Although I’m not usually a fan of mysteries, I recently read Three Act Tragedy by Agatha Christie as a library-sponsored book club selection.
From the Hercule Poirot Mystery series, Three Act Tragedy is, as the title implies, written in three sections. In the first, mild-mannered Reverend Stephen Babbington chokes on his cocktail at a dinner party and suddenly dies. In the second act, another “accidental death” occurs and with many of the same people present. In the third act master detective Hercule Poirot, together with a team of sleuths, attempt to solve the baffling murder mysteries.
Reading this book made me curious about the author and her amazing writing accomplishments. Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie (1890 – 1976) is listed in the Guinness World Records as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her novels have sold roughly 2 billion copies. Her novel, And Then There Were None is Christie’s best-selling novel, with 100 million sales to date, making it the world’s most popular mystery ever, and one of the world’s best-selling books. Her works have been made into plays, films and television series.
Agatha Christie enjoyed a happy childhood in Devon, England. She married Archibald Christie in 1914, and they had one child, a daughter. In 1926 Archie asked for a divorce as he had fallen in love with another woman. Soon afterwards, Agatha disappeared, causing a public outcry of alarm. Searchers found her car, but despite an extensive manhunt, she was not found for 10 days. There never has been an explanation for the disappearance. She says of the experience, “So, after illness, came sorrow, despair and heartbreak. There is no need to dwell on it.”
Christie traveled extensively for several years, writing along the way, frequently using foreign settings for her novels. In 1930 she married an archaeologist 13 years her junior, Max Edgar Lucien Mallowan. Their marriage was happy and lasted until Christie’s death in 1976.
In 1946, Christie said of herself: “My chief dislikes are crowds, loud noises, gramophones and cinemas. I dislike the taste of alcohol and do not like smoking. I DO like sun, sea, flowers, traveling, strange foods, sports, concerts, theatres, pianos, and doing embroidery.” Interestingly, she doesn’t mention writing. But a master in the craft of writing she was. Agatha Christie is known world-wide and her work has been translated into more than a hundred foreign languages. Mystery may not be my favorite genre, but learning about Agatha Christie has somewhat solved the mystery about what it takes to be a great, world-renowned author.
My only association with Ms. Christie is Hercule Poirot”s series that ran on PBS decades ago. What creative power this author had to plot so many stories that surprised, resolved, satisfied millions of readers. Where to begin? Advice please.
There was the American series, Murder She Wrote, but we never watched it. She did have amazing talent. At one time she was a pharmacist which gave her knowledge of chemicals, which she often used in her stories. Thanks for the comment.
Since British literature was more available in India than the American literature, we read Agatha Christi. While I had heard of her disappearance for a few years, I didn’t know about her divorce and second marriage. I wonder what happened to her daughter? Did she stay with Agatha? Thank you, Mary, for the background information.
Thank you for your comment, Hema. I wondered about her daughter, too. I think she traveled with her mother at times, but I also imagine that she was off to school much of the time. In any event, the daughter wasn’t mentioned in the accounts I read.
I’ve read many Agatha C’s mysteries. She is the master. I always found myself thinking in a British accent after reading one of her books. Maybe thinking in a British accent doesn’t make sense, but I do!
How funny, Vicky. It’s fun to read a British novel. Their way of thinking seems different than American, too. It certainly broadens our horizons, in the true sense!
I just read my first Agatha Christie book – “What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw”. Found it in my home and have no idea where it came from. I was hooked with her style! Will be reading more of her works. Thanks for the background on her!
Three Act Trilogy was my first Agatha Christie novel, too. She’s also somewhat of an expert on chemicals–she worked in a pharmacy for awhile. Thank you, Bonnie, for the comment.
The Mousetrap, a play based on one of her books, is the longest running play in London’s West End theatre district. It opened in 1952!! I’ll be interested to see if J.K. Rowlings’ Harry Potter play, currently on Broadway, does as well.
How interesting, Andrea. My goodness, since 1952 everyone in London must have seen The Mousetrap! Agatha Christie’s success is phenomenal.