Agatha Christie's Favorite Bathing Spots

In the Agatha Christie's Poirot adaptation of "Murder on the Links," Captain Arthur Hastings goes out one morning to swim, or bathe, in the ocean. There he bumps into Bella Duveen, the glamorous singer who so entranced him in the lobby of the Hotel Du Golf. When she tells him that the water is freezing, he abandons his swimming plans and instead treats her to breakfast in a warm restaurant. 

Later, after Poirot leaves for London, Hastings meets up with her again. As they walk along the seafront, she convinces him to allow her to tag along to the Police evidence room, where she can see all the items catalogued by Inspector Giraud as he investigates the murder of Paul Renault. He thinks it will all be terribly boring for her. She convinces him that, while she's fascinated by murder, she also enjoys his company.

Deauville, a jewel of the northern coast of France, owes much of its heritage to tourism. The city is renowned for its swimming and bathing opportunities. Over 150 years ago, a series of hydrotherapeutic baths were constructed. Today, visitors are still drawn to its famous pompeian baths.

Agatha Christie loved vacationing in France. Hence, Hercule Poirot often travels there during his storied career. Still, she never lost her love for Torquay. Her childhood home, locating on a stretch of coastline known as the English Riviera, offers beach lovers many places to enjoy an invigorating swim or a relaxing soak. According to one guidebook, Beacon Cove was one of the places Agatha Christie returned to again and again. With its sparkling azure waters and rugged coastline, its easy to imagine her loving this place.

Perhaps that's what drew me to capture this place in more than a photograph. While my wife wandered along the shore, hunting for interesting rocks and shells, I sat down with my pencils and hurriedly sketched out what I saw. The ocean breeze grew cool and bracing as the afternoon waned, but I didn't mind. For an hour or so, I immersed myself in one of Agatha Christie's favorite bathing spots. 

Afterwards, instead of swimming, my wife took me out to a warm restaurant for dinner. But then, she's occasionally admitted that she's fascinated by my sketching, and that she enjoys my company.

Dragon Dave

Agatha Christie's Boardwalks

Should you ever visit Deauville in France, in which the Agatha Christie's Poirot production of "Murder on the Links" took place, you've got plenty of entertainment options. One place you'll definitely want to check out is the Promenade des Plances, a famous boardwalk along the seafront. If you time your stay appropriately, you can take in the Trophee De Deauville. This bicycle race begins on the scenic promenade.

While the riders cycle through this scenic historic town, you can take time to admire the beach life from the comfort of an ocean front bar or restaurant. Or you can walk along the boardwalk and contemplate Deauville's film history. The names of many of Hollywood's finest actors and directors, such as Glenn Close, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas, grace seaside cabins. This is an honor the French have bestowed upon them, in gratitude for their having attended the city's annual film festival. But keep a sharp lookout! 

Mrs. Renault and Gabriel Stonor watch the race on
the Promenade des Planches.

Before long, the racers will return, and you can see which bicyclist crosses the finish line first.

Although Agatha Christie chose to feature neither the boardwalk nor the bicycle race in her novel, visiting seafront boardwalks no doubt formed a regular part of her life. In her hometown of Torquay, a famous boardwalk arcs out from the beach and surrounds the harbor. After strolling through the nearby gardens, shopping at waterfront stores, or eating at a seaside restaurant, what could be nicer than strolling out over the waves, and admiring the boats anchored in the harbor?

The Boardwalk in Agatha Christie's hometown of
Torquay, England.

It's a great place for meeting people, either fellow travelers like yourself, or locals who have also fallen in love with Agatha Christie's Poirot. We found this out, the night we visited Torquay's boardwalk, as I related in A Conversation at the Quay. Having visited several English boardwalks now, I'm curious to visit one in France. The boardwalk in Deauville sounds like a great starting point for an exploration of French boardwalks. Who knows? I might even meet someone famous while walking along that scenic waterfront, such as the sporting Captain Hastings, or the more quiet and retiring Hercule Poirot.

Dragon Dave

French Cuisine & Five-Star Hotels

Should you ever travel to the scenic town of Deauville in France, to visit the sites featured in the Agatha Christie's Poirot adaptation of The Murder on the Links, why not stay at the Hotel Du Golf? This is where Captain Arthur Hastings and his friend Hercule Poirot resided when investigating the death of immigrant Paul Renault, a part owner of the hotel and adjacent golf course, who reportedly made his fortune in precious stones in South America.

The Hotel du Golf, or Hotel Normandy,
as featured in the Agatha Christie's Poirot episode
"Murder on the Links."

Also known as the Hotel Normandy, this five star hotel offers cuisine suited to even the most sophisticated palates, as the well-traveled Belgian detective can attest. It also offers the best entertainment, including the attractive singer Miss Bella Duveen. She's someone whose voice, face, and personality will bowl you over, as Captain Arthur Hastings discovered during his stay in Deauville.

When on vacation, my wife and I find ourselves much more interested in the local cuisine than playing golf. While touring places in Devon mentioned in Charles Kingsley's novel Westward Ho!, such as Bideford, Clovelly and Appledore, we often dined out. The place we stayed that week offered us our own kitchen, so we had the option of making our own breakfasts.

