Luís Miguel Queirós on Crime Fiction in Portugal and the Cover Art of Roberto Araújo

The Internet can yield wonderful surprises sometimes – such as last week, when I received an email from Luís Miguel Queirós regarding a previous post I had written on Craig Rice. A journalist from Portugal, Miguel is not only an avid fan of Craig Rice (and crime fiction in general), but he also helped republish Rice’s Home Sweet Homicide and many other books with Público. According to Miguel, “Público, the newspaper where I work, published the series in 2005. It had 20 titles and they were sold with the newspaper (one per week, from June 2005 till November 2005).”

He also sent me a wonderful gift: a beautiful scanned image of a vintage Portuguese paperback edition of Rice’s Home Sweet Homicide (Cilada Triangular), originally published in 1954 by Édipo. When I asked for permission to report on my blog, he not only consented but also sent me five other vintage paperback scans all from the same series and which feature artwork by Roberto Araújo, whose modernist-inspired covers are among the most striking and gorgeous I’ve ever seen. I wish I owned a few of these in my collection.

Miguel was nice enough to share the history Araújo and O Escaravelho de Ouro, the series of books by Édipo from which these came. He also provided a detailed bibliography of the entire series, including publication date, translator, and cover artist.

Before I let Miguel take over, I just wanted to say a big “Thank you” for sharing all of this precious information with us – it was very generous of you.

So here’s Miguel:

Craig Rice’s Home Sweet Homicide was published in 1954 in Lisbon as Cilada Triangular. (Cilada Triangular, in Portuguese, means something like Triangular Trap.) The publishing house was Édipo. It is Nr. 34 of a collection named O Escaravelho de Ouro (the Portuguese translation of Poe’s Gold-Bug). The book was translated by José Cabral. The cover is by Roberto Araújo (1911-1969). His full name was Roberto Araújo Pereira and he was a painter and designer. He is totally forgotten in Portugal (and he was never known elsewhere). It’s hard to find any information about him, but I know that he worked for some Portuguese classic movies as set decorator, and he also did some stained-glass windows for churches.

The collection O Escaravelho de Ouro consisted of 40 books published between 1950 and 1955. Roberto Araújo did 17 covers for the collection. The collection is very hard to find in Portugal, and I think I must be one of the few lucky guys to have a complete set, although one of the books (Craig Rice’s Innocent Bystander/Testemunha Inocente) has lost its cover, which irritates me a lot.

-- Luís Miguel Queirós

***********************
Bibliography and scans courtesy of Luís Miguel Queirós

O ESCARAVELHO DE OURO

Information listed as follows:
AUTHOR'S PUBLISHED NAME
Author's Full Name
Title in original language
Title in Portuguese
Portuguese Publication Info
Translator
Cover Artist
Series Number

STEEMAN, Stanislas-André
Stanislas-André Steeman
Belgium, 1908-1970
Três Igual a Um
L’Assassin Habite au 21, 1939
Édipo, 1950
Trans: Adolfo Casais Monteiro (1908-1972)
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 1

CROFTS, Freeman Wills
Freeman Wills Crofts
Ireland, 1879-1957
Homem ao Mar
Man Overboard!, 1936
Édipo, 1950
Trans: Paulo Santa Rita
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 2

PRIOLY, Lucien
Lucien Prioly
France, 1908
Jogo Duplo
Le Colonel Avait Perdu, 1949
Édipo, 1950
Trans: Adolfo Casais Monteiro (1908-1972)
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 3

LATIMER, Jonathan
Jonathan Wyatt Latimer
U.S.A., 1906-1983
Rapto na Morgue
The Lady in the Morgue, 1936
Édipo, 1950
Trans: Vaz d’Ascensão
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 4

STARNES, Richard
Richard Starnes
U.S.A., 1908
Missão Trágica
And When She Was Bad She Was Murdered, 1950
Édipo, 1950
Trans: Pedro de Figueiredo
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 5

DICKSON, Carter
John Dickson Carr
U.S.A., 1906-1977
Aviso Sinistro
Lord of the Sorcerers, 1946
Édipo, 1950
Trans: M. da Motta Cardoso
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 6

BLACKMON, Anita
Anita Blackmon Smith
U.S.A., 1893-1965
Rito Mortal
The Riddle of the Dead Cats, 1939
Édipo, 1950
Trans: Adolfo Casais Monteiro
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 7

MASLOWSKI, Igor B.
Igor B. Maslowski
France [b. Russia], 1914-1999
Pânico no Júri
Le Jury Avait Soif, 1950
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Roberto Manuel
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 8

COXE, George Harmon
George Harmon Coxe
U.S.A., 1901-1984
Prova Formal
Eye Witness, 1950
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Elsa de Carvel
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 9

GARDNER, Erle Stanley
Erle Stanley Gardner
U.S.A., 1889-1970
O Fio da Meada
The Clue of the Forgotten Murder, 1935 [1]
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Cansado Gonçalves
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 10
[1] In the Portuguese edition the book is signed Erle Stanley Gardner, but Gardner signed it with the pseudonym Carleton Kendrake in the first American edition.

