Author pays visit

THE author of the book “Crime Scenes”, John Martin, came to talk to Kegworth Women’s Institute about Agatha Christie.

Born in 1890 she could read by the age of 3 and her first published work was in her school magazine in 1901 - about the new trams in London. She married Archie Christie who was a pilot in the Royal Flying corps in 1914. Agatha joined a dispensary in 1915 to help returning soldiers and here she learned about various drugs and poisons which she could later use in her crime novels.

She complained about the lack of logic in existing crime stories and in 1916 she finished her first book with Hercule Poirot - “The Mysterious Affair at Styles”. this was eventually published on 1920 and was a great success selling over 2000 copies. “Tommy and Tuppence” books followed and in 1922 Captain Hastings joined Poirot. “The murder of Roger Ackroyd” completely broke the mould of crime fiction and after this she was established. Miss Marple appeared in 1930.

She divorced Christie after he had an affair and after marrying Max Mallowan, the archaeologist, she based several novels in Egypt and the East; eventually they settled in Devon.

In 1952 her play “The Mousetrap” was produced and is still running today - the longest running play in the world - her grandson who was eight in 1952 was given all rights to The Moustrap for life and now runs the Christie Foundation.

Writing over 80 books ,plus short stories and plays, Agatha Christie’s novels have been published in every language and are the most widely read - beaten only by the Bible and Shakespeare.

The next meeting will be on February 21, in the village Hall at 2.15pm when we are going to hear about the Myths of Belly Dancing! Visitors and new members welcome.