We learn something of Hercule Poirot’s taste in women in this second story in the Crime Club’s Choice Collection “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” – a tale of an impossible murder into which his reluctant investigation was cajoled by Lady Chatterton, “…..one of the brightest jewels in what Poirot called le haut monde. Everything she did or said was news. She has brains, beauty, originality and enough vitality to activate a rocket to the moon.”
This “entrée” is introduced with a description of the famous detective’s efficient secretary who “seemed to be composed entirely of angles – thus satisfying Poirot’s demand for symmetry. Not that where women were concerned Hercule Poirot carried his passion for geometrical precision so far. He was, on the contrary, old-fashioned. He had a continental prejudice for curves – it might be said for voluptuous curves. He liked women to be women. He liked them lush, highly coloured, exotic….” This quotation exemplifies Christie’s humour and fluid prose. As usual she has complete control of dialogue.
Poirot can be “obsessed with beautiful women, crimes of passion, jealousy, hatred and and all the other romantic causes of murder” especially as this one appeared to have only one generally accepted possible solution which he found inexplicable.
We were led down a blind alley before Poirot proved what had really happened.
Agatha Christie’s own genius was to tie her plot into Shakespeare’s story of Othello with its themes of jealousy, murderous intent, and the naive innocence of a femme fatale.
Yesterday Jackie began transporting paving stones from the stack on the back drive to the side of the house for use behind the shed. She continued today, and I added a few. 21 of 28 have now been moved with the aid of sack barrow and wheelbarrow.
This evening we dined on Southern Fried Chicken and Jackie’s savoury rice with which I drank Collin Bourisset Fleurie 2022.
I laughed and read the part about the secretary and the angles and symmetry…and then his taste in women.
I hope the book already. I hope I get to read it sometime.
Lovely dinner
Thanks very much, Mimi
A wonderful review, Derrick. I imagine you and Jackie were ready for dinner after your hard work.
Thank you very much, Merril. We were – and in bed by 9 o’clock
🙂
Hercule Poirot is for me, Agatha Christie’s most memorable and engaging character.
To you and the Head Gardener, I say: Do take care of your knees and back!
Thanks very much, Rosaliene. Wise advice.
I love Poirot and am mostly familiar with him because of David Suchet’s portrayals on Masterpiece Theater over the years. I’m impressed with how much work Martin, the Head Gardener, and her faithful assistant do to keep the garden looking gorgeous year round. Talk about a labor of love.
Thank you so much, Pat
Keep yourselves safe!
Thanks very much, Ed
Hello how are you doing dear I hope you are very well
Love Agatha Christie’s books. I don’t have many now after downsizing our book shelves when we moved here.
Thanks very much, Chrissy
I just found “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” on Internet Archive! Woo hoo!!
Well done. Thanks very much
You’re welcome!
Wow that’s very nice how how are you doing dear
I’m doing fine, thank you.
I have an old copy of that, absolutely love it.
Thanks very much, Gary
Wow, that’s a lot of stone to move, guys! Be careful. Southern Fried Chicken – yes please! So good…
Thanks very much, John
You are welcome. 😠
Yeah is very good how about you doing dear
Brilliant work on shifting those heavy paving stones.
Thank you very much, Tootlepedal
Another great review, Derrick! I so enjoyed reading it! I always enjoy an Agatha Christie adventure. 🙂
After that hard work, I bet you and Jackie were ready for a hearty meal and a good sleep.
(((HUGS))) and ❤️❤️ for both of you!!
We were, Carolyn. Thank you very much
That looks like a lot of work moving those stones! I hope you have an easy day tomorrow. 🙂
That’s the plan, JoAnna. Thank you very much
Seems like a good read. Nice seeing your photo and that of Jackie.
Thank you very much, Arlene
You can trust Agatha to give you great stories!
Thanks very much, GP
I once did my back in whilst moving slabs. It is aching now at the thought. Fried chicken has many restorative qualities so seems a good choice after a hard day.
Thank you very much, Quercus
Your review makes me want to read it
Thank you very much, Sylvie
I enjoyed that line “She has brains, beauty, originality and enough vitality to activate a rocket to the moon”.
You and Jackie are extremely hardworking people. Paving stones are not lightweight.
Thank you very much Lavinia
I bet you both were sore the next day!
Somewhat. Thanks very much, Diane
My goodness! You have both been very busy; job well done. I think I would have left it to Martin!
Me too, given a choice. I couldn’t let Jackie do it completely alone. Thanks very much, Sue
I will be looking for that book. I like how it calls the stories ‘entrees’. So far I have mostly only met Poirot in cinema
Thank you very much, Rose
I’ve often thought of Hercule as an old fashioned Rennaisance Man … and thus to be admired. 🙂
Thanks very much, Widders
These brilliant forays into Agatha Christie’s oeuvres transcend me to my teenage times. Back in your garden, there is no dearth of eager spirits reshaping the landscape.
Thank you so much, Uma
I love Agatha Christie’s novels.
Thank you very much, Agnes
Another interesting book! I love Agatha Christie’s books!
Thank you very much, Riba. It has taken me years to open mine
Another great sounding story. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
Thank you very much, Robbie
So much hard work – my compliments to the Head Gardener.
Thank you very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick.
That’s tough work!
Thank you very much, Sheree