Dame Agatha Christie
Suggested Reading
2000 Charles Osborne
2018 Laura Thompson
2021 H R F Keating
Web Resources
- PRINT:
- BIOGRAPHY: https://www.agathachristie.com/about-christie
- BIOGRAPHY: https://www.thoughtco.com/agatha-christie-1779787
- BIOGRAPHY: https://www.biography.com/writer/agatha-christie
- BIOGRAPHY (Britannica; subscription): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Agatha-Christie
- DISAPPEARANCE: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/books/agatha-christie-vanished-11-days-1926.html
- DISAPPEARANCE: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Curious-Disappearance-of-Agatha-Christie/
- OVERVIEW (BBC): https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180907-agatha-christie-shaped-how-the-world-sees-britain
- OVERVIEW (The New Yorker): https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/08/16/queen-of-crime
- CHRISTIE BIBLIOGRAPHY: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie_bibliography
- VIDEO:
- DOCUMENTARY (from TravelToob): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2Ayc429LnE
- DISAPPEARANCE (CBS This Morning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHwlqIw3tAY
- 100 YEARS OF POIROT AND MARPLE (BritTV Documentary): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1xjezPXPxs
Davis Suchet as Hercule Poirot
Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple
Additional Web Resources
- HERCULE POIROT OBITUARY: https://www.nytimes.com/1975/08/06/archives/hercule-poirot-is-dead-famed-belgian-detective-hercule-poirot-the.html
- MAX MALLOWAN (husband No. 2): https://www.britannica.com/biography/Max-Mallowan
- ARCHIBALD CHRISTIE (husband No. 1): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Christie
Authorized Censorship/Editing
Agatha Christie, Ltd. and Harper Collins have authorized the re-writing of whole passages in Christie's novels because the original versions were perceived to be socially and culturally offensive. The following resources give the details and several address the question of whether editing classics is acceptable in the first place.
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/26/agatha-christie-novels-reworked-to-remove-potentially-offensive-language
- https://www.cnn.com/style/article/agatha-christie-novels-edited-offensive-language-gbr-intl-scli/index.html
- https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/agatha-christie-books-reedited-for-sensitive-content
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/03/books/classic-novels-revisions-agatha-christie-roald-dahl.html
- https://www.jungleredwriters.com/2023/04/revising-agatha-christie.html
Agatha Christie's Best Lists:
READER’S DIGEST: https://www.rd.com/list/best-agatha-christie-books/BECOME A WRITER: https://becomeawritertoday.com/best-agatha-christie-books/TOWN AND COUNTRY (Christie’s personal list): https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g39046794/best-agatha-christie-books/THE GUARDIAN: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/sep/15/top-10-agatha-christie-novels
Agatha Christie's Plays
BIBLIOGRAPHY: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Plays_by_Agatha_ChristieOVERVIEW: https://www.agathachristie.com/theatre/agatha-christie-and-theatre-the-factsTEN FACTS: https://www.mayacorrigan.com/christie-plays.htmlNOVEL ADAPTATIONS: https://breakingcharacter.com/agatha-christie-novels-adapted-for-the-stage/
Agatha Christie Family
Margaret 'Madge' Miller (1879-1950) was the sister of Agatha Christie. She was married to James Watts and the mother of Jack Watts. Madge Miller wrote several short stories and plays. Some short stories were published in Vanity Fair, including “The Sixth Ball of the Over,” “A Rub of the Green,” and “Cassie Plays Croquet.” Her stage drama The Claimant is based on the Tichborne Case from the 1860s and 70s and enjoyed a short run in the West End at the Queen's Theatre from September 11 to October 18 of 1924. It was produced by Basil Dean of the Royal Theatre and starred Leon Quartermaine and Fay Compton.
James “Jimmy” Watts (1878 - 1957) was the husband of Madge Miller and the father of Jack Watts. He was the brother-in-law of Agatha Christie. His family lived at Abney Hall and also owned another property just 14 miles away called Upper House. Agatha Christie visited and stayed at both places on various occasions when she visited her sister. Christie dedicated her novels The A.B.C. Murders (1936) and Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938) to him.
