Captain Hastings' Inspiring Counterparts

Agatha Christie's first published novel was The Mysterious Affair at Styles. The story introduced the world to Hercule Poirot, a former Belgian policeman, now a refugee in England. Her second published novel, The Secret Adversary, took a very different look at the detective novel. Instead of having a professional solving crimes, this time two young amateurs do the sleuthing. Their names are Tommy and Tuppence, and their only criterion for solving crimes is their desire to do so. Yet, in their own way, they prove just as effective as their better known predecessor, Hercule Poirot.

As in The Mysterious Affair at Styles, Agatha Christie begins her novel by rooting it in real life events. This time, it's not Belgian refugees fleeing the Third Battle of Ypres, but the sinking of RMS Lusitania. While there was an espionage element to The Mysterious Affair at Styles, this time that aspect is even more pronounced. A government official entrusts secret papers to a young American woman, believing she has a better chance of surviving and reaching England than himself. Although the young woman reaches England, she goes missing shortly thereafter. In addition to locating the girl, the British government desperately wants those classified documents. When an international espionage organization threatens to publicize these papers, the English intelligence community must martial all its resources to reclaim the papers before they can be published, or risk riots, a governmental shakeup, even war.

Usually, government officials would call upon someone with a great deal of experience to investigate, such as Hercule Poirot, and his literary predecessor, Sherlock Holmes. Instead, two out-of-work young people stumble upon the mystery of the missing girl. After they make a promising start, the British Intelligence community bankrolls Tommy and Tuppence investigative efforts. 

Agatha Christie began The Mysterious Affair at Styles with Captain Arthur Hastings pondering what he'll do after the war. One idea he considers is becoming a detective. However, Poirot's brilliance puts him to shame, and the story suggests that solving crimes is best left to the professional. With Tommy and Tuppence, Agatha Christie places the everyman in the role of detective. Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes may not think much about Captain Arthur Hastings and Doctor John Watson as detectives, but former WWI soldier Tommy Beresford and war volunteer Prudence "Tuppence" Cowley use their imagination, common sense, enthusiasm and self-belief to uncover clues and make progress in their investigations. 

The effect upon the reader is stunning. We may not be dazzled by Tommy and Tuppence, but we share a camaraderie with them. Most of us could never honestly view Hercule Poirot as an intellectual equal, but we can relate to Tommy and Tuppence. We can see ourselves filling their shoes, using our own skills of observation and ingenuity to solve crimes. Like Captain Arthur Hastings, they believe they can become detectives if they really want to. Unlike The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Secret Adversary doesn't merely entertain: it inspires and empowers us. Agatha Christie's second novel suggests that if we can marshal sufficient belief in ourselves, we can accomplish the seemingly impossible. And maybe, in so doing, we can change our world for the better.

The world can always use brilliant people like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. But I'd also like to think we could use more people like Tommy and Tuppence, don't you?

Dragon Dave