Agatha Christie – derrickjknight

After The Funeral

Today, again in warm sunshine, I finished reading

published in 1958.

This consummately crafted detective story with all the usual skills of this timeless writer is engaging throughout, complete with plentiful clues, one of which I am kicking myself for missing, the final revelation only divulged at the very end.

Devices employed begin with thoughts in reminiscence of an old retainer and those of appraisal by the family solicitor and continue with those of the main protagonists as they contemplate events; resuming with questions and answers in insightfully controlled dialogue; stream of consciousness and disturbing dreams.

The author’s descriptive prose depicts people and places in ways that give us perfect pen pictures. “The mouth was irresolute, the chin very slightly receding, the eyes less deep-set [than his brother’s]. Lines of peevish irritability showed on his forehead”. A perfect description of the straight lines and lack of curves in the Art Deco nature of Poirot’s room sums up his precise disposition.

Here is a stream of consciousness : “It was a mercy really. To die in his sleep like that. Quietly …. in his sleep…. If only she could sleep. It was so stupid lying awake hour after hour … hearing the furniture creak, and the rustling of trees and bushes outside the window and the occasional queer melancholy hoot – an owl, she supposed. How sinister the country was, somehow. So different from the big noisy indifferent town. One felt so safe there – surrounded by people – never alone. Whereas here…..” Such thoughts dominating a sleepless night include the sense of sound; sight, smell, e.g., of paint; taste, touch and hearing are all employed in telling the story.

Dialogue includes non-verbal communication, for example ‘And Poirot twirled his moustaches with enormous energy. Tone of voice is telling: ” “Oh, no. No, I’m sure she didn’t.” The second “no,”…. had sounded suddenly doubtful.”

Scenes can be set with brief, complete, statements: “It was over. They came out again into the daylight. Half a dozen cameras clicked”. Alliteration flows quite naturally as in “flickering firelight”, “feverish feminine friendship”, “the tea-tray stood ready and the kettle was just gently rattling its lid.”

Christie’s humour is generally dry, but a six page sequence involving a character who cannot look directly at his interlocutor, rather wavering to ”fireplace curb” …… ” “electric plug socket” ……. “lampshade”, etc, etc., and eventually “eyes swivelled right round the room and he murmured looking expectantly at the door that there were ways…..” takes on the role of a dramatic clown.

An example of her use of metaphor is “He waited — and above his head a spider in its web waited for a fly”.

Later I culled from iPhotos all but one of the pictures in

It is not the header.

This evening we dined on Ferndene Farm Shop’s pork and garlic sausages; boiled baby potatoes; crunchy carrots; succulent spinach; firm broccoli; tender runner beans, and meaty gravy, with which I drank Editión Limited 2022 Guerra Del Vino Chilean Merlot.

The Last Two

‘The Dream’ and ‘Greenshaw’s Folly’ are the last two of the Entrées in the Crime Club Choice selection of Agatha Christie’s 1973 stories in ‘The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding’.

The Author’s two most popular sleuths, Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple are therefore linked – one following the other among the pages. Each murder also involves the deception of fabricating a false identity exposed in the first case by the Belgian Detective, and in the second by a dear elderly aunt.

The Dream is a recurring nightmare related to Poirot by Benedict Farley and seemingly predicting his demise. The detective was flummoxed. “He was puzzled. His busy mind was going over and over the story he had been told. Yet in the midst of his mental preoccupation, a nagging sense of something wrong obtruded itself. And that something had to do with himself – not with Benedict Farley.”

“That dream was very important” said Poirot, who was told “If we hadn’t got your word for it….” the implication would have been “that [Mr Farley] had committed suicide.

Greenshaw’s Folly opens with a typically engaging sequence catching the reader’s interest:

“The two men rounded the corner of the shrubbery.

” “Well, there you are,” said Raymond West. “That’s it.”

“Horace Bindler took a deep, appreciative breath.