James "Jack" Watts (22 August 1903 – 7 July 1961) was a Conservative party politician in the United Kingdom. He was elected at the 1959 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Moss Side, but died in office two years later, aged 57. Dame Agatha Christie, who was his mother Madge's sister, dedicated several books to him, including The Secret of Chimneys (1925).---------------------------------------------Louis Montant “Monty” Miller (1880-1929) was the brother of Agatha Christie. Always referred to as "Monty" in the family, he was, like Madge, much older than Agatha. Monty was born in Morristown, New Jersey when his parents were there on a visit to the United States. Of Monty, Christie said: "In every family, there is usually one member who is a source of trouble and worry. My brother Monty was ours. Until the day of his death, he was always causing someone a headache. I have often wondered, looking back, whether there is any niche in life where Monty would have fitted in. He would certainly have been all right if he had been born [Mad King] Ludwig II of Bavaria."---------------------------------------------Rosalind Margaret Clarissa Hicks (formerly Prichard, née Christie; 5 August 1919 – 28 October 2004) was the only child of author Agatha Christie. Rosalind married Major Hubert de Burr Prichard (14 May 1907 – 16 August 1944), son of Colonel Hubert Prichard, in 1940 at Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales. Their only child, Mathew Prichard, was born in 1943. A year later, Rosalind's husband died in the Battle of Normandy. She remarried in 1949, to lawyer Anthony Arthur Hicks (26 September 1916 — 15 April 2005) in Kensington, London, England. They lived in the Greenway Estate until Rosalind's death on 28 October 2004, aged 85. She was survived by her son and husband, who died six months later.
Mathew Prichard (born 1943) is the son of Hubert Prichard and Rosalind Hicks, and the only grandchild of Agatha Christie. His son James Prichard is the current CEO of Agatha Christie Limited.
James Prichard was born in 1970 in England. His father, Mathew Prichard, is a British philanthropist, the only child of British literary guardian Rosalind Hicks and the only grandchild of author Agatha Christie. His siblings are Alexandra Prichard (b. 1969) and Joanna Prichard (b. 1976). Prichard studied at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. He graduated in 1993, before beginning his career at HarperCollins as a commercial director. He remained in the position until 2009 when he created the company Langtail Press, which preserves publications out of print by producing e-books. In 2015, Prichard took over as CEO of Agatha Christie Limited, from his father Mathew Prichard. He remains chairman and has been involved in upcoming projects, like the new Poirot novels written by Sophie Hannah. Along with his father, he also served as executive producer for Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile, voicing interest in more collaborations in the future. Website: https://www.agathachristielimited.com/about/meet-the-team
Agatha Christie Limited (ACL) has been managing the literary and media rights to Agatha Christie's works around the world since 1955 when the company was set up by Christie herself. It is now chaired and managed by Agatha Christie’s great-grandson James Prichard. 64% of ACL is owned by RLJ Entertainment, a premier independent owner, developer, licensee, and distributor of entertainment content and programming primarily in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. 36% is owned by Agatha Christie’s family. Agatha Christie Productions (ACP) is the production arm of ACL. ACP works with leading production companies to produce shows such as The Witness for the Prosecution and And Then There Were None.
James “Jimmy” Watts (1878 - 1957) was the husband of Madge Miller and the father of Jack Watts. He was the brother-in-law of Agatha Christie. His family lived at Abney Hall and also owned another property just 14 miles away called Upper House. Agatha Christie visited and stayed at both places on various occasions when she visited her sister. Christie dedicated her novels The A.B.C. Murders (1936) and Hercule Poirot's Christmas (1938) to him.