When properly trained,
 Daleks make excellent cooks and waiters.

We often prepared these with items from local grocery stores, as well as leftovers from restaurants we visited.

While staying at the White Horse Lodge opposite Churston Train Station, our breakfasts were sumptuous and filling. The staff were friendly, and the dining area filled with homey touches. 

It was the kind of place I'd gladly return to again, should circumstances allow.

Unlike the famous detective Hercule Poirot, I'm not familiar with French cooking. But if my wife and I visited Deauville, I'd be willing to give it a try, especially if I had a sophisticated gastronomist like Hercule Poirot to guide my choices, and a talented singer like Bella Duveen to serenade us while we ate. Now, only one question remains. Could we afford to stay in a five star resort for more than five minutes? Could you?

Who knew sleuthing paid so good? I guess that's part of the genius of Hercule Poirot.

Dragon Dave

Agatha Christie Loves Trains

This map, used in the beginning of the
 Agatha Christie's Poirot production of
"Murder on the Links," 
adorns a wall in the Deauville Train Station.

Trying to decide where to spend your next vacation? Then consider Deauville, a romantic seaside town in France. It's a historic town with a rich history in sports and cinema. The local casino may even have inspired Ian Fleming to write his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.

While there are other ways to travel, there's no better way to arrive in Deauville than by train. With the steam engine chugging and hooting, and the passenger cars gently rocking you from side to side, you can drink in the beautiful French scenery rolling past your window, without worrying if you'll make the appropriate turns without getting lost. Plus, you won't have to worry about where to park your car. 

If, like Hercule Poirot in Agatha Christie's novel The Murder on the Links, you discover that you need to make a quick journey to Paris, Deauville's train station can accommodate you. If, like Hercule Poirot in the Agatha Christie's Poirot TV adaptation, you decide to visit London instead, the train station can help you reach that famous city as well. In fact, whatever your needs, you'll find the porters and station staff ready to render any assistance you require, from carrying your golf clubs to telling you when suspects in a murder investigation arrived or departed. They'll even happily summon a cab for you to transport you to wherever you might be staying. 

As trains formed a crucial part of the transportation system in Agatha Christie's day, they frequently featured in her novels. This proved the case not only for her stories set in France, where events in The Murder on the Links took place, but also those set in England. During our stay outside Torquay, we discovered that our hotel lay directly across from a train station. 

While we relaxed in our comfortable room, and the sumptuous bar (or, if you prefer, pub), we would often hear the whistle of a train arriving or departing, and the bellowing of its mighty steam engine. At the time, I regarded the sounds as something of a distraction, as we were usually exhausted from a day's worth of sightseeing and travel when we returned to our night's lodging. So I never thought to photograph these magnificent old trains that help transport visitors to Agatha Christie's stately vacation home of Greenway. 

If I return to Torquay, I'd love to take one of those magnificent steam trains. Should I ever visit Deauville, taking a train is a transportation option I would definitely consider. Who knows? My wife and I might find ourselves sitting across the aisle from some interesting and convivial people, such as Captain Arthur Hastings, and his indomitable friend Hercule Poirot.

Dragon Dave

Captain Hastings on Golf And Cars

While it's always interesting to speculate as to how the people and events in an author's life inspire her to include them in her story, what we know is that the production team chose to rewrite Agatha Christie's original stories. Often, they did this to strengthen the bond between Hercule Poirot and Hastings, as proved the case with this story. In the TV version, Poirot and Hastings travel to France on holiday. Somewhat bizarrely, a perfectionist like Poirot, who always needs everything just so, leaves the entire planning of this vacation to Captain Hastings. A man who cares about all the little details, who needs everything symmetrical and suited to his tastes, entrusts his friend, who takes a much more casual view of life, to choose the hotel? It may not make sense, but it does endear us to Hastings, who pushes back the porter at the train station when the man attempts to hand him his golf clubs. 

Hastings knows that Poirot dislikes the game of golf. Poirot's aims for this trip are different. He wishes to explore the glorious realms of French cuisine. In the car, he casually asks Hastings what hotel he has chosen. Then the great detective sees the taxi pulling up at the Hotel Du Golf. As Poirot leaves the car, we feel for Poirot when he warns Hastings that the chef's cooking had better be acceptable to his palate. Hastings quickly assures Poirot that he's sure the food is up to scratch. After all, you can work up a healthy appetite after playing 18 holes!

Thankfully for Hastings, Poirot finds the food at the Hotel Du Golf acceptable. Even better, the rich Mr. Renault (note the slight name change) shows up in the hotel lobby. There he sits by Poirot, and urgently requests his assistance. Poirot shushes him, and agrees to call on his tomorrow at his house. Perhaps Poirot shushes Renault because he does not wish to disturb his friend Captain Hastings. If so, he need not worry, as Hastings is thoroughly absorbed by the beautiful lady singer. 

