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By the way, I found a recording you might want to watch on Internet Archives (#35).

We could easily create a whole mystery class around the time and works of Agatha Christie. As you read this week’s story, be sure to observe how Christie creates the story and characters, and how the clever Monsieur Poirot solves the mystery. This story was first published as a book in the 1924 collection Poirot Investigates.

• Her first book was rejected by six publishers (and took four years to publish)

• Her favorite writers were Graham Greene and Elizabeth Bowen

• She did not smoke or drink

• Her favorite color was green

• Lily of the Valley was her favorite flower

• She has a rose named after her

• She loved dogs

• She is the only crime writer to have created two equally famous characters

•  When Poirot “died” The New York Times gave him a full-page obituary

• She also wrote 6 novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, whose identity remained a secret for 20+ years 

• She wrote a film script for Charles Dickens’ Bleak House in 1962

• She was also an expert photographer (from her work on archeological digs)

• She was passionate about opera, especially those by Wagner

She gave birth to her only child, Rosalind, in 1919. And she began to write… a practice she continued throughout her long life. In 1920 she published her first book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles—and introduced the world to Inspector Hercule Poirot. She was already a prolific writer at this point, publishing a novel a year.

Christie published The Murder of Roger Ackroyd in 1926, which was a turning point for her. It was extremely popular, and became a genre classic (and one of her own favorites). This was a tough year for Christie, as her mother died, and her husband asked for a divorce (Agatha Christie, 2017).

Christie married her second husband, Max Mallowan, in 1930. He was an archeology professor who took Christie on many of his expeditions (more material to write about!). In fact, John Curran reports that she wrote many of her novels while on archaeological digs—many in a special house called Beit Agatha (John Curran, 2021).

This (1930) was also the year that Christie published Murder at the Vicarage—her first mystery featuring Miss Marple.

Christie wrote more than 70 detective novels and short fiction over her career (and continued writing well into her 80s). She is one of the top-selling authors of all times, with more than 2 billion copies of her books sold worldwide (surpassed only by the Bible and Shakespeare). Many of her books and stories have also been adapted for film.

What explains her incredible productivity? One theory is that World War II created a sense of her own mortality and intensified her need to write/publish. For many years she published three or four books each year (Robinson, 2021). 

Hercule Poirot appears in 26 of her mysteries (and short stories).

I should note that she was also a playwright. “The Mousetrap” is her most famous work: it holds the record as the longest running play in a London theater (8,800 performances over a 21 year period starting in 1952).

Several specials were released recently exploring the work of Agatha Christie. Two of these works are “Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie” and “Agatha Christie’s England. These works explore “what made the world’s most successful crime writer tick” (Robinson, 2021).  Robinson asks: “How did a refined, upper-class British girl evolve into the queen of crime, poison, and murder?”

You might wonder how we know so much about Agatha Christie. Her personal archives contain manuscripts, letters, and 73 notebooks where she recorded everything she heard and saw. There are a number of Agatha Christie experts who have dedicated their research to analyzing her work (such as literature professor John Curran, who worked on the PBS specials).

The world loves a good mystery, and Christie herself became the subject of intrigue and speculation.

Twelve years into their marriage, Archie asked Agatha for a divorce. He was having an affair with his secretary, Nancy Neale. Some biographers attribute their relationship tension to the fact that Christie was keeping a tight control on family finances (she was just beginning to make a lot of money with her writing). On that fateful day in 1926, tensions were especially high. Christie’s mother had recently died, greatly upsetting Agatha. The couple had a fight and Archie left to spend the weekend away.  Agatha also took a trip on her own, leaving her young daughter with the maid (Johnson, 2021).

Agatha’s abandoned car wreck was found the next morning (with headlights on and suitcase in the back seat). A missing person case became front page news!

In the 10 days that followed, Archie and mistress Nancy were considered suspects. A manhunt for Agatha ensued (even resulting in the dredging of a lake).  Johnson writes:

“Famous faces also waded in to the mystery with the then Home Secretary William Joynson-Hicks putting pressure on police to find the writer, and fellow mystery writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle seeking the help of a clairvoyant to find Agatha using one of her gloves as a guide.”

The mystery resolved when a hotel in Yorkshire reported an outgoing South African guest by the name of Theresa Neale appeared suspiciously similar to the missing Agatha Christie.  Archie Christie was contacted and he approached his estranged wife (or South African guest?). She appeared not to recognize him. But apparently she eventually did, they divorced, and life moved on (Johnson, 2021).

No one knows the reason behind this little mystery, and Christie did not even mention it in her autobiography. Some Christie scholars believe the pressure of her divorce, combined with grief over losing her mother led to a nervous breakdown. Others believe she had a concussion from the car accident and was suffering from amnesia.  And others believe the whole thing was a publicity stunt.

In any case, this little story fuels the mystery and imagination of this fascinating writer’s life.

