The author of a massive body of work—well-stocked in libraries, and frequently adapted for movies and television—Agatha Christie was the bestselling novelist of all time. In this PBS-aired documentary, David Suchet, who portrayed Christie detective Hercule Poirot in the long-running series Poirot, sets out to unravel the "mystery" of Christie's career. Hugely imaginative, shy, and solitary, Christie loved the sea and the area surrounding her home in Devonshire, England. Service during wartime widened her horizons, introducing Christie to topics and concepts ranging from pharmaceuticals (and poisonings) to country house settings and a closed circle of suspects, all of which would become a staple of her mysteries. Christie's booming popularity made her feel that she was "like a fox, hunted," which—along with the breakup of her first marriage—would lead to her famous 1926 disappearance. Intense concern and speculation erupted, ending only after Christie was discovered living under a false identity in a hotel (she never totally explained the incident). Afterwards, Christie fled to Turkey, where she became fascinated with Eastern culture, and embraced a love of adventure and archaeology that—together with a second, happy marriage—ushered in her most productive period of mystery writing, in which she often employed exotic locales for her settings. Filmmaker Clare Lewins's documentary also talks about Christie's "concealed art"—marked by surefire formulas and storytelling simplicity that endeared her to readers. At her Devon home, Suchet talks with family members and examines Christie's archives, old home movies, and newly discovered "lost" notebooks. Sure to appeal to mystery buffs, this biographical study of the famous author is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
The Mystery of Agatha Christie
(2013) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62789-009-0. Volume 30, Issue 2
The Mystery of Agatha Christie
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