The TV series presented Captain Hastings as having a passion for automobiles. Poirot, meanwhile, views them merely as a necessity. So swapping the name of an obscure French nobleman for one shared by a company with a rich heritage in racing and automotive history seems like another way to involve Hastings further in the story. Consider Hastings' agony in the TV version of The Murder on the Links. He plans a magnificent vacation in France, only to have his golf plans ruined with the murder of a fellow golf enthusiast. Worse, the name of the victim is synonymous with that of the famed Renault car company. What a catastrophe!

Dragon Dave

Archibald Christie's Passion For Golf

By all accounts, Agatha Christie enjoyed playing golf. It was a pastime she shared with her first husband, Archibald Christie. But writing came first for Agatha Christie. So while she wrote her novels on the weekends, Archibald spent his weekends at the Sunningdale Golf Club. 

Interestingly, she chose to make a golf enthusiast the victim in The Murder on the Links, her second Hercule Poirot novel.

In her story, Captain Hastings travels back to France at Hercule Poirot's invitation. There they discover Mr. Renauld, the rich man who wrote to Poirot, pleading for the great detective's assistance, has been found stabbed on the golf course. This isn't just any golf course: this is one Mr. Renauld helped design and fund, and it lies right next to his property. Agatha Christie never explores this aspect of the story, but you can imagine the irony of the situation, as well as how his wife and son must have viewed it. This man, who to a certain extent lived for golf, has now also died for his cherished sport. Poirot and Hastings spend the entire day assisting the French police, then take a car to the Hotel Des Bains, which has been recommended to them by the examining magistrate M. Hautet. 

In the TV adaptation,
Captain Hastings plans a vacation for himself and Poirot.
Instead of the Hotel Des Bains,
he books them into the Hotel Du Golf.
The film location is the five-star Hotel Normandy,
located in the French city of Deauville

Was Agatha Christie merely envious that her husband got to play a sport he loved while she locked herself away at home to write? Even if she loved writing? Did she suspect that his time away from her, playing a sport he loved with other men and women, might lead him to form new and powerful relationships, which would sap his devotion to her?  We may not know what drove her to make a golf enthusiast like her husband the victim of her next novel. What we do know is that, a few years after she wrote The Murder on the Links, Archibald Christie asked her for a divorce. 

But then, life imitates art, often in unexpected ways.

Dragon Dave

Captain Arthur Hastings' Modern Girlfriend

In Agatha Christie's novel The Murder on the Links, Captain Arthur Hastings takes a ferry across the English Channel, then rides on a train back to London. There he returns to the apartment he shares with Hercule Poirot, the famous Belgian detective. Unlike most of his countrymen, Poirot opted to remain in England after the war. Over breakfast the next morning, Hastings and Poirot catch up, and Poirot reiterates how glad he is not to have traveled on the ship with Hastings. Even in the calmest weather, and even for an hour, Poirot finds the notion of a voyage aboard a ship unpalatable. 

In its own way, sea sickness can be as debilitating as a fear of air travel. 

After breakfast, Poirot goes through his morning mail. In it he finds a letter from France. When he opens it, he discovers it is an appeal for help from a Mr. Renauld. Even though the rich gentleman doesn't say exactly what he wants Poirot to investigate, he insists that he lives in fear of his life. Despite his dislike of sea voyages, the urgent tone of the letter convinces Poirot to travel to France and meet Mr. Renauld. And even though he's just returned from France on a business trip for the government, Hastings agrees to return, this time to help his friend with this mysterious investigation. 

When they reach Mr. Renauld's house in France, Poirot and Hastings discover that he was kidnapped. Mrs. Renauld was found in the house by a servant, bound and gagged. The police expected to receive a ransom demand from the kidnappers. Instead, the body of Mr. Renauld is discovered on the golf course adjoining his estate. It seems Mr. Renault was murdered, stabbed in the back.

I won't attempt to summarize Agatha Christie's novel for you. Nor do I wish to throw out any spoilers that might diminish your interest in the story. But as to the girl Hastings met in the first chapter, aboard the train headed toward Calais, he bumps into her the following day.

As on the train, he can't resist telling her he's investigating a murder. She declares that she's mad about murders, and sweet-talks him into showing her the scene of the crime. I like how Agatha Christie shows us how repulsive Hastings views this modern woman's interests and actions, tells himself how much he dislikes her, but can't resist acceding to her requests. Clearly she wields a power over him. For although he knows the French police will surely object, he gives her a tour of the crime scene anyway.

The TV adaptation changes a great many things about this girl Hastings meets. Agatha Christie's girl is a coarse dance hall entertainer. The girl in the TV version works as a refined, elegant singer in the hotel where Hastings and Poirot take lodgings. In the book, Higgins fights his constant attraction to her. On TV, she is instantly everything he's ever desired in a woman. In the book, his growing attraction to her is much more of a mystery in itself. On TV, it's the typical storybook romance we've seen a thousand times. In Christie's novel, Hastings doesn't even know her name until two-thirds of the way through the novel. Even then he only thinks he knows it, and Poirot must set him right as to her true identity many pages later. In TV, Hastings learns her name immediately, but tells the French police and Poirot that he doesn't. Of course, the French police may believe his story, but Hercule Poirot knows the woman's identity. For he saw how his friend Arthur Hastings gazed at her when she sang in the hotel lobby.

