“It’s a cold December morning, 1946…” We knew we were in for a treat as soon as performer Debbie Bridge began. Debbie has been a fan of Agatha Christie’s books since she was a little girl and her talk went beyond the books to explore a remarkable life.
We heard how Agatha had wanted to be a classical singer but had such bad stage fright that she couldn’t perform. How, for all her hatred of being in the limelight – we get a glimpse of her own ideas only in her books under the pen name Mary Westmacott – a lot of effort went into her photo shoots to project the image she wanted.
We learned of her wealthy early life in Torquay, changed suddenly when her father lost his fortune. He died when Agatha was just 11. Her mother had had her older siblings educated but Agatha was brought up with a more Victorian approach. The young Agatha taught herself to read and write, to make stories and plays.
When her brother was ill, her sister challenged her to write a book for him. At just 18, this was her first Poirot novel, her detective Belgian because there was resentment against Belgian refugees and Agatha wanted them to be accepted. Six publishers turned it down, then Agatha signed a bad contract committing her to a multiple book deal – a likely factor in the business skills she showed later.
With no money for a coming-out, Agatha was sent to Egypt, where she met Archibald Christie, a pilot and not wealthy. Her mother did not approve. Nonetheless, they married in 1914.
In WW1, Agatha became a voluntary nurse. The young volunteers were unworldly, loathed by the permanent staff and wrote a satirical magazine, ‘The Queer Women’. The knowledge of poisons she gained found its way into her novels.
Agatha and Archibald had an opportunity to travel the world, on the Dominion Mission for Africa. Despite Agatha playing down her work as a hobby – she had been brought up to expect men to take the lead – she got more attention than her husband.
Agatha Christie was the first English woman to surf – ever mindful of style, in swimsuit, pearls and hat…
The couple bought a home outside Torquay, near a golf course, perfect for Archibald; miserable for Agatha. This was where everything started to fall apart – Archibald met Nancy Neil at the golf course, Agatha’s mother died, then, the mysterious 14-day disappearance, her car abandoned on the border between two counties. The two police forces worked differently, on different theories. Agatha had written to Archibald, to the house staff and to her brother-in-law, the only letter that survived, telling of her plans to go to London and Harrogate where, in a fugue state, she had checked in to a hotel under a pseudonym. She was tracked down, by the press as well as Archibald, sent to get her out. Because of shell shock in the First World War, the services were available for her to have therapy.
Now a single mother in her 30s, she skyrocketed to stardom. She travelled to Egypt and met archaeologist Max Mallowan, her tour guide and 14 years her junior. They married and she accompanied Max on digs as assistant. It was fertile ground for writing, including Death on the Nile, written the Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan (which our very own Heather has visited).
Agatha bought Greenway, her house in Torquay, where she would write more books, adapting them for different markets and often reusing storylines.
Over two billion copies of her books have sold in 103 languages. When she killed off Poirot, The Times wrote an obituary. Films were made, some of which she hated, including Margaret Rutherford’s playing of Miss Marple, given a wit that was not in the books.
Judged not capable of writing plays, Agatha Christie proved her critics wrong. Her books had a keen ear for dialogue and this translated to the stage, where The Mousetrap is the world’s longest running show. Her plays were written to be able to be performed by amateurs.
Agatha and Maxwell bought the art deco Isokon building, designed by Canadian Wells Coates. They were happy there and she wrote prolifically. It was aimed at the intelligentsia, with flats for single people and couples, and there were at least four KGB spies in the building.
There was the magnificent Burgh Island, built by Noel Coward, where more books were written.
Some of Agatha Christie’s books are coming out of copyright so versions are emerging in new formats, including a graphic novel. There has been an academic study of her shorthand. Her notes were deliberately obscure, written across notebooks and pieces of paper. In the process of translation, new stories have been found.
A huge thank-you to Debbie for a fascinating talk, much appreciated by East End WI sleuths and Agatha Christie newbies alike.
Keen for more? Here is Debbie’s rundown of things to see:
- The Isokon building has flats to see during Open House and a permanent gallery.
- Torquay has an annual Agatha Christie Festival in September.
- The National Trust has events all year round at Greenway.
- Burgh Island has murder mystery events and you can stay in the space where Agatha wrote her books.
Our January coffee and catch-up: the café at the Young V&A, Friday 24th January, meet between 10.30 and 11.00
A return to the Young V&A (formerly the Museum of Childhood). A quick look at the museum may be in order for a look at childhoods past, its modern displays and a browse in its gift shop.
