Hastings in the Houses of Parliament

Recently, I read I Will Repay by Baroness Emma Orczy, the sequel to The Scarlet Pimpernel. Although written second, this eventually became the sixth novel in her series of books about Sir Percy Blakeney, a British nobleman who saves the French aristocracy from the guillotine. I like how Orczy took the time later to illumine earlier periods of Sir Percy's life, and I look forward to reading those prequels. I also like how her novels, or at least the two I've read thus far, illumine the French revolution for me. I don't remember studying this period in any depth in school History classes, whether in elementary, high school, or even in my college years. Any American readers out there feel as though their teachers covered the French Revolution well? Or have I just grown forgetful in my, um, mature years?

While reading I noticed some intriguing similarities between Orczy's second novel and the characters and situations Agatha Christie used in her second novel, The Murder on the Links. As Christie set her novel in France, perhaps this was intentional on her part. Likewise, when I read Orczy's first novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel, I spotted similarities with Christie's debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. I wrote about these in a couple posts, perhaps most extensively in "Agatha Christie: Inspiration for Hercule Poirot." (See link below). 

Similarities can always be drawn between stories, especially stories written about a particular country or topic. But one similarity is especially worthy of note. For his early adventures, including The Murder on the Links, Agatha Christie partnered Hercule Poirot with his friend Hastings. Ex-Army officer Captain Arthur Hastings had strong links with the British aristocracy, and worked for a Member of Parliament. Plus, he was an all-around good guy, and fun to have around.

In Baroness Emma Orczy's novels, and especially in I Will Repay, Sir Percy Blakeney helps whisk French nobility from the murderous mobs with stalwart companions who join The League of the Scarlet Pimpernel. One prominently mentioned in I Will Repay is Lord Edward Hastings. Although I don't know him so well, I'm sure he's also a really good guy, and equally fun to have around.

Later in her series, John Hastings (Edward's cousin) would also join the League. I look forward to reading about that.

In 2011, on our first visit to London, my wife and I visited the Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament. The Prime Minister (or P.M.), and the Members of Parliament (or M.P.s), meet in the House of Commons. That's the green upholstered room in the Palace of Westminster, where these elected officials discuss, argue, and vote on governmental issues. By the time we were allowed admittance, the meeting in the House of Commons had adjourned for the night, so we could not see that section of the Palace. But we were allowed admission to the House of Lords. This other wing of the Palace, in which Lords appointed by the monarch, or their successors, meet to discuss the same or similar issues as those of the M.P.s, is upholstered in red. So, in Christie's world, Hastings works for an M.P., elected by the people, who helps run the government of Britain in the green House of Commons. In Orczy's world, Hastings helps run the government in the red House of Lords. Both authors envisioned an important, trustworthy, and fun-loving man named Hastings working in the Palace of Westminster, on the affairs of the nation, on behalf of the British people. An interesting similarity, don't you think?

Of course, as I mentioned in "Agatha Christie's Exclusive Club," Christie and Orczy were both members of The Detection Club, an exclusive writers' club in England. But that would come later for Agatha Christie. When she published The Murder on the Links, she was just an up-and-coming writer, inspired by the efforts of her literary heroes. Might Baroness Emma Orczy have been a hero of Christie's? It'd be nice to pop into Doctor Who's TARDIS, travel back in time, and chat with her about that. After all, it was a Doctor Who TV story, the First Doctor era six-part episode "The Reign of Terror," that got me interested in Baroness Emma Orczy, and reading her books about the Scarlet Pimpernel.

Dragon Dave

Related Poirot Posts:
Agatha Christie: Inspiration for Hercule Poirot
Agatha Christie's Exclusive Club

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