I found these two different versions of Arthur Hastings' romance with his modern girlfriend satisfying and enjoyable. Having watched Agatha Christie's Poirot on TV for over twenty years now, I am finding that exploring the stories as she wrote them, and comparing them to the TV versions, enhances my appreciation for both. Still, it is interesting how TV rips apart and reassembles what works in Christie's novels in order to translate her stories into a new medium. Don't you agree, mon ami?

Dragon Dave 

Arthur Hastings, a Beautiful Lady, and the Battle of the Somme

Agatha Christie's second Hercule Poirot novel, The Murder on the Links, starts with Captain Arthur Hastings riding on a train in France. In his carriage, his sole companion is a young lady who goes against all his classic ideas of what a woman should be. She swears, says the most outrageous things, and wears too much makeup. Yet, despite all this, he finds himself strangely attracted to her. 

As they talk, Hastings opens up to her, and tells her that the landscape they are traveling through reminds him of his experiences during World War I. Like many of his friends, he fought in the great war, and saw many people of his generation die. The scenery especially reminds him of the Battle of the Somme, which was waged between July and November 1916. After receiving serious injuries, he was invalided out of France. He was sent to a manor house that had been converted into an Army hospital, where he recovered from his wounds. Thereafter, he never returned to active service on the battlefield. Instead, during the remainder of WWI, he served the British Army in lesser capacities. 

The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. In all, roughly one million people were killed or wounded. Hastings, who recovered fully from his injuries, is one of the lucky ones. Despite his breezy, unaffected manner, it's easy to understand how deeply such an experience would scar him for life.

Recently, Hastings has been working for a British M.P. (or Member of Parliament), and on this occasion his duties took him to France. But he doesn't seem heavily involved in his government work. Aside from the occasional trip abroad,he may sit idle for days or weeks. So as he travels with the girl toward Calais, he tells her about his friend Hercule Poirot, the famous detective, and how he sometimes helps him investigate his cases. In particular, he references the poisoning of Mrs. Emily Ingelthorp at Styles Court, which Agatha Christie covered in the first Hercule Poirot novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. When the train reaches the station, Hastings reluctantly disembarks and parts company with her. 

As the train steams off to its next destination, this beautiful young woman seems to walk out of his life. Although he looks for her, he doesn't see her when he boards the ferry that will take him across the English Channel.

As I mentioned previously in my post, The Mysterious Battle of Ypres, in the TV version of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, we found Captain Arthur Hastings recovering from his injuries in a converted English manor house. Unlike today, he has no continuously broadcasting TV channels such as the BBC or CNN to watch. Nor can he read reports posted on a continuously throughout the day on his laptop or cell phone. The only source of news he gets comes via newspapers and newsreels. When we first see him, he sits in a darkened room, and the film projector shows him footage from the recent Third Battle of Ypres. This battle, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele, was waged in Belgium, and the resultant destruction spurred a mass exodus of refugees to other countries. Shortly after that, at the invitation of his friend John Cavendish, he visits Styles Court. There, he meets up with Hercule Poirot, one of many Belgians who has fled the fighting to resettle, at least temporarily, in England.

The Third Battle of Ypres occurred between July and November of 1917, a year after the Battle of the Somme. I wonder why the TV adaptation of The Mysterious Affair at Styles was set later than Agatha Christie wrote the novel, in 1917. Why would the production team ignore Captain Hastings conversation with this young lady on the train in The Murder on the Links, which clearly dates the Styles affair in 1916? I understand why the people behind the series chose to set all the Poirot stories between WWI and WWII, as opposed to letting the later novels appear as Agatha Christie wrote them, such as the 1960s and 1970s. Still, given that decision, it seems odd to set productions of Agatha Christie's first two Poirot novels later than she did. 

Anyone else find this as strange as I do?

Related Poirot And Friends Posts
The Mysterious Battle of Ypres

A Conversation at the Quay

No more beautiful sight exists in Torquay than the quay itself. Ships come and go in the azure waters, and the shore-side roads are bordered by restaurants, hotels, and shops and kiosks selling every manner of goods every associated with a pleasant, seaside holiday. My wife and I strolled past these businesses, our attention divided by the tantalizing items for sale, the ships in the harbor, the people swimming in the water gently lapping against the shore, or playing in the pebbly sand, and our fellow human and canine walkers. Yet we had come with an interest in mind beyond that of most tourists. This was Agatha Christie's hometown, and as we walked, we saw not only what is today, but also tried to picture our surroundings as the great author would have seen them, decades and yes, even a century ago.

Make no mistake: for the Agatha Christie fan, all of Torquay is hallowed ground.