CHANDLER, Raymond
Raymond Thornton Chandler
U.S.A., 1888-1959
À Beira do Abismo
The Big Sleep, 1939
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 11

EBERHART, Mignon G.
Mignon Good Eberhart
U.S.A., 1899-1996
Nas Asas do Terror
Wings of Fear, 1945
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Elsa de Carvel
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 12

QUEEN, Ellery
Manfred Bennington Lee & Frederic Dannay
U.S.A., 1905-1971 & U.S.A., 1905-1982
O Mistério dos Irmãos Siameses
The Siamese Twin Mystery, 1933
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Adolfo Casais Monteiro
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 13

CHRISTIE, Agatha
Mary Clarissa Miller
England, 1891-1976
Um Crime nas Nuvens
Death in the Clouds, 1935
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 14

GARDNER, Erle Stanley
Erle Stanley Gardner
U.S.A., 1889-1970
No Rasto da Morte
This Is Murder, 1935 [1]
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 15
[1] In the Portuguese edition the book is signed Erle Stanley Gardner, but Gardner signed it with the pseudonym Charles J. Kenny in the first American edition.

DOYLE, Arthur Conan
Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle
England, 1859-1930
A Lenda do Pântano
The Hound of the Baskervilles, 1902
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 16

FIELDING, A.
Dorothy Feilding
U.S.A.?, 1900
Culpado ou Inocente?
The Tall House Mystery, 1933
Édipo, 1951
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 17

DICKSON, Carter
John Dickson Carr
U.S.A., 1906-1977
Noivado Trágico
My Late Wives, 1947
Édipo, 1952
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 18

QUEEN, Ellery
Manfred Bennington Lee & Frederic Dannay
U.S.A., 1905-1971 & U.S.A., 1905-1982
Era Uma Vez Uma Velha
There Was an Old Woman, 1943
Édipo, 1952
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 19

CARR, John Dickson
John Dickson Carr
U.S.A., 1906-1977
A Sombra do Patíbulo
The Lost Gallows, 1931
Édipo, 1952
Trans: Elsa de Carvel
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 20

HAMMETT, Dashiell
Samuel Dashiell Hammett
U.S.A., 1894-1961
O Homem Sombra
The Thin Man, 1934
Édipo, 1952
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 21

COXE, George Harmon
George Harmon Coxe
U.S.A., 1901-1984
Cinco Pistas
Murder With Pictures, 1935
Édipo, 1952
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 22

GARDNER, Erle Stanley
Erle Stanley Gardner
U.S.A., 1889-1970
Uma Partida de Poker
The D. A. Takes a Chance?, 1948
Édipo, 1952
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 23

VAN DINE, S. S.
Willard Huntington Wright
U.S.A., 1888-1939
O Caso do Antiquário
Kennell Murder Case, 1933
Édipo, 1952
Trans: No information available
Cover: Rosa Duarte
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 24

RICE, Craig
Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig
U.S.A., 1908-1957
Testemunha Inocente
Innocent Bystander, 1949
Édipo, 1953
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 25

HOLMAN, C. Hugh
Clarence Hugh Holman
U.S.A., 1914-1981
Morte Legal
Slay the Murderer, 1946
Édipo, 1953
Trans: Francisco Valle
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 26

EBERHART, Mignon G.
Mignon Good Eberhart
U.S.A., 1899-1996
O Crime do Hospital
While the Patient Slept, 1930
Édipo, 1953
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 27

OPPENHEIM, E. Phillips
Edward Phillips Oppenheim
England, 1866-1946
Crime Gratuito
The Master Mummer, 1905
Édipo, 1953
Trans: Jorge Villa-Real
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 28

SIMENON, Georges
Georges Joseph Christian Simenon
Belgium, 1903-1989
Maigret em Paris
Maigret en Meublé, 1951
Édipo, 1953
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 29

VAN DINE, S. S.
Willard Huntington Wright
U.S.A., 1888-1939
O Enigma do Casino
The Casino Murder Case, 1934
Édipo, 1953
Trans: J. E. Arouca
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 30

GARDNER, Erle Stanley
U.S.A., 1889-1970
O Papagaio Perjuro
The Case of the Perjured Parrot, 1939
Édipo, 1953
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 31

LEROUX, Gaston
Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux
France, 1868-1927
O Mistério do Quarto Amarelo
Le Mystère de la Chambre Jaune, 1907
Édipo, 1954
Trans: Jorge Villa Real
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 32

BERKELEY, Anthony
Anthony Berkeley Cox
England, 1893-1971
Suspeita
Before the Fact [written as Francis Iles], 1932
Édipo, 1954
Trans: Baptista de Carvalho
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 33

RICE, Craig
Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig
U.S.A., 1908-1957
Cilada Triangular
Home Sweet Homicide, 1944
Édipo, 1954
Trans: José Cabral
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 34

BALLINGER, Bill S.
Bill Sanborn Ballinger
U.S.A., 1912-1980
Versão Original
Portrait in Smoke, 1950
Édipo, 1954
Trans: Luís de Almeida Campos
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 35

BURTON, Miles
Cecil John Charles Street
England, 1884-1964
Morte Contra-Relógio
Murder on Duty, 1952
Édipo, 1954
Trans: Luís de Almeida Campos
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 36

SAYERS, Dorothy L.
Dorothy Leigh Sayers
England, 1893-1957
Revisão de Processo
The Documents in the Case, 1930
Édipo, 1954
Trans: Luís de Almeida Campos
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 37

CHASE, James Hadley
Rene Lodge Brazabon Raymond
England, 1906-1985
A Carne da Orquídea
The Flesh of the Orchid, 1948
Édipo, 1954
Trans: Luís de Almeida Campos
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 38

BALLINGER, Bill S.
Bill Sanborn Ballinger
U.S.A., 1912-1980
Pista Cruzada
Rafferty, 1953
Ulisseia, 1954
Trans: José Cabral
Cover: Roberto Araújo (1911-1969)
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 39

WORLEY, William
U.S.A.
Inquérito Privado
My Dead Wife, 1948
Ulisseia, 1955
Trans: José Cabral
Cover: M. Vespeira
O Escaravelho de Ouro, 40