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Agatha Christie Endless Mysteries

In 2010, it was celebrated the 120th anniversary of her birth and 35 years after her death she remains one of the most popular writers for readers around the world. With the help of Agatha

Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard, and the expert in her work John Curran, we revisited the world of the Queen of crime literature.

BY ERICA FRANCO, IN LONDON

If we go back in time until sometime in the 1950s of the last century, in a quiet country landscape of the English summer, we can imagine Agatha Christie, in one of the corners of her Greenway garden, contemplating the river and let the mind wander... In the large open red skin notebook on her lap there can be read some loose notes: «I can adapt one of treasure hunts which I did for Mathew and work in the houseboat … and invent the hunt of Mrs. Oliver ... I could use the idea of Cluedo regarding weapons and suspicious... but with a true body rather than a sham ... Who'll I murder?»… The creative process is interrupted by a messy haired boy of twelve years, claiming the attentions of Nima. The Queen of Crime gives rise to Grandma.

Long gone are the days of boy mentioned in these release notes of the "Agatha Christie's secret Notebooks" (edited this year in Portugal by ASA). At present, the grandson of writer that welcomes us in his office filled with books (almost all of Agatha Christie, of course) is the perfect British gentleman, who does not discard a cup of tea to accompany the talk. From the writer the memories aren't many, says Mathew Prichard, preferring to remember Grandma, «for me she was just a normal grandmother who also wrote books, most of them when I wasn't around». He tell us that the most famous author of detective books did a rigorous management of her time, writing during certain periods of the year and reserving the remaining moments for family and friends. In a good humour’s tone, Mathew gives her reason: «I don't think anyone could write books with the quality that she did with ten years old grandchildren around...»

His words allow us to realize some of the different facets of Agatha Christie: the author confident in her own ideas and possessive about her creations, that was «not used to accept advice from others, even of their publishers», the excellent listener and the natural observer, the lover of music and the arts, and especially the «humble and modest person, even shy in public, that didn't like attract attentions about herself or about her reputation».

The method In the 15th September of 1890, Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born in Torquay (South-West

England). The famous Christie would only come after the marriage with Colonel Archibald Christie. Educated at home till her sixteen’s (when she would be sent to a school to finish her education in Paris), she learned to read alone and had the freedom to choose their readings – the books of Charles Dickens were her favourites and were probably the greatest influence exerted in her work – which allowed her to develop an imagination out of the common. At age of eleven she saw for the first time one of her texts published in local newspaper: a poem. But it was only after providing voluntary service in Hospital Torquay´s dispensary during World War I – where she acquired fundamental knowledge about the poisons and preparations contained in many of his books (forty one of her books and twenty-four short stories are cases of poisoning!) – that her true and ambitious vocation as a writer would be revealed, when she accepted the challenge of sister to write a detective story. So, in 1920, her first crime novel is born – «The mysterious affair of Styles» – and with it the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. This was the beginning of a career that would mark forever crime literature, and that lasted for over 50 years and nearly 300 works – poems, tales, documentaries and pieces for radio and theatre, 80 crime novels and short stories, two autobiographies and eight novels written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.

«People always ask me how she wrote her books, if she had a method or not, and, in fact, she always said that she had none of that. But I think unconsciously, she followed a method, although she didn’t thought much on the subject herself», answers Mathew Prichard to the recurring question of «the secret» of his grandma's books.

And appends «her biggest secret was probably that she wrote books with a single purpose in mind: not to educate, not to shock, but to entertain people with her stories».