I make no claims to being a diehard Agatha Christie fan. I'll admit I've read a dozen or so of her books. For some authors, such as the obscure, mostly forgotten (but nonetheless great) E. F. Benson, that might be impressive. But given the number of books she produced in her lifetime, and her legion of fans who know her stories inside and out, I'm a nobody. Nor can I claim that my motives in reading her are pure, as I've started to read her work in the last few years, having thrilled to the performances of actor David Suchet on the TV adaptations of "Agatha Christie's Poirot." But now that I am reading her novels, I'm finding that what I perceived as sprawling among riches was really just the oblivion of the uniformed. For Agatha Christie's novels possess the riches far greater than those the TV series could ever hope to capture. Her novels know none of the limitations of a tightly budgeted TV production. Her narratives feel no need to keep Hercule Poirot foremost and center. In some books, he hurtles off on boats and trains, and goes to far-flung destinations. In others, he rarely appears. Thus, in the TV productions, even the most faithful show striking differences with the source material. And at times, the resultant shows barely resemble the original stories.

While walking the historic boardwalk, the wind whipped over the water. This forced me to keep my hat tightly strapped down, and its bill pointed down, lest the wind rip it off my head and cast it upon the gleaming blue water. Given the long summer days, and the clear skies, taking off one's sunglasses could only force one to squint. Yet in such a picturesque setting, photographs seemed mandatory. 

We passed by one family, who were taking turns taking photographs of each other with their iPads, as the beauty of their surroundings had exhausted the batteries in their cameras. We offered to take a photo of all three of them with their iPad, and in return, they took a photo of us with our camera. Then we fell into conversation.

When the subject turned to Agatha Christie, and Hercule Poirot, their eyes lit up. Yes, they too were fans, drawn to the stories by the TV series. Yes, they too loved David Suchet's performances, and it was the love of those adapted stories that had drawn them here. They wished to see where the author had lived. They also admitted that, as the TV production for all the Poirot stories had finally wound down, they were being drawn to read her original books. I told them some of the differences I had discovered, between her original stories, and the adaptations, by reading her novels. From their smiles, and the brightness of their eyes, I came away feeling as if they now felt even more driven to seek out those differences for themselves. 

I greatly enjoyed the time I spent in Torquay, and treasure my memories of all I experienced there. While I would have loved to attend many of the events scheduled for this year's Agatha Christie Festival, I suspect the times that would have meant the most to me would have been the conversations with other fans, such as the one I enjoyed with the family on the boardwalk. But then, after we left the boardwalk, my wife and I stepped inside a small shop to look for postcards, and a cheerful, enthusiastic lady behind the counter insisted upon having us taste three or four flavors of ice cream made with real Devonshire cream. In the end, I chose Banoffee, a mixture of Banana and Toffee. Sitting down outside, and watching the people walking past, the bathers swimming or playing in the pebbly sand, and ships parked in or navigating the gleaming azure waters, while we ate our authentic Devonshire ice cream, remains another treasured memory.

Perhaps, Mon Ami, we could even call it a Hercule Poirot moment. For even if the scoops of ice cream in my bowl weren't identically-sized and symmetrically-placed, I'm sure the great detective would have approved of the flavor. 

Agatha Christie's Murder Garden

Gardens play a significant role in many Agatha Christie stories. Consider a few examples. In her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, the day on which the gardener works near the house proves a vital clue for Hercule Poirot, as does the woman who sits reading in the garden, where she can hear an argument taking place inside the house. In her third Hercule Poirot novel, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Poirot has tired of conducting his sleuthing from his flat in London. He retires to a village where he buys a house, and grows marrows (squash). Although he applies his little gray cells to this task successfully, raises exceptionally healthy and large vegetables sure to compete favorably in the village show, he grows so dissatisfied with his life there that he picks up and hurls a marrow over the fence, narrowly missing the doctor who lives next door. And in Nemesis, Miss Marple accepts the challenge of a dead man (through his lawyer), and agrees to carry out an investigation, even if at the outset she doesn't know precisely what she is supposed to investigate. As events unfold, she soon learns she has been invited to join an all-expenses-paid garden tour. As the bus travels between towns and great English Manor houses, and she tours these carefully manicured gardens, she meets many interesting people. Gradually, she begins to understand the mystery her deceased benefactor wished her to investigate.

As we toured the English county of Devon on this year's trip, we found flowers blooming in boxes, containers, and hanging baskets on nearly every street of every town we visited. Torquay, Agatha Christie's hometown, showed off many impressive gardens. There we discovered one dedicated to the writer. It holds a number of flowers and plants mentioned in her stories. From these plants, the poisons used in her novels can be produced. This garden resides within the walls of Torre Abbey. We enjoyed seeing all these plants, and racking our brains for the answers to the trivia questions on the placards. 

Today we're so used to getting medicines and poisons in specially marked containers that we tend to think of them as only things that can be produced in the most sophisticated laboratories. Agatha Christie's stories remind me of a time when people lived closer to nature, and knew how to utilize and appreciate what sprang naturally from the soil. True, sometimes they used these fruits-of-the-earth for terrible purposes, but I'm sure that the majority of the time that closeness to nature enhanced their lives in innumerable ways.

