Editing Detective fiction (section)

== By country ==

=== China ===
In 1896, a significant literary phenomenon unfolded in China with the rapid translation and serialization of four Sherlock Holmes stories in Shiwu bao (The Progress), a periodical established by the prominent reformist Liang Qichao. These translations, undertaken by Zhang Kunde, marked an early introduction of Western detective fiction to Chinese readers, reflecting the broader intellectual currents of the time. The first of these stories, The Naval Treaty, was published in three installments between August and September 1896. Notably, the story was given a culturally adapted title, The English Bao and the Case of the Stolen Secret Treaty (Ying Bao tankan daomi yuean), which reimagined Sherlock Holmes as a "pure magistrate," a figure deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. This transformation not only localized the character for Chinese audiences but also signaled the translators' intent to align the narrative with indigenous cultural and ideological frameworks.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|title=Storia del Giallo in Cina. Dai casi giudiziari al romanzo di crimine.|last=Benedetti|first=Lavinia|publisher=Aracne Press|year=2017|isbn=978-88-255-0687-7}}</ref>

Following The Naval Treaty, other Sherlock Holmes stories were similarly translated and serialized. The Crooked Man appeared between October and November 1896, A Case of Identity was published from March to April 1897, and The Final Problem was serialized between April and May of the same year. These translations were part of a broader effort to introduce Western literary works to China, often with a focus on themes that resonated with the reformist agenda of the period. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes paved the way for the translation of other seminal works of Western detective fiction. Among these were L’affaire Lerouge by Émile Gaboriau (1832–1873), published in 1903, John Thorndyke's Cases by Richard Austin Freeman (1862–1943), which appeared in 1911, and Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar by Maurice Leblanc (1864–1941), translated in 1914. These works collectively contributed to the growing interest in detective fiction as a genre that could both entertain and provoke critical reflection on societal issues<ref name=":7"/>..

Among the translators of this era, Zhou Guisheng (1863–1926) stands out as a pivotal figure. Specializing in detective and science fiction, Zhou partially translated the French novel Margot la Balafrée by Fortuné du Boisgobey (1821–1891). In 1906, he founded the first Chinese Translators' Association (Yishu jiaotong gonghui) in Shanghai, an institution that played a crucial role in fostering literary exchange. Zhou's translation of Margot la Balafrée was notable for its extensive annotations and commentaries, which were appended to most chapters. These commentaries, following a tradition cherished by Chinese literati, sought to elucidate the moral and social implications of the narrative. However, unlike earlier practices that emphasized Confucian virtues, Zhou's commentaries critiqued the contemporary political system, often employing biting irony to mock the "antiquated" customs of imperial China. It is also noteworthy that among the commentators on Zhou's translation was Wu Jianren (1866–1910), better known by his pseudonym Wu Woyao, a celebrated writer of the time. Wu's involvement underscores the collaborative nature of this intellectual endeavor and highlights the role of detective fiction as a medium for social and political critique. Through their translations and commentaries, figures like Zhou Guisheng and Wu Jianren not only introduced Chinese readers to Western literary traditions but also used these works as a lens to examine and challenge the pressing issues of their own society.<ref name=":7"/>

Through China's Golden Age of [[crime fiction]] (1900–1949), translations of Western classics, and native Chinese detective fictions<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|title=Chinese Justice, the Fiction: Law and Literature in Modern China|last=Kinkley|first=Jeffrey C.|publisher=Stanford University Press|year=2000|isbn=978-0804734431}}</ref> circulated within the country.

[[Cheng Xiaoqing]] had first encountered Sir [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s highly popular stories as an adolescent. In the ensuing years, he played a major role in rendering them first into classical and later into [[vernacular Chinese]]. Cheng Xiaoqing, who had been self-taught in English from the age of 16, collaborated with a group of friends to translate the complete series of Sherlock Holmes stories into Chinese. Published in 1916 under the title Fuermosi tan’an (The Investigative Cases of Sherlock Holmes) by the Zhonghua shuju publishing house, this translation marked a significant milestone in the introduction of Western detective fiction to Chinese readers.<ref name=":7"/>

Cheng Xiaoqing's translated works from Conan Doyle introduced China to a new type of narrative style. Western detective fiction that was translated often emphasized “individuality, equality, and the importance of knowledge”,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ping |first=Zhang |date=2005-10-13 |title=Sherlock Holmes in China |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09076760508668979 |journal=Perspectives |volume=13 |issue=2 |pages=106–114 |doi=10.1080/09076760508668979 |s2cid=144094471 |issn=0907-676X}}</ref> appealing to China that it was the time for opening their eyes to the rest of the world.

