Inspector Morse: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Morse prefers to use only his surname, and is generally evasive when asked about his first name, sometimes joking that it is ''Inspector''. In ''The Dead of Jericho'' and ''The Wench Is Dead'' it is noted that his initial is E.<ref>''[[The Dead of Jericho]]'', chapter 7.</ref><ref>''[[The Wench Is Dead]]'', chapter 1.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/books/colin-dexter-dead-creator-of-inspector-morse.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220103/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/21/books/colin-dexter-dead-creator-of-inspector-morse.html |archive-date=2022-01-03 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Colin Dexter, 86, Dies; Creator of Inspector Morse, a Sleuth on Page and Screen|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 March 2017|access-date=15 November 2018|last1=Grimes|first1=William}}{{cbignore}}</ref> At the end of ''[[Death Is Now My Neighbour]]'', his name is revealed to be Endeavour.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/colin-dexter-obituary-inspector-morse-oxford-whodunit-crime-writer-a7642411.html|title=Colin Dexter obituary: Inspector Morse creator and one of the great whodunit men|date=21 March 2017|website=The Independent|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> Two-thirds of the way through the television episode based on the book, he gives the cryptic clue "My whole life's effort has revolved around Eve, nine letters".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0611637/|title=Death Is Now My Neighbour|date=19 November 1997|via=IMDb}}</ref> In the series, it is noted that Morse's reluctance to use his Christian name led to his receiving the nickname ''Pagan'' while at [[Stamford School]] (which [[Colin Dexter]], the author of the Morse novels, attended).<ref name="auto"/> In the novels, Morse's first name came from the vessel [[HMS Endeavour|HMS ''Endeavour'']]; his mother was a member of the Religious Society of Friends ([[Quakers]]) who have a tradition of "[[virtue name]]s", and his father admired [[James Cook|Captain James Cook]].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/26/tv/behind-morse-the-dour-dignified-detective.html|title=Behind Morse, the Dour, Dignified Detective|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 January 1997|last1=Gussow|first1=Mel}}</ref>

Dexter was a fan of cryptic crosswords and named Morse after champion setter [[Jeremy Morse]], one of Dexter's arch-rivals in writing crossword clues.<ref>Colin Dexter in ''Super Sleuths: Inspector Morse''. Director: Katie Kinnaird</ref> Dexter used to walk along the bank of the [[River Thames]] at Oxford, opposite the boathouse belonging to 22nd Oxford Sea Scout Group; the building is named ''[[Training ship|T.S.]] Endeavour''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Oxford of Inspector Morse: Dreaming spires, dead bodies... and lots and lots of pubs |date=18 August 2018 |url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/theatre-film-music/oxford-inspector-morse-dreaming-spires-dead-bodies-lots-lots-pubs-182670}}</ref>

===Education===