I have two great confessions, literary wise. I couldn't get through The Lord of The Rings, I don't like it or enjoy it. I managed to get through The Hobbit with difficulty. Tolkein is a gifted linguist, writer I just can't get through it.
I read Chaucer, Virgil, poetry, I love Dickens - I just can't get to grips with Tolkein.
Second confession. I have never really got to grips with Agatha Christie. A large part I imagine because I don't watch TV. Over Christmas I was staying with friends and I was winkled into watching Ms Marple and one of the Poirot episodes.
The friend who winkled me said a large part of the appeal is the beautiful visual, vignette of times past, fabulous clothes - there I agree.
This morning via Twitter I came across an article about Poirot. He made his debut on 17th July 1916. I read the article, snaffled it, devoured it, ranted about it, printed it off, tweeted, face booked.
I won't go into a potted biography but so much of her life fascinated me - she became big on poisoning people after her time working as an auxiliary nurse during the war - her dispensary experience would come in super handy. Here is the link to the wonderful article.
She was homeschooled for the first ten years - she and her siblings believed her mother Clara to be psychic.
Her first husband - Archibald Christie asked for a divorce so he could be free to run off with his mistress. Agatha disappeared for ten days - her disappearance featuring in newspapers worldwide.
This is the room in Istanbul in which she wrote Murder on the Orient Express.
This is the room in Istanbul in which she wrote Murder on the Orient Express.
She would later be found in Harrogate, checked into a hotel in the name of the mistress.
She saw the plight of Belgian refugees thus determined to make Poirot Belgian. She was rejected many times for publication, now she is the third best seller behind The Bible and Shakespeare.
Her second husband, the archaeologist Sir Max Mallowman took her to digs in Syria and Iraq. She wrote of the 'creamy beauty' of Palmyra.
I get now to discover with admiration, anticipation and joy Agatha Christie.
Perhaps Tolkien is just trying to get back at you for spelling his name wrong.... 8-)
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