” “But my dear,” he cried, “how wonderful.” His voice rose in a high screech of aesthetic delight, then deepened in reverent awe…….”

Folly itself is a double entendre in that it refers to the remarkable building, about which “One wonders how he ever got hold of an architect to carry out these ideas.” and to his own unfortunate activity.

“with her mouth pursed up very prunes and prisms” displays both the author’s partiality for alliteration and her liking for humorous description.

Possibly the first reader of this book, to use as a bookmark, tore the corner off a page of the Daily Telegraph a few days after this library copy entered circulation. We can also see from the line of text above the use that Miss Marple makes of her memory of someone from her past to inform her about likely traits of those she currently contemplates.

This reminds me of the story of Crocker’s Folly which I once frequented that features in

Referring to ‘The Dream’ above the Marylebone mistake also involved suicide.

Traditionally roast lamb leftovers were minced up on Monday to provide the meat for shepherd’s pie, so it was appropriate that Jackie added to bought mince the leftovers from the recent roast lamb we had enjoyed with Louisa for tonight’s meal which also included pure white cauliflower, orange carrots, and green beans, with which I finished the pinotage.

Four-And-Twenty Blackbirds

The twist in this, the fourth story in the Crime Club Choice selection is that Hercule Poirot appears to anticipate a murder – all on account of a blackberry pie reminiscent of the Four-and-Twenty blackbirds in the “Sing a Song of Sixpence” English nursery rhyme that inspired Agatha Christie to write the piece.

The regular waitress of the Gallant Endeavour at which the Belgian Detective dined one day with his friend Bonnington, shared the friend’s impression that men, like me, rarely change their meals in their favourite restaurants, so, when she told these two men that ‘Old Father Time’ had suddenly done so, and what is more, deviated from one of his normal two particular days a week over ten years, this piqued Poirot’s interest.

We were kept waiting and wondering how Hercule could have predicted the crime, the victim, and the perpetrator, until he confronted the killer with definite proof.

“They nodded to each other, swaying about, hanging on to adjacent straps. Then at Piccadilly Circus there was a general exodus……” is just one example of Dame Agatha’s descriptive encapsulation of location as she presents the two friends travelling in a crowded tube train.

The Under Dog

This morning I underwent the postponed third session of my BCG vaccine installation series at Southampton General Hospital. The procedure was carried out on time with the usual smooth, efficient, friendly, informative, and humorous care by Anna Cornwall.

The anticipated painfully irritating after effects to be expected for 48 hours produced the usual difficulty in concentrating on anything else, so here is a review I made earlier:

This is the third story in the Crime Club Choice of Agatha Christie’s tales entitled “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding”.

Once again we have the perspicacious Poirot unravelling the alleged facts in a case of Inspector Miller’s and coming to a different conclusion.

With the spare precision of her character description reflecting that of her main protagonist, Christie matches his skill – or is it the other way round? “His eyes swept over Lily Margrave in a quick comprehensive survey, taking in the details of her neat black suit, the touch of white at her throat and the smart little black hat. He saw the elegance of her, the pretty face with its slightly pointed chin, and the dark blue, long-lashed eyes. Insensibly his attitude changed; he was interested now, not so much in the case as in the girl sitting opposite him.” Naturally he was not the only man attracted by her, thus providing an element of a the intrigue.

In complete control of her characters’ dialogue, Christie guides the conversation with such as “His eyes invited her to go on.” She pays attention to tone, as in “The disparagement of her tone, though vague, was evident, and Poirot beat a tactful retreat.” The manner of speech is also relevant, for example ” “Yes, yes, quite so,” said Mr. Mayhew without enthusiasm.”

Dame Agatha catches the note of the Belgian’s spoken English with accuracy and humour, as in “She is anxious that no one should disturb the sleeping dogs.” and “one would hardly think a young man of that type would have the – how do you say it – the bowels to commit such a crime.” On the other hand he can use idioms to good advantage: ‘See a pin and pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck.”

