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13
2. Agatha Christie: the Shape of her Career
Agatha Christie began with a bang, writing one of her best novels,
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, during World War I (1914–1918). It
took some years to get it published, finally appearing in 1920. Styles
introduced her sleuth Hercule Poirot. During 1922–1926, Christie
followed it up with a series of much weaker non-detective books,
adventure and spy novels. Much of best work during this period was in
short stories. She wrote a huge number of Poirot short stories during this
era. She created many new detectives, as well as writing some
outstanding stories without series heroes, such as those collected much
later in The Listerdale Mystery. Also excellent in this period were the
Tommy and Tuppence stories contained in Partners in Crime (1924),
which were made into a delightful British television series in the 1980's,
and the tales featuring Mr. Harley Quin, in The Mysterious Mr. Quin.
Several of Christie's works during this period are experimental in that
they mix fantasy (Mr. Quin), or satire (Tommy and Tuppence) with
detective story elements. Others, such as the tales in The Listerdale
Mystery, are more to be classified as "ingenious tales involving mystery
and adventure" than as pure detective
stories. The greatest achievement of this
period, however, is a pure detective
story, the Poirot novel The Murder of
Roger Ackroyd (1925). This book, a
subtle masterpiece of misdirection,
created as much of a public sensation in
Christie's day as The Crying Game did
in ours. People argued over whether
Christie's surprise solution was fair, a
debate that continues to this day, but no
one doubted her ability to unleash a
stunning surprise on her readers.
14
Following Ackroyd, Christie embarked on period where she
changed her pace (1927–1931). Her spinster sleuth, Miss Jane Marple,
was the subject of her finest book, the short story collection The Tuesday
Night Club Murders (1927–1932), as well as the novel Murder at the
Vicarage (1930). Readers looking to get acquainted with Agatha
Christie for the first time would be well advised to start here, with The
Tuesday Night Club Murders. The high quality of the stories, combined
with their great variety of approach, make it the perfect introduction to
Christie's world. Christie also brought Hercule Poirot to the stage, in the
play Black Coffee.
During 1934–1941, Christie's writing changed direction again.
She stopped creating so many sleuths, stuck closely to the detective
story proper, and concentrated on detective novels and short stories
featuring Hercule Poirot. These works are the "meat and potatoes" of her
career. They maintain a uniform standard of excellence, and are what
many people fondly think of as a "typical Agatha Christie" novel.
Cleverly plotted, with ingenious solutions that surprise even the astutest
readers, the novels also feature fascinating detective work. Especially
outstanding among the many Poirot novels are The ABC Murders
(1936), Murder for Christmas (1938), and An Overdose of Death (1940).
But most of the 14 Poirot books of this period have virtues. Murder in
Mesopotamia (1936) and Sad Cypress (1940) have ingenious solutions.
Even a relatively "minor" novel like Death in the Clouds (1935) is just
plain fun to read. While "minor" in the body of Christie's work, it would
be considered "major" in the bibliography of most lesser mystery
authors.
Christie also created some important non-series works during this
period. And Then There Were None and Easy to Kill (both 1939) are the
best; the former is a virtuoso summing up of Christie's mystery
technique, a "fantasia on detective themes", to modify a phrase of
Arnold Bennett's, and is one of Christie's best books.
2. Agatha Christie: the Shape of her Career Following Ackroyd, Christie embarked on period where she
changed her pace (1927–1931). Her spinster sleuth, Miss Jane Marple,
Agatha Christie began with a bang, writing one of her best novels,
was the subject of her finest book, the short story collection The Tuesday
The Mysterious Affair at Styles, during World War I (1914–1918). It
Night Club Murders (1927–1932), as well as the novel Murder at the
took some years to get it published, finally appearing in 1920. Styles
Vicarage (1930). Readers looking to get acquainted with Agatha
introduced her sleuth Hercule Poirot. During 1922–1926, Christie
Christie for the first time would be well advised to start here, with The
followed it up with a series of much weaker non-detective books,
Tuesday Night Club Murders. The high quality of the stories, combined
adventure and spy novels. Much of best work during this period was in
with their great variety of approach, make it the perfect introduction to
short stories. She wrote a huge number of Poirot short stories during this
Christie's world. Christie also brought Hercule Poirot to the stage, in the
era. She created many new detectives, as well as writing some
play Black Coffee.
outstanding stories without series heroes, such as those collected much
During 1934–1941, Christie's writing changed direction again.
later in The Listerdale Mystery. Also excellent in this period were the
She stopped creating so many sleuths, stuck closely to the detective
Tommy and Tuppence stories contained in Partners in Crime (1924),
story proper, and concentrated on detective novels and short stories
which were made into a delightful British television series in the 1980's,
featuring Hercule Poirot. These works are the "meat and potatoes" of her
and the tales featuring Mr. Harley Quin, in The Mysterious Mr. Quin.
career. They maintain a uniform standard of excellence, and are what
Several of Christie's works during this period are experimental in that
many people fondly think of as a "typical Agatha Christie" novel.
they mix fantasy (Mr. Quin), or satire (Tommy and Tuppence) with
Cleverly plotted, with ingenious solutions that surprise even the astutest
detective story elements. Others, such as the tales in The Listerdale
readers, the novels also feature fascinating detective work. Especially
Mystery, are more to be classified as "ingenious tales involving mystery
outstanding among the many Poirot novels are The ABC Murders
and adventure" than as pure detective
(1936), Murder for Christmas (1938), and An Overdose of Death (1940).
stories. The greatest achievement of this
But most of the 14 Poirot books of this period have virtues. Murder in
period, however, is a pure detective
Mesopotamia (1936) and Sad Cypress (1940) have ingenious solutions.
story, the Poirot novel The Murder of
Even a relatively "minor" novel like Death in the Clouds (1935) is just
Roger Ackroyd (1925). This book, a
plain fun to read. While "minor" in the body of Christie's work, it would
subtle masterpiece of misdirection,
be considered "major" in the bibliography of most lesser mystery
created as much of a public sensation in
authors.
Christie's day as The Crying Game did
Christie also created some important non-series works during this
in ours. People argued over whether
period. And Then There Were None and Easy to Kill (both 1939) are the
Christie's surprise solution was fair, a
best; the former is a virtuoso summing up of Christie's mystery
debate that continues to this day, but no
technique, a "fantasia on detective themes", to modify a phrase of
one doubted her ability to unleash a
Arnold Bennett's, and is one of Christie's best books.
stunning surprise on her readers.
13 14
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