Happy birthday, Agatha Christie!

Born September 15, 1890, Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller would grow up to become Dame Agatha Christie, who, as listed by the Guinness Book of World Records, is the best-selling novelist of all time.  Her stage play, The Mousetrap, has the longest initial run on record.  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd has been voted the best crime novel in history by the Crime Writer’s Association.

She introduced the world to Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple and Tommy and Tuppence Beresford.  Interestingly enough, And Then There Were None, her most successful novel ever, features none of her recurring sleuths.  Originally published as Ten Little N****rs, its title was changed for release in the U.S. where the term was considered racist.  The setting for the novel was Torquay, England where Agatha Christie was born and raised.

The first book I ever read by Dame Agatha was Murder on the Orient Express.  Since having just read every Hardy Boys mystery available at that time, I decided to take it to the next level and read something written for adults (I was in the 6th or 7^th grade).  Imagine my surprise when Hercule Poirot actually figured out ‘whodunit’ instead of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, like Frank and Joe Hardy.

And Nancy Drew.

When the movie adaption premiered in November 1974, Agatha Christie said it was the only adaption she was completely satisfied with.  Up until this production, she was considering not having any more movies made from her novels.

I doubt she would be pleased with the Jane Marple series featuring Geraldine McEwan.  Their production of Nemesis was a super-edited version of the novel and (in a quite clever but stupid move) the producers combined the characters of two pairs of women into one pair.  Therefore the ending made no sense to someone who had not read the book.  Because of the massive rewrite, it didn’t make much sense to me.

However, Agatha Christie would be extremely pleased with David Suchet’s portrayal of Hercule Poirot.  His long lasting series which began in 1989, wrapped up earlier this year.  Agatha Christie’s grandson, who is in charge of her estate, appeared in a special about the making of the Poirot series.

Hundreds of authors, including me, write mysteries but Agatha will remain far above the rest of us as untouchable, but she left us with a legacy that will continue forever.