The detective’s own obsessive nature is indicated by such as “Poirot’s right hand strayed out and straightened one or two of the objects lying on the table near him.” This quotation also suggests the author’s love of alliteration as does “quick comprehensive survey” above.

The well-crafted story is told with humour and meticulous detail connecting or refuting all elements as appropriate in order to establish the truth.

This evening we dined on flavoursome baked gammon; boiled new potatoes; piquant cauliflower and leek cheese; tender cabbage and leek; crunchy carrots; I also decided that one small glass of Collin-Bourisset Morgon 2022 could not irritate my bladder any more than today’s procedure has done, so I drank one.

The Mystery Of The Spanish Chest

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.

There Always Comes The Reckoning After 4.50 To Paddington

Unfortunately my recently prescribed antibiotics have not dismissed my UTI so I rang the GP surgery to report this. Within ten minutes I was called back and prescribed an alternative, this time being asked for a sample which I furnished this afternoon and collected the medication at the pharmacy.

Opening with a bustling description of the rush to catch a train, described as an uneven race to keep track of a porter who “turned the corner at the end of the platform whilst Mrs McGillicuddy was still coming up the straight.” is an example of the writer’s ability to engage attention and the dry humour which pervades Agatha Christie’s novel “4.50 From Paddington” – the first by her that I have read.

The story is very well crafted, with various leads, false and incidental, followed without any real suggestion of the final conclusion. Much is told by skilled dialogue of which the author is a master. She amplifies the words with description of tones, as in ” “Well?” she said. It was a small insignificant word, but it acquired full significance from Mrs. McGillicuddy’s tone, and Miss Marple understood its meaning perfectly.” Sometimes sentences are left unfinished, as in “You don’t think……..” for the reader or indeed the conversationalist to complete. The mood of each person was indicated by such as a raised eyebrow or slumped body language.

Mrs Christie makes good use of short sentences to increase the pace of the narrative, and has an ability to create the essence of person and place with simple, telling, statements, as in “Her eyes were like windows in an empty house.” and “He unpropped himself from the dresser.”

There are hints at romance and less than subtle match-making.

It is hardly surprising that this story has been filmed on a number of occasions.

My 1959 edition of The Book Club was in a collection bequeathed to me by my Auntie Ivy some 50 years ago.

It is protected by two copies of the same book jacket very well designed by Taylor, about whom I have found no information. This featured copy is the top one; the second, even less blemished, is pristine. Anyone lacking a jacket should apply for a replacement in writing enclosing a large cheque.

Clinging to the top of the closed pages was a desiccated spider complete with clustered cobweb.

After starting on my next antibiotics I turned back to Maria de Zayas and the penultimate story in my Folio Society selection.

Very reminiscent of the Whitehall farces of the 1950s and ’60s presented by Brian Rix involving unlikely scenarios, although lacking their humour, this offering by Maria involves her usual themes of love, honour, deception, treachery, bed-hopping, and murder designed to demonstrate “that, in the end, no crime goes unpunished”.

Here is Eric Fraser’s illustration to this narrative.

This evening we dined on Hordle Chinese Take Away’s excellent fare, taken on our knees in front of the TV catching up on episodes of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, a truly inspirational series which I will review when I have seen them all.

A Crossword Solving Session

CLICK ON SINGLE IMAGE TO ENLARGE; OR ANY ONE OF THE GROUP TO ACCESS THE GALLERY THAT CAN BE VIEWED FULL SIZE.

This morning, a larger thrush commandeered the crab apples. A game of hide and seek was required to photograph it.

This afternoon we watched a TV production of Agatha Christie’s ‘Witness for the Prosecution’. Without giving anything away I can say that Toby Jones, as a romantic, consumptive, solicitor, did a magnificent job of leading an excellent cast in a superb period drama faithfully portrayed, complete with London smog.

