Agatha Christie

First Lady of Crime

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Agatha Christie, H. R. F. Keating, Sophie Hannah: Agatha Christie (2021, Pegasus Books)

272 pages

English language

Published Nov. 18, 2021 by Pegasus Books.

ISBN:
978-1-64313-736-0
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This is a collection of essays which was originally published in 1977, a year after Christie’s death. Diverse and gives very clear all round picture of Agatha Christie from differing perspectives. Contributors include Christianna Brand, H.R. F. Keating, Emma Lathen, Julian Symons and nine others.

6 editions

Insightful collection of essays

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I’ve been reading Agatha Christie books for as long as, well, as long as I can remember reading. So quite possibly from the time when this book was first published back in 1977. It’s a collection of essays about the Queen of Crime’s life and works. When I started reading, I didn’t quite realise how long ago it was originally published. Oddly, the commentary/opinions didn’t feel especially dated, other than references to (then) contemporary events.

I enjoyed the mix of personal insights, commercial “analysis” and commentary on her wide range of works: fiction, plays, memoir... And of course, now I’m in a mood to revisit some of her mysteries again.