Come to the club tonight and she’ll show it to you.”
Uncle Meleager left a cryptic letter that no one can decipher, and Mary invites Peter to examine it.
Mary describes the puzzling letter from Uncle Meleager.
“What happened to Uncle Meleager’s crosswords?”
Lord Peter asks about the crossword puzzles Uncle Meleager created.
Peter suspects the crosswords may contain clues to the will.