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The great observer In a contest to elect the most memorable character of Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot, the

small and stiff Belgian detective, would certainly claim to himself the title of «best detective of all times», but the superb self-confidence of Poirot maybe bring the disapproval of a certain old spinster, with soft and captivating modes, of the village of St Mary Mead, whose favourite pastime is observing the «human nature». In turn, the intrepid couple of detectives Tommy and Tuppence would perhaps defend the advantages of a more amateur and daring style, but with certainty the faithful Captain Hastings would come in defence of his Belgian friend and maybe all of them would finished all mixed up in one of the incredible novels of the eccentric Mrs. Ariadne Oliver (a crime novelist, invented by a crime novelist...). Striking characters, delicious and memorable, with very particular personalities and at the same time so familiar, as said Mathew Prichard, «any of us could recognize individuals with similar traits thinking in the place where we live».

Agatha Christie «didn't like to attract attention upon her»,

recalls her grandson

The extraordinary capacity of observation of Agatha Christie, raised from fragments of reality – little bits of conversations she eared, the habits of people she meet or the places that surrounded her – stimulated her prodigious imagination to topple intriguing storylines and memorable characters (for example, her travels to the Middle East and co-existence with persons related to archaeology, through her second husband, Max Mallowan, inspired her to write titles such as «Death on the Nile» or «Murder in Mesopotamia»). But how was the relationship between Agatha Christie herself and her main characters?

Poirot, unmistakable either by his short stature and amazing mustache of martial aspect or also by his impeccable clothing and eccentric elegant modes, is the first and most famous creation of the novelist – through its infallible «grey cells» he would accompany her for more than 30 novels until the end of her life – but it is also the character with whom she established the more complex relationship, toggling between affection and exasperation. As Mathew Prichard tells us, «she created Poirot to be both brilliant and irritating and was very difficult for her to have as many different ideas for other books and be pressured by her publishers to continue to include Poirot in her stories, as he was her most popular character... With Poirot she has become to some extent, a victim of her own success».

In 1930, in the book «The Murder at the Vicarage», Agatha Christie managed to create a second protagonist of success for her stories, with an insight that rivals Hercule Poirot: Miss Jane Marple. The adorable old lady, whose long experience of life granted her a natural talent for solving any mystery produced by the human nature, was much beloved by the author. Supposedly created to be a kind of copy of Agatha Christie’s grandmother, this distinctly British and familiar character became much cherished by its readers – particularly after the author’s death, in January 1976.

In addition to her two main creations, Agatha Christie invented several other detectives – including the couple Tommy and Tuppence, Superintendent Battle and Colonel Race or the enigmatic Parker Pyne and Harley Quin – as well as other memorable characters, such as Captain Arthur Hastings or inspector Japp. Among these, figure also eccentric crime writer Adriane Oliver, considered by many as a personification of Agatha Christie. «There are obvious similarities», confirms the author's grandson, «Both loved apples [laughs] ... although my grandmother wasn't really as disorganized and chaotic as Mrs. Oliver ...»

The success of her creations knew no borders, and many of her works have been adapted not only to the theatre, cinema, radio and television, but even more recently to video games and comics. How would Agatha Christie like to be remembered? Mathew Prichard, which professionally, administers the legacy of her grandmother ahead of Agatha Christie Ltd, has an answer: «Probably like the writer who managed to give entertainment to people when they most needed. »

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Interview: ‘Agatha Christie could find the order in the middle of her own chaos’ Following in the footsteps of the Queen of Crime with John Curran, aboard the Orient Express...

«As we walk trough the elegantly decorated carriage, the opulence and glamour oh the golden age of train travel seems to carry us to the scene of one of Agatha Christie’s books ... it wouldn't be surprising if, at any time, we bump into Poirot, seated in the armchair next to window with his eyes almost closed trying to solve another challenge to his "little gray cells". Our guide, this short visit to a replica of one of the carriages of the Orient Express – used in the movie "Agatha" (1976) and strategically placed at the entrance to the BFI Southbank's special Agatha Christie Weekend – is nothing less that John Curran, expert in Agatha Christie and responsible for the compilation of the author's private notebooks, in his book «Agatha Christie's secret Notebooks», who answered a few questions about the Queen of Crime.»

How does your passion by Agatha Christie books eventually lead you to write «Agatha Christie Secret Notebooks»?