Christie has noted how Sir Arthur Conan Doyle influenced her in creating Poirot. She wrote: "I was still writing in the Sherlock Holmes tradition – eccentric detective, stooge assistant, with a Lestrade-type Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Japp". (Hercule Poirot, 2021) 

Poirot appeared first in Christie’s work around 1916, just after the First World War—an impressionable time for Christie, who served the war effort as a nurse.  Poirot, like thousands in real life, came to London as a Belgian refugee.

Christie is vague about Poirot’s background, and he is not a reliable narrator regarding his life, since he often made up details.  We can gather that Poirot’s career started in the trenches, so to speak. He served in the Brussels police force from 1893 through World War I, working his way up to the rank of Captain. He apparently retired in 1905 as a police officer, at the age of 55, and devoted the rest of his life to his private detective work (Hercule Poirot, 2021).  He traveled around the world investigating and solving crimes, including murder.

Poirot was a quirky character whose most notable features were his prominent moustache, as well as his short stature, and pince-nez reading glasses. He was a bit fanatical about organization and disorder (today we’d probably call this obsessive-compulsive disorder). He was also very fastidious with his appearance. He constantly fussed over his patent leather shoes, and frequently referred to his pocket watch (he was very punctual). Christie described him for the first time in The Mysterious Affair at Styles in 1920. Of course, he dyed his hair as he aged (Facts, 2021).

Christie described Poirot: "He was hardly more than five feet four inches but carried himself with great dignity. His head was exactly the shape of an egg, and he always perched it a little on one side…The neatness of his attire was almost incredible; I believe a speck of dust would have caused him more pain than a bullet wound."

He was not a modest or humble character in the least, and was known for a rather large ego and boasting that he was the greatest detective in the world. Some of his catch phrases were his use of “the little grey cells” and “law and order” (Hercule Poirot, 2021). Poirot’s version of a side-kick (think: Mr. Watson) was his friend and colleague, Captain Arthur Hastings. Captain Hastings narrates “The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb.”

Hercule Poirot remains a beloved character to this day. When Poirot “died” in 1975, he was the first fictional character to receive a front page New York Times Obituary.

Christie’s Poirot stories have been dramatized for radio, television, and movies. More than 35 actors have taken on the role, including:

Charles Laughton

Francis Sullivan

Albert Finney

Austin Trevor

Orson Welles

Tony Randall

Peter Ustinav

Mansai Nomuraand (Japanese!)

…and many more

David Sachet, British actor, is the best-known “Poirot” as he convincingly embodied Hercule Poirot for more than 24 years on the British television series (from 1989 to 2013). The British mystery drama ran for 13 series (70 episodes).

Some final bits of Poirot trivia:

Poirot has recently been resurrected by modern writer Sophie Hannah, who somehow got rights to continue telling his tales (she has published four novels to date).

He is thought to be the inspiration for Benoit Blanc, the detective who saved the day in the recent “Knives Out” movies series.

Agatha Christie thought Poirot’s best role was in Murder on the Orient Express.

There you have it—a quick Hercule Poirot primer to provide some background as you read our drama this week. See what you think!

From The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb:

The logic of the little grey cells take on one of Agatha Christie’s favorite themes, the powers of ancient Egypt, this time in the form of a curse on those who excavated a Pharaoh’s tomb.

The story was first published as a book in the collection Poirot Investigates, 1924, by Bodley Head. The story was adapted for the TV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot in 1993, starring David Suchet, and like many of the other early episodes, included the characters of Hastings, Japp and Miss Lemon, regardless of whether or not they appeared in the original text.

In 2004 the story was adapted for the Japanese anime series Agatha Christie's Great Detectives as a two-part episode, titled The Riddle of the Egyptian Tomb. Poirot teams up with Miss Marple's great niece to solve the mystery.

Christie tapped into her audience's fascination for Egyptology.

Here's an interesting article on the phenomenon:

The Setting: This is an unusual case where Poirot agrees to travel, and far away to Egypt, no less.  Captain Hastings is surprised to learn that Poirot proclaims superstition “one of the greatest forces the world has ever known.”

Egyptology was evidently a source of interest for the 1920s audience, and there was still a belief in the occult (or at least a fascination in mummy curses).

Notice the Characters:

We learn the particulars of this story through Captain Hastings, who in many stories serves as Inspector Poirot’s sounding board and side kick. This is effective since we gain an awed (and enthusiastic) view of the mystery as it unfolds (he calls the case “thrilling and dramatic”).

Lady Willard: Wealthy and shrewd

Guy Willard: Professes that his heart is in the work of tomb excavation. The show will go on

 Rupert: The unfortunate nephew we learn more about after his death

Dr. Ames: The excavation physician. Notice the adjectives Christie uses to express his actions and describe him

Mr. Harper: The secretary

Hassan: Devoted native servant

Members of the party: Mr. Schneider, Dr. Tosswill

What clues do you read about each of these characters? Who do you trust (or not)?