If you live in England, and are attending the International Agatha Christie Festival, you can get a guided tour today of the writer's murder garden at Torre Abbey. If you'd like to visit Torquay someday, consider adding the gardens of Torre Abbey to your prospective itinerary. Either way, when you get there, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of all those plants. Bend close to inhale the sweet fragrance of the flowers. But whatever you do, don't contemplate taking a nibble of the leaves or petals. The consequences could be...deadly.

Agatha Christie's Offensive Masterpiece

Agatha Christie is one of the best selling English writers of all time. Although I read a few of her novels in my youth, my main experience with her until recently has been through TV, chiefly in the ITV productions starring David Suchet as her famous detective Hercule Poirot. Eventually watching the TV adaptations returned me to reading her novels and stories. I found her novels a sublime pleasure, even if the Poirot stories differed radically from the TV versions, and didn't feature such likable characters as the TV versions of Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon, and Inspector Japp. This love affair with her stories led me to visit cities and places strongly associated with her, such as London, Dartmoor, and Torquay, and the creation of a Poirot-themed blog as well.

Ironically, the first book of hers that I remember reading did not feature her famous detectives Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. It's her bestselling book of all time, the novel she considered her masterpiece, and the one she found hardest to write. While it was released in Britain as Ten Little Niggers, American publishers titled it And Then There Were None. Yet I read a copy of it bearing another title: Ten Little Indians. 

Photo courtesy of the Torquay Museum,
which has devoted a wonderful exhibit
to Christie's life and her stories.

Strangely, I don't remember being all that impressed by it, when I read it back in High School. At the time, it seemed formulaic, and the title (actually, any of the titles) leached any long term tension from the narrative. So it seems odd to me that the novel has been embraced so completely by everyone else in the world, instead of being criticized, lambasted, and universally hated for bearing such racially-charged titles. Given how people often find reasons to slam a work of art for any imaginable flaw, and even generate an uproar sufficient to destroy an author's career, everyone who has read the book must absolutely adore it. Either that, or they love her so much that they're willing to forgive her for such offensive, seemingly inexcusable titles.

Were I visiting Torquay today, I could attend the Princess Theatre. 

Princess Theatre, Torquay, England

There, in recognition of Christie's 125th birthday, I could see a live production of And Then There Were None. 

I could also attend a panel discussing, in part, the making of the forthcoming BBC adaptation of this novel. The production will feature Sam Neill, whom I first saw in the third Omen movie, and went on to star in Hollywood blockbusters like "Jurassic Park," "The Hunt for Red October," and "Event Horizon." It will also feature Miranda Richardson, who may be best known for her role as journalist Rita Skeeter in the Harry Potter movies, but whom I shall always remember for her role of Queen Elizabeth the First, or "Queenie," in the "Blackadder" TV shows. Hopefully, the TV production will make its way over to the states soon.

In the meantime, perhaps I should reacquaint myself with Christie's novel. It's got to be infinitely better than my recollection of that High School reading experience, don't you think?

An Agatha Christie Celebration

Our trip to England in 2013 took us to the Hilton in Brighton, where we attended the World Fantasy Convention. While I enjoyed the panel discussions, readings, and meeting some favorite authors (including Peter F Hamilton), I wished for more interaction with other readers. It can be difficult at times to talk with people about the books you read, as so many people have and still do write wonderful and inspiring stories. Unless you belong to a book group, where you focus on a particular novel, you're often reduced to telling others about books they haven't read, and authors they may not have even heard of. 

Book groups can disappointing for a different reason. To appeal to as many interests as possible, group leaders rarely focus on a single author, or for even a specific genre. And what happens when the group convenes to discuss a particular book? A third to a half of the people will say they haven't finished it, if they even bothered to read it. Then they, and half of those that did, will tell you why they didn't like it. Leaders can also be a pain. They do their research, and then when you share elements of the book you enjoyed, and something positive you took away from reading it, they'll inform you that you're wrong, that they have proof that the author intended to communicate something completely different with his story!

I don't know about you, but I'd love to gather together with other people who like the authors I like, who have read the stories I've read, and want to share how the stories challenged, delighted, entertained, and inspired them. A single-author group, if not a convention, seems an ideal setting for that. And if production companies have adapted the author's stories for TV and movies, so much the better. So much more to talk about! The only question, in the case of a convention, is this: Can you attract sufficient number of fans to pay the costs of such an event?

Thankfully, given Agatha Christie's popularity, this isn't a problem. In fact, people come from all across the globe to see the places she lived and wrote her stories. She grew up in Torquay, a seaside town in south Devon, married her first husband there, and started her career there. After her second marriage, she may have moved away, but she purchased an estate (Greenway) in Torquay, and returned to spend her summers there. So Torquay seems an ideal place to meet to discuss and celebrate her work, given all the associations the city holds for her family and life.

This year's International Agatha Christie Festival takes place in Torquay, and celebrates the 125th anniversary of her birth. There will be lots of events geared toward every age group and interest, and the ten day event kicks off tonight at the Grand Hotel. It's an impressive old building, that looks out over the sea, and I'm sure that tonight it will be packed with Agatha Christie fans. I'd love to fly back to England, and take part in the festivities.