James "Jack" Watts (22 August 1903 – 7 July 1961) was a Conservative party politician in the United Kingdom. He was elected at the 1959 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Moss Side, but died in office two years later, aged 57. Dame Agatha Christie, who was his mother Madge's sister, dedicated several books to him, including The Secret of Chimneys (1925).---------------------------------------------Louis Montant “Monty” Miller (1880-1929) was the brother of Agatha Christie. Always referred to as "Monty" in the family, he was, like Madge, much older than Agatha. Monty was born in Morristown, New Jersey when his parents were there on a visit to the United States. Of Monty, Christie said: "In every family, there is usually one member who is a source of trouble and worry. My brother Monty was ours. Until the day of his death, he was always causing someone a headache. I have often wondered, looking back, whether there is any niche in life where Monty would have fitted in. He would certainly have been all right if he had been born [Mad King] Ludwig II of Bavaria."---------------------------------------------Rosalind Margaret Clarissa Hicks (formerly Prichard, née Christie; 5 August 1919 – 28 October 2004) was the only child of author Agatha Christie. Rosalind married Major Hubert de Burr Prichard (14 May 1907 – 16 August 1944), son of Colonel Hubert Prichard, in 1940 at Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales. Their only child, Mathew Prichard, was born in 1943. A year later, Rosalind's husband died in the Battle of Normandy. She remarried in 1949, to lawyer Anthony Arthur Hicks (26 September 1916 — 15 April 2005) in Kensington, London, England. They lived in the Greenway Estate until Rosalind's death on 28 October 2004, aged 85. She was survived by her son and husband, who died six months later.
Mathew Prichard (born 1943) is the son of Hubert Prichard and Rosalind Hicks, and the only grandchild of Agatha Christie. His son James Prichard is the current CEO of Agatha Christie Limited.
James Prichard was born in 1970 in England. His father, Mathew Prichard, is a British philanthropist, the only child of British literary guardian Rosalind Hicks and the only grandchild of author Agatha Christie. His siblings are Alexandra Prichard (b. 1969) and Joanna Prichard (b. 1976). Prichard studied at the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. He graduated in 1993, before beginning his career at HarperCollins as a commercial director. He remained in the position until 2009 when he created the company Langtail Press, which preserves publications out of print by producing e-books. In 2015, Prichard took over as CEO of Agatha Christie Limited, from his father Mathew Prichard. He remains chairman and has been involved in upcoming projects, like the new Poirot novels written by Sophie Hannah. Along with his father, he also served as executive producer for Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile, voicing interest in more collaborations in the future. Website: https://www.agathachristielimited.com/about/meet-the-team
Agatha Christie Limited (ACL) has been managing the literary and media rights to Agatha Christie's works around the world since 1955 when the company was set up by Christie herself. It is now chaired and managed by Agatha Christie’s great-grandson James Prichard. 64% of ACL is owned by RLJ Entertainment, a premier independent owner, developer, licensee, and distributor of entertainment content and programming primarily in North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. 36% is owned by Agatha Christie’s family. Agatha Christie Productions (ACP) is the production arm of ACL. ACP works with leading production companies to produce shows such as The Witness for the Prosecution and And Then There Were None.
Interviews
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnXOFET06xc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYBjkyg57Uo
- Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie's grandson, introduces this series of videos in which he will provide insights into Christie's life and works, sharing his unique perspective on the woman and the author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nso3ZPNEQlI
Recommended Viewing
Gardening
MISS MARPLE: https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2022/passionate-about-plants-gardening-in-miss-marpleSIGNIFICANT PLANTS IN CHRISTIE NOVELS: https://agathachristie.fandom.com/wiki/Plants_and_flowersDAME AGATHA & POISONOUS PLANTS: https://gardencollage.com/wander/gardens-parks/agatha-christie-loved-poisonous-plants/
MARY WESTMACOTT
Christie published six mainstream novels under the name Mary Westmacott, a pseudonym which gave her the freedom to explore "her most private and precious thoughts.” Interestingly enough, these books typically received better reviews than her detective and thriller fiction. Of the first, Giant's Bread published in 1930, a reviewer for The New York Times wrote, "... her book is far above the average of current fiction, in fact, comes well under the classification of a 'good book'. And it is only a satisfying novel that can claim that appellation." After her authorship of the first four Westmacott novels was revealed by a journalist in 1949, she wrote two more, the last in 1956. The other Westmacott titles are: Unfinished Portrait (1934), Absent in the Spring (1944), The Rose and the Yew Tree (1948), A Daughter's a Daughter (1952), and The Burden (1956).