Notice the Plot Details:

How does Poirot proceed with his investigation (and how is that different from Holmes?)?

He begins by investigating young Rubert Bleibner. What qualities do you pick up? What was his story? Did he really believe he was a leper and outcast?

Captain Hastings’ thoughts reflect what we common readers might think as well:

“A shadowy theory leapt into my brain. I had never really believed in the vengeance of a long dead Egyptian king. I saw here a more modern crime. Supposing this young man had decided to do away with his uncle—preferably by poison. By mistake, Sir John Willard receives the fatal dose. The young man returns to New York, haunted by his crime. The news of his uncle’s death reaches him. He realizes how unnecessary his crime has been, and stricken with remorse takes his own life.”

The story takes us to Egypt (Poirot dealing with his horrible sea-sickness—“Even his neatness had abandoned him.”) But not for long: soon he is dressed in his impeccable suit, with shining shoes and polished mustache.

Dr. Tosswill, the British Museum archeologist, reports the death of Mr. Schneider. Hastings and Poirot process this new piece of evidence as they meet Willard’s son, Guy.

During the first interview with Guy and Dr. Ames, Poirot asks:

“Was any act committed by those four men which might seem to denote disrespect to the spirit of Men-her-Ra?”

This is a surprising comment from a man of logic! In fact, it also is offensive to Sir Guy and Dr. Ames—men who believe in science. Poirot takes the suspicious ruse a step deeper by producing his copy of The Magic of the Egyptians and Chaldeans.

Next, the interview with Mr. Harper clarifies details about young nephew Rupert, who remembers that “there was something wrong with him” at the time he left Egypt for New York—“But it couldn’t have been anything serious, or I should have remembered.”

Mr. Harper is “on the edge” and eager to flee back to New York, away from the supposed Egyptian curse.

Christie builds the tension and backdrop of suspicion and superstition (notice the hoax in the appearance of Anubis, the god of departing souls). Poirot’s behavior is certainly out of character as he practices a bit of campsite exorcism (“my pretense of belief in the occult” according to Poirot, as we learn later).

The final scene has Poirot faking a poisoned tea… a situation which entraps Dr. Ames. When he realizes he has been tricked, the evil doctor takes his own life.

The big reveal connects the rest of the dots (we will review in Zoom class).

But Christie also brings out the depth of Poirot’s intellect. Poirot clarifies that he never believed in the occult, but he believes in “the terrific force of superstition.”

Poirot also looks more closely at use of language. He points out that words spoken metaphorically are often taken literally—or the reverse. When young Bleibner wrote he was a leper, he really thought he was (due to Dr. Ames’ shifty diagnosis).

And a final lesson from Poirot:

“A murderer has always a strong desire to repeat his successful crime, the performance of it grows upon him. Hence my fears for young Willard. The figure of Anubis you saw to-night was Hassan, dressed up by my orders. I wanted to see if I could frighten the doctor. But it would take more than the supernatural to frighten him. I could see that he was not entirely taken in by my pretenses of belief in the occult. The little comedy I played for him did not deceive him. I suspected that he would endeavor to make me the next victim. Ah, but in spite of la mer maudite, the heat abominable, and the annoyances of the sand, the little grey cells still functioned!”

As it turns out, Young Bleibner (while apparently drunk) did make Dr. Ames his heir. The final motive to explain Dr. Ames actions!

Agatha Christie was made a “dame” in 1971. This was a well-deserved honor for all she contributed to the mystery genre. She has indeed become “a household name.”

I like to think about the millions upon millions of readers over the past decades who have opened a Christie book and lost themselves in the pages. A good mystery, as Christie knows, asks a question and launches a journey towards the answer. Through her skillful storytelling and characters, Christie entertains, and resolves order in the world.

Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb. (2024). Retrieved from https://www.agathachristie.com/stories/the-adventure-of-the-egyptian-tomb

Agatha Christie, British Author. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Agatha-Christie

Agatha Christie. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/writer/agatha-christie

Agatha Christie website. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie/christie-experts/john-curran-75-facts-about-christie

Facts about Poirot. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.agathachristie.com/characters/hercule-poirot/facts-about-hercule-poirot

Hercule Poirot. (2021). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercule_Poirot

John Curran: 75 Facts About Christie. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie/christie-experts/john-curran-75-facts-about-christie

Johnstone, A. (2021). Agatha Mystery. Retrieved from https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/2640070/agatha-christie-books-ordeal-by-innocence-published-poirot-miss-marple/

Johnson, B. (2021). The Curious Disappearance of Agatha Christie. Retrieved from https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Curious-Disappearance-of-Agatha-Christie/

Robinson, J. (2021). Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie. Retrieved from https://www.kpbs.org/news/2021/jan/13/inside-mind-agatha-christie/