Ah well. At least I have this blog, so I can share my affection for her stories with you.

Related Link
Tonight's Agatha Christie Meet-up in Torquay

Rent A Flat in Whitehaven Mansions

If you're a fan of the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot, and contemplating a move to London, why not check out Poirot's home? You could live in Florin Court, also known as Whitehaven Mansions. It's a beautiful building, and lodging there would no doubt grant you access to this small, gated park. In fact, there's a one bedroom flat on the market right now. The actual apartment may only contain 400 square feet of living space, but residents can also use an indoor swimming pool and a scenic rooftop terrace. Plus you'll be within walking distance of the Tube, the Museum of London, and St. Paul's Cathedral. 

It's a steal at 495,000 pounds, which roughly equates to $800,000 U.S. 

What? You can't afford such a paltry price? Then I can only suggest that you scan the "To Let" ads, and see if you can find an inexpensive rental. I've heard from my friend Gerald Parker that there's a cheap flat going just off Knightsbridge, at a place called Montagu Mansions. Despite the low rental price, I hear it's been on the market for awhile. So head on over there. You might be just the tenant the owner is looking for. Particularly if your last name is Robinson.

Who knows? Renting this cheap flat might even involve you in an adventure with the world famous detective Hercule Poirot!

Related Internet Links
1 Bedroom Apartment For Sale

The Screech Owls on Agatha Christie

In Attack on the Tower of London by Roy MacGregor, a Canadian children's ice hockey team travels to London to compete in an inline skating hockey game. Like Paddington Bear, Travis can't help but be a little in awe of London's premier transit system, known as the Tube or the Underground. He loves the life and energy of the station, all the people and shops, and how automated and efficient everything is. But all that pales next to the train ride itself.

On and on the train rattled and shook, screeching to a halt every so often, jerking to a start again. The girls kept calling out the name of each station--"Notting Hill Gate!" "Kensington!" "Victoria Station!" "St. James Park!"--and Travis, with his eyes closed, imagined how much his grandmother would enjoy this. She was forever reading English mysteries, forever talking about Agatha Christie and Miss Marple and pushing them on Travis when he was up at the cottage. She would have loved this. It was like traveling through the pages of one of her books.

I felt much like Travis on my first trip to London back in 2011. So many familiar names and places, and finally, I was there! Three precious days in this historic city.

Naturally, I had to visit Florin Court, which served as Whitehaven Mansions, Poirot's residence in the TV series Agatha Christie's Poirot. But then, if you're a fan of Agatha Christie's books, and you've visited London, you know what Travis and I are talking about, right?

Hercule Poirot's Tree: Finished!

Here's my finished version of Hercule Poirot and his tree. This was my first project using my new Prismacolor pencils. The tree is the only thing that was real. Everything else came from my imagination. The tree was on a slope covered with ice plant outside a doctor's office. I filled in the scenery with grass, a brick path, and a field of rapeseed. 

As I mentioned earlier, somebody cut down my tree when I went back to color it the next week. So I colored it in as best I could, and finished it at home. In the process, I converted a bush up the slope into an apple tree. It's not perfect, but I'm satisfied with it.

The new Prismacolor pencils were fun to use. They had softer lead, so the coloring process went quicker. That didn't mean it came immediately though. I had to work on an area for awhile to fill in the entire paper, not just the topmost bumps or ridges. But I guess that's the cost of using softer lead and thicker paper.

The first day, when I sketched out the tree, I drew a scrap of cloth hanging from the dead tree. I guess I forgot this when I was coloring it in, and the scrap of cloth became just another piece of loose bark. So I added the bloodstain to suggest a clue for Poirot to investigate. In a way, it seems incongruous, as Poirot's investigations have more to do with him figuring out the psychology of the murderer, rather than merely gathering forensic evidence. But hey, it was just a fun art project, give me a break!

I'm taking my Prismacolor pencils to England, so hopefully I'll find lots of other things for Hercule Poirot to investigate there.

The Organ in the Mansion

In "Agatha Christie's Poirot," the Cavendish family lives in a large English country manor house. When the matron, Emily Inglethorp, is murdered, suspicion falls upon the man who recently married her: Alfred Inglethorp. Hercule Poirot seems anxious to dissuade the police from arresting him. Yet Inspector Japp and his superior arrive anyway, intent on doing so. It's up to Poirot to give Alfred a seemingly rock solid alibi, as the widower seems reluctant to do so.

When I watched this scene, taking place in what looks like the great hall, I couldn't help but notice the pipes behind Alfred. A close-up of Alfred on the upper floor reveals what look like musical pipes, as if for an organ.

We're all used to churches having pipe organs, but English country manor houses? It's not a feature I've noticed in watching any other British TV show or movie, nor can I remember reading a novel in which the rich live in a grand old house and have a large pipe organ like this. A piano, certainly, but an organ? Does this seem as strange to you as it does to me?