This style began China's interest in popular [[crime fiction]], and is what drove Cheng Xiaoqing to write his own [[crime fiction]] novel, ''Sherlock in Shanghai''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Sherlock in Shanghai : stories of crime and detection|last1=Cheng|first1=Xiaoqing|date=2007|publisher=University of Hawai'i Press|translator-last=Wong|translator-first=Timothy C.|isbn=978-0824864286|location=Honolulu|oclc=256676525}}</ref> In the late 1910s, Cheng began writing detective fiction inspired by Conan Doyle's style, with Bao as the Watson-like narrator; a rare instance of such a direct appropriation from foreign fiction.<ref name=":3" /> Famed as the “Oriental Sherlock Holmes”,<ref name=":6" /> the duo Huo Sang and Bao Lang become counterparts to [[Arthur Conan Doyle|Doyle]]'s [[Sherlock Holmes]] and [[Dr. Watson]] characters.

His 1914 short story Dengguang renying (灯光人影), published in the journal Xinwen bao (新闻报), is often credited as the first true Chinese detective story. This work laid the foundation for a series of stories centered on the character Huo Sang, a detective whose brilliance and methods bore a striking resemblance to those of Sherlock Holmes. Indeed, the parallels between the two detectives are unmistakable: not only do their names share the same initials, but both characters are defined by their extraordinary intellect, their reliance on abductive reasoning, and their unwavering skepticism toward seemingly supernatural phenomena. Huo Sang, much like his Western counterpart, became a cultural icon, embodying the rational, analytical spirit of the modern detective. Cheng Xiaoqing's creation of Huo Sang not only signaled the birth of a distinctly Chinese detective genre but also reflected the broader intellectual currents of the time, as Chinese writers sought to adapt Western literary forms to address local concerns and sensibilities.<ref name=":7"/>

=== Iran ===
"Sadiq Mamquli, The Sherlock Holmes of Iran, The Sherriff of Isfahan" is the first major detective fiction in [[Persian literature|Persian]], written by Kazim Musta'an al-Sultan (Houshi Daryan). It was first published in 1925. There was no biographical account of the author of the book for over 70 years until being identified after the book was reprinted in 2017.<ref>Ganjavi, Mahdi. sarnakhhayi tazi az khaliq avalin roman polisi tarikh adabiayat farsi, ibna, 2019</ref>

=== Japan ===
[[Edogawa Rampo]] is the first major Japanese modern mystery writer and the founder of the [[Mystery Writers of Japan|Detective Story Club in Japan]].<ref>{{cite web|date=15 April 2021|title=Japan's first detective story was published in 1889|url=https://www.redcircleauthors.com/factbook/japans-first-detective-story-was-published-in-1889/|url-status=live|website=Red Circle Authors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811105520/https://www.redcircleauthors.com/factbook/japans-first-detective-story-was-published-in-1889/ |archive-date=2020-08-11 }}</ref> Rampo was an admirer of western mystery writers. He gained his fame in the early 1920s, when he began to bring to the genre many bizarre, erotic and even fantastic elements. This is partly because of the social tension before [[World War II]].<ref name=":5">{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|1304283380}} |last1=Manji |first1=Gonda |date=1 April 1993 |title=Crime Fiction with a Social Consciousness |journal=Japan Quarterly |volume=40 |issue=2 |page=157 }}</ref> In 1957, [[Seichō Matsumoto|Seicho Matsumoto]] received the [[Mystery Writers of Japan Award]] for his short story ''The Face'' (''顔'' ''kao''). ''The Face'' and Matsumoto's subsequent works began the "social school" (社会派 ''shakai ha'') within the genre, which emphasized [[social realism]], described crimes in an ordinary setting and sets motives within a wider context of social injustice and political corruption.<ref name=":5" /> Since the 1980s, a "[[Golden Age of Detective Fiction#The "new traditionalist" movement in Japanese mystery writing|new orthodox school]]" (新本格派 ''shin honkaku ha'') has surfaced. It demands restoration of the classic rules of detective fiction and the use of more self-reflective elements. Famous authors of this movement include [[Soji Shimada]], [[Yukito Ayatsuji]], [[Rintaro Norizuki]], [[Alice Arisugawa]], [[Kaoru Kitamura]] and [[Taku Ashibe]].