I have the misfortune to have a family branch addicted to the Daily Mail crossword. This meant that yesterday, when I found one discarded in Hythe Marina Village, I felt duty bound to bring home the newspaper. Added to the puzzle that Matthew and Becky had purloined from the Beachcomber cafe ‘paper, there were two copies. This was still one short, so I scanned and printed two copies from today’s Mail’s original.

Jackie, Becky, and Matthew solving Daily Mail Crossword

Jackie, Matthew, and Becky were then able to relax into friendly competition with their clipboards.

This evening we dined on Jackie’s superb beef in red wine, roast potatoes and parsnips, carrot and swede mash, Yorkshire puddings, Brussels sprouts, and breaded mushrooms. None of us imbibed.

Famous People

Early this morning I walked down to the Spar shop to buy milk, collect Sheila’s Guardian newspaper, and post her cards. Along the front wall of Cherry Tree Cottage in Shorefield Road stand three trees identical to one in our garden. On previous occasions I have knocked at the door of the house to ask for their identification. No-one has been at home. This morning, I stopped a man who was driving out from there and asked him. ‘I’m no gardener,’ he said. ‘Just golden conifers. We bought them because they are a different colour.’ At least that gave us something to go on. Our research threw up Leylandii false cypresses. Although we are not quite convinced, it is possible that we have one of those.

This morning Jackie drove Sheila and me around: We had toured Bisterne’s similar display last year, so were pleased to find one on our doorstep. In fact, Jackie had investigated the possibility of our entering the competition. Unfortunately, we live on the wrong side of Christchurch Road to be considered Hordle residents. Never mind, that means we count as Milford on Sea and entitles us to the monthly Village Voice magazine, which is quite interesting and contains details of all activities in that area. After admiring today’s hairstyle of Lady Gaga, we bought a map of the trail in Classic Cuts hairdressers at 40 Stopples Lane. At No. 32, Everything Pets featured Barbara Woodhouse with dogs. Charlie Chaplin, we thought one of the best, gave Jack and Dave plugs at the entrance to number 111A. Agatha Christie was backed by two of her creations, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, outside 4 Heath Road. Next door, at number 6, Florence Nightingale was being crucified, thus, as Jackie pointed out, making her the only true scarecrow. At No 10 Dick Turpin brandished his pistol in front of a carriage that was invented long after his time. The competition has three categories: Business, Individual, and Junior. There is a certain amount of duplication in the subject matter. The first we came across was of The Queen. One entry, at 33 Lavender Road was Junior. I particularly like the twist in the body of this one: The other, at 25 Pinewood Road, in which a teddy bear had been conscripted to represent a corgi, was an Individual. I thought it fairly unlikely that Her Majesty would read The Sun. We may easily have missed a second Bear (Grylls), had Sheila not spotted him up a tree at 22 Stopples Lane, and I almost did overlook the brilliant touch of the cricket ball in the Junior entry at 41 Lavender Road, where Moeen Ali stood padded up. At 49 Ashley Lane, Simon Cowell presents his recently acquired offspring to his fans and enemies alike. Hordle Pharmacy also featured this gentleman who they kept inside out of the rain. Possibly the censor had exercised some influence over these two exhibits that revealed rather less hairy chest than Mr Cowell would sometimes prefer. Usain Bolt takes a rest outside No 102. William Shakespeare took a little searching out along a footpath to 20 Larch Close. Someone had had the good sense to provide him with an umbrella, which Moeen could certainly have done with.

A smiling Superman soars over a fence at 62 Everton Road. Further along, at number 14, the forecourt of Hordle Post Office has been converted to Knotty Ash in order to accommodate Ken Dodd and The Diddy Men.
Next door to the Pharmacy lies the W.I. Hall outside which Emmeline Pankhurst has chained herself to the railings.
Anyone wishing to know more about the subjects of these scarecrows is invited to consult a suitable search engine, since they are all Famous People, which was the theme of the competition.
This evening Jackie, Flo, and I dined at The Jarna, where we enjoyed the usual excellent fare.