Agatha Christie's Exclusive Club

My research into links between Agatha Christie and her literary predecessor, Baroness Emma Orczy, uncovered one indisputable fact. The two writers knew each other and conversed with each other, as they belonged to the same writers' club. This was called the Detection Club, or the London Detection Club, formed in 1928, a decade after The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published. In 1930, when the members formalized their group, Agatha Christie and Baroness Emma Orczy were listed as charter members, along with other luminaries of the mystery genre, including G. K. Chesterton (The Father Brown Mysteries), Dorothy L. Sayers (the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries), and A. A. Milne (Hey, Winnie-the-Pooh stories are mysteries too, right?) 

Thereafter, the members would admit additional authors into their ranks, but only those whose work set them apart from their fellows. Some members whose works I have read, who have since been received as members of this exclusive club, include P. D. James (The Children of Men) and John Le Carre (The Spy Who Came In From The Cold). Other authors, whose novels and TV adaptations have become important to me, are Reginald Hill (the Dalziel and Pascoe mysteries), Colin Dexter (the Inspector Morse mysteries, which also formed the basis for today's Inspector Lewis TV series), and Jonathan Gash (writer of the Lovejoy mysteries, upon which the too-short TV series starring Ian McShane was based). 

The Detection Club is still around today, with an interactive website that is regularly maintained and updated. There you can find a list of past members, references to important golden age British mystery authors, writer biographies, and even essays on how to write detective stories. There's a lot to read and discover there, if you're so inclined. I've included the direct link to their Agatha Christie page below. From there, you can explore further on your own. So if you find it of value, and learn something you'd like to share with me, feel free to leave a comment below. Personally, I can't help wondering what Agatha Christie and Baroness Emma Orczy might have spoken about, perhaps seated in two comfortable chairs, and enjoying a cup of hot tea and chocolate biscuits. Or what she might have talked to G. K. Chesterton about. 

Who knows, maybe she even shared her thoughts on Winnie-the-Pooh with A. A. Milne. If so, I'm betting she put a spoonful of honey into her tea. As a mark of respect, if you know what I mean, mon ami.

Related Internet Links
Agatha Christie's Page