=== India ===

====Byomkesh Bakshi (Character)====
{{Main articles|Byomkesh Bakshi}}
Created by famous [[Bengali language|Bengali]] novelist [[Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay]], '''Byomkesh''' is one of the most iconic characters in Indian detective fiction. First appearing in the story Pother Kanta in 1932, Byomkesh, who refers to himself as a "truth-seeker" or Satyanweshi, is known for his acute observational skills and logical reasoning abilities. His adventures typically unfold against the backdrop of [[Calcutta]], tackling a range of crimes, from intricate murder mysteries to drug trafficking, reflecting societal issues of the time. Accompanied by his loyal friend and chronicler, Ajit Kumar Banerjee, the stories are written in a blend of formal and colloquial Bengali, making them accessible to a wide audience. The character's legacy continues to influence contemporary detective fiction in India, highlighting the genre's evolution and its cultural significance.<ref name= dey>{{Cite book |last=Dey |first=Anindita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hYBTEAAAQBAJ |title=Sherlock Holmes, Byomkesh Bakshi, and Feluda: Negotiating the Center and the Periphery |date=2021-12-27 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4985-1211-4 |language=en}}</ref>

====Feluda (Character)====

{{Main articles|Feluda}}
'''Feluda''', created by renowned filmmaker and author [[Satyajit Ray]], is a celebrated Bengali detective character who first appeared in the 1965 story ''Feludar Goyendagiri''. His full name is Pradosh Chandra Mitra, and he is often referred to affectionately as ''Feluda''. Feluda is characterized by his keen observational skills, sharp intellect, and a flair for deduction, which he employs to solve intricate mysteries. Feluda is often accompanied by his cousin, who is also his assistant, Tapesh Ranjan Mitter (affectionately called Topshe), who serves as the narrator of the stories and his friend ''Jatayu''. , The trio embarks on various adventures that blend mystery with elements of [[Bengali culture]] and tradition. The stories often include a touch of humor, engaging dialogues, and philosophical musings, making them appealing to a wide audience. Ray's Feluda series not only captivated readers in literary form but also inspired numerous adaptations in film and television, showcasing Ray's cinematic genius. Feluda's impact on the genre is significant, as he represents a sophisticated blend of intellect and charm, setting a high standard for detective fiction in India.<ref name= dey />

====Other bengali detectives====

[[Hemendra Kumar Roy]] was an Indian [[Bengali language|Bengali]] writer noted for his contribution to the early development of the genre with his '[[Jayanta-Manik]]' and adventurist '[[Bimal-Kumar]]' stories, dealing with the exploits of Jayanta, his assistant Manik, and police inspector Sunderbabu.

'''[[Mitin Masi]]''' is a fictional Bengali female detective character created by [[Suchitra Bhattacharya]].

'''[[Colonel Niladri Sarkar]]''' is a [[Fictional detectives|fictional detective]] character created by [[Bengali language|Bengali]] novelist [[Syed Mustafa Siraj]].