Disappearing Belgians & English Hospitality

In the "Agatha Christie's Poirot" adaptation of The Mysterious Affair At Styles, Hercule Poirot preaches the importance of knowing English history and customs to his fellow Belgians. He tries to instill in them how imperative it is to "become British" if they are to remain in their adoptive country. To this end, he instructs them in such minutia as the names and growth patterns of flowers, and even has them practice singing popular WWI era British songs, such as "It's a Long Road to Tipperary."

They sing the latter as they march over this rustic stone bridge. One can only imagine what the man and woman bathing their horse in the river below think of the procession. 

Had they worn knitted sock-hats, they could have sung "Whistle While You Work." I'm referring to the original Disney song, not the recent "Whistle While You Work It" by Katy Tiz. Come to think of it, the latter's a fun song too, with a video featuring hand-drawn animation. so why not? The Belgians might have liked that song too.

A recent online article details the events of what led hundreds of thousands of Belgians to flee their native country, to settle in England, and why they left. I wonder how many, like Hercule Poirot, remained behind, to make new lives in their adoptive country. Could Hercule Poirot's lasting popularity be partly due to his serving as a symbol of the country's growing multicultural diversity after WWI? 

These scenes involving Poirot and his fellow Belgians only occur in Clive Exton's script, not in the original novel. Still, this really happened. England really took in hundreds of thousands of refugees during World War I. That may not seem like a lot compared to an overall population of approximately 40 million. But then you have to remember that so many of the men were oversees, fighting in the war, or otherwise away from their families. Also, all the people living in England were subject to limited resources and rationing. Such generosity on the part of the English people impresses me immensely. Of course, the presence of so many Belgians impressed Agatha Christie too. Clive Exton's little addition to her novel remind us of that time, that era, and the British peoples' sacrifices. 

The story also makes me wonder if the refugees at the time really felt as if their home had been utterly destroyed, with no hope of return. Such battles as the Third Battle of Ypres must have seemed catastrophic. And World War I was called the first world war for a reason. It was the war so incomprehensible that it couldn't possibly happen, or so people thought at the time. Did the Belgian refugees have any reason to hold out hope of a return home, or did they always view their stay in England as a temporary measure?

At least they had a place to go and consider their futures, thanks to the English cities that fed and housed them during that time, such as Agatha Christie's hometown of Torquay.

Related Article
How 250,000 Belgian Refugees Didn't Leave A Trace
Disney version
Katy Tiz version

Curious About John Cavendish's Car

For me, trains have always been relegated to America's past. Perhaps things would be different if I lived on the East Coast. As it is, I grew up taking buses when a car wasn't available. The only times I took a train anywhere were at amusement parks like Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, where I got to see train robbers and dinosaurs. That was cool.

Trains such as the one above, that transports Captain Hastings to the station near Styles Court, aren't just a part of England's heritage. Every time we visit England, we take a train, whether it transports us from Heathrow Airport to London, across a big city like London above or below-ground, or across the beautiful English countryside from one city to another. England even has high-speed trains, like the one featured in the movie "Mission Impossible," in which secret agent Ethan Hunt hangs onto the rear carriage pursued by a helicopter firing volleys of gunfire his way. The helicopter even follows the train into an underground tunnel, where the pilot eventually discovers that underground train tunnels weren't designed with helicopters in mind. Someday I'd love to take a high-speed train across England. I wonder if there's anyway to ensure that a secret agent like Ethan Hunt isn't riding on it before I purchase my ticket?

I'm not a car-guy. I don't attend auto shows. I don't subscribe to car magazines. I don't lust over the horsepower numbers of Detroit's latest muscle cars. But somehow, when I watch a period show like "Agatha Christie's Poirot", the cars really draw my eye. I wonder about them, such as the one that John Cavendish drives when he picks up his friend Captain Hastings at the train station. This one looks real basic. It doesn't even have a trunk, so John Cavendish has to tie Hasting's suitcase down on the back. I don't know if it has a foot-pedal for a brake, but it has a lever that John yanks to stop the car. It's located outside the car, so he has to reach out over the door, grab the lever, and pull it toward him to come to a complete stop. I don't know about you, but that sounds like his hand and arm (not to mention his suit) would get soaked if he had to drive it in the rain.

Agatha Christie's no help in identifying what type of car John Cavendish likes, or why he bought that make and model. She simply calls it "a motor," and mentions that, as his step-mother uses the car to help out the community, the government gives the family authorization to buy a limited amount of petrol. (This is a big deal, as all resources are rationed during World War I). Still, I really like the looks of these old cars, and I wish the TV producers would include a list of what automobiles they used in their period productions. Maybe they would be forced to, if these old cars had a better union.

I don't know about you, but it'd be a way of making the credits more interesting to the viewer, instead of seeing a list of the person who supplied the vanilla shot for the tea latte of the third production assistant's secretary. Oh, and don't forget the person who supplied the pencils for the purchasing agent who authorized the hire company to supply three exact copies of the dress the actress below is wearing. That's essential information!

If there's any vintage car buffs out there, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what make and model of car you think John Cavendish drives. I'm not sure what I'd do with the knowledge, but I am curious.