«Six years ago, during the premiere of a play of Agatha Christie, in Canada, I met Mathew Prichard and this meeting resulted in an invitation to visit the home of Agatha Christie, Greenway. Big part of my stay in the house was passed in a room at the top of the stairs where there were kept all her papers… letters, manuscripts, contracts and their dia ries ... This last discovery fascinated me and immediately decided that I wanted to write a book. Was simply fascinating to me as a fan go through each page of the dairies ... it was like discovering how the magician did his trick!»

How did she wrote?

«I realised, with the compilation of journals, that she did not have a particular method. She could begin by choosing the method of crime, the reason or develop the characters ... She didn’t though in straight lines like everybody else because she lacked a formal education, which led her to develop her own way of thinking. She seemed unable to find the order in the middle of her own chaos [there are approximately 73 diaries and the notes for a book could be spread at least 12 different notebooks!] and I think she felt that even if opened one of the notebooks at random and do not understand why she had written that way, it stimulated her to write something new ... and the result was wonderful!»

Which is, after all, the secret of Agatha Christie?

«It's hard to say, but if I knew what was the secret was I would currently be at home doing it [laughs] ... But I think it was a combination of two factors, that nobody else had. First, she wrote in a relatively easy to read English. Although these seem to be very complex, if we examine her plots with attention, they are actually quite simple. She didn't need pages and pages of explanations, hence you don't have to be extremely cult to understand her books, so they do not become "frightening" for the reader, as with many of the writers of crime novels nowadays. On the other hand, one may have a relationship of a lifetime with the works of Agatha Christie, since you can read a new book every month for seven years. When I speak of Agatha Christie I use the word "genius" and, of course, she was a genius within the crime literature, because nobody ever did so well or for as long as she, and nobody ever will!»

Books: Perfect Crimes With a legacy of 80 crime novels, it is possible to say that Agatha Christie has found the ideal mystery for each one. Based on the preferences of the expert John Curran, Mathew Prichard, the grandson of writer, and the author herself, VISAO magazine has made a top 5

The ABC Murders 1936 «I always thought that the «The ABC Murders» was Poirot’s best boo k», it is the verdict of Mathew Prichard about this intriguing mystery about a serial killer who chooses its victims according to the letters of the alphabet, leaving close to the body a copy of the ABC guide of the railways, by way of signature. His error is only one: the vanity that leads him to challenge Hercule Poirot.»

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Ten Little Niggers 1939 A dark and mysterious island, ten strangers who apparently have nothing in common, an invisible and omnipresent aggressor and a strange and unforgiving way of justice take shape in this amazing thriller – the best-selling Agatha Christie’s and one of the references in the list of John Curran – in which each guest is being brutally murdered at the rhythm of a children’s hymn...

Five Little Pigs 1942 Five suspects only to a unusual challenge that Hercule Poirot must resolve: sixteen years ago, Caroline, was accused and condemned by the death of her husband, the artist Amyas Crale, eventually dying in prison ... but will have been made justice? It is now that the famous Belgian detective will unravel the secrets, lies and ghosts buried in the past. This is the favourite book by John Curran and the crime takes place in the author's own home.

Crooked House 1949 «My grandmother always said she took great pride in the book called the «Crooked House», are the words of Mathew Prichard. The history of extravagant Leonides family and their disproportionate and grotesque mansion, which turns into a real "crooked house" when the old patriarch, Aristide Leonides, is murdered, leaving behind a long list of suspects, is therefore the favourite of Agatha Christie and has, along with «The Murder of Roger Ackroyd», one of the most amazing endings of all her work.

Endless Night 1967 Referred to both by Mathew Prichard as by John Curran as one of the best books written by Agatha Christie, this title, inspired by the verses of William Blake – «Some are born to sweet delight, Some are born to endless night ' – tell us the story of a young couple who find their dream home in Gipsy's Acre, a beautiful place, but also a cursed place where accidents happen...