====Malayalam====
[[Kottayam Pushpanath]], a prolific writer,<ref name="newindian">{{cite web|title=Malayalam detective fiction writer Kottayam Pushpanath passes away|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/may/02/malayalam-detective-fiction-writer-kottayam-pushpanath-passes-away-1809160.html|website=[[New Indian Express]]|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref> brought to life a vivid array of characters and mysteries. Pushpanath practiced teaching history for several years before becoming a full time writer.<ref name="newindian" /> It was in the last 1960s that he made his literary debut with ''Chuvanna Manushyan''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detective novelist Kottayam Pushpanath passes away|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kottayam-pushpanath-1.2780833|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref> Pushpanath authored more than 350 detective novels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kottayam Pushpanath is dead|website=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kottayam-pushpanath-is-dead/article23752830.ece|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720133435/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kottayam-pushpanath-is-dead/article23752830.ece|archivedate=July 20, 2020|date=May 2, 2018|access-date=September 26, 2023}}</ref>

=== Pakistan ===
[[Ibn-e-Safi]] is the most popular [[Urdu|Urdo]] detective fiction writer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Alam|first=Mahtab|title=Remembering Ibn-e-Safi, Whose Books Are Bestsellers 40 Years After His Death|url=https://thewire.in/books/ibn-e-safi-urdu-writer-bestsellers|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]|date=26 July 2020|accessdate=10 January 2022|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110222758/https://thewire.in/books/ibn-e-safi-urdu-writer-bestsellers|url-status=live}}</ref> He started writing his famous [[Jasoosi Dunya]] Series [[Spy fiction|spy stories]] in 1952 with Col. Fareedi & Captain. Hameed as main characters.
In 1955 he started writing [[Imran series|Imran Series]] spy novels with Ali Imran as X2 the chief of secret service and his companions.
After his death many other writers accepted Ali Imran character and wrote spy novels.

Another popular spy novel writer was [[Ishtiaq Ahmad (fiction writer)|Ishtiaq Ahmad]] who wrote Inspector Jamsheed, Inspector Kamran Mirza and Shooki brother's series of spy novels.

===Russia===
Stories about robbers and detectives were very popular in Russia since old times. A famous hero in the eighteenth century was Ivan Osipov (1718–after 1756), nicknamed Ivan Kain. Other examples of early Russian detective stories include: "Bitter Fate" (1789) by M. D. Chulkov (1743–1792),<ref>"Откуда есть пошёл детектив русский...", Константин Ситников, from "Наука и жизнь", 2011, № 6</ref> "The Finger Ring" (1831) by [[Yevgeny Baratynsky]], "The White Ghost" (1834) by [[Mikhail Zagoskin]], ''[[Crime and Punishment]]'' (1866) and ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'' (1880) by [[Fyodor Dostoevsky]].<ref>"Поэтика детектива", Пётр Моисеев, Moscow: Высшая школа экономики, 2017</ref> Detective fiction in modern [[Russian literature]] with clear detective plots started with ''[[The Garin Death Ray]]'' (1926–1927) and ''The Black Gold'' (1931) by [[Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy]], ''Mess-Mend'' by [[Marietta Shaginyan]], ''The Investigator's Notes'' by [[Lev Sheinin]].<ref>"Советский приключенческий детектив первой половины XX века", Булычева Вера Павловна, from "Гуманитарные, социально-экономические и общественные науки", 2014, p. 2</ref> [[Boris Akunin]] is a famous Russian writer of historical detective fiction in modern-day Russia.

===United States===
In the United States, detective fiction emerged in the 1920s, and flourished with stories in pulp magazines. The genre gained prominence in later decades, as the detective character was refined, and became familiar through movies. Detective fiction was also a way for authors to bring stories about various subcultures to mainstream audiences. One scholar wrote about the detective novels of [[Tony Hillerman]], set among the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] population around [[New Mexico]], "many American readers have probably gotten more insight into traditional [[Navajo people|Navajo]] culture from his detective stories than from any other recent books."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=UIrr2lOnkp8C&pg=PA8 "Canonization, Modern Literature, and the Detective Story], John G. Cawelti, from ''Theory and practice of classic detective fiction'', Jerome Delamater, etc., Hofstra University, 1997, p. 8</ref> Other notable writers who have explored regional and ethnic communities in their detective novels are [[Harry Kemelman]], whose [[Rabbi Small]] series were set in the [[Conservative Jewish]] community of [[Massachusetts]]; [[Walter Mosley]], whose [[Easy Rawlins]] books are set in the [[African American]] community of 1950s [[Los Angeles]]; and [[Sara Paretsky]], whose [[V. I. Warshawski]] books have explored the various subcultures of [[Chicago]].