“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” ― Groucho Marx
Happy September, friends!
Before the year ends, I want to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s publication of her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (which six publishers rejected before its printing in 1920). Agatha Christie’s life was also a mystery in many ways. Here are 15 things you may not know about Ms. Christie:
- Her mother discouraged her from reading.
- Agatha wrote her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, on a dare from her sister.
- Agatha gained inspiration to create Hercule Poirot by watching a Belgian man deboard a train.
- She disappeared for ten days.
- Agatha didn’t care for violence and preferred poisoning instead.
- She loved to surf.
- Agatha also wrote under an alias: Mary Westmacott.
- Christie disliked the use of Author Photos to promote her work.
- As a member of the London Detection Club, she swore never to keep vital clues from her readers.
- Agatha tried to take up smoking, but could never adopt the habit.
- She joined her second husband, archeologist, Max Mallowman on several digs to Syria and Iraq.
- Her play Mousetrap first opened in 1952 and is still running today.
- Hercule Poirot received an NYT obituary when he “died.”
- Agatha based her victim in Murder in Mesopotamia, on archeologist Leonard Wolley’s wife. Mrs. Wolley refused to allow Agatha the right to camp out at a dig with her husband, Max.
- You can rent Christie’s childhood home for $500 a night.
So, tell me, who would you prefer: Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle? Please write and tell me, and I would like to hear from you, harpergalebooks@gmail.com.
There’s big news coming in October! Stay tuned dear friends.
Harper
** Congratulations to Wendy Chandler and Jacey Dean for winning last month’s giveaway. If you were wondering: Chad mined nine gems in total.