The Agatha Christie International Festival 2014
Dr.Sheppard
Oxford, UK
The Agatha Christie Festival kicked off with the public launch of The Monogram Murders. A panel consisting of Sophie Hannah, David Brawn for Harper Collins and Mathew Pritchard the grandson of Agatha Christie discussed the project behind the launch of the new book. The decision to consider a new Poirot novel was instigated by Sophie Hannah’s agent, who had links with Harper Collins and suggested the idea.
Sophie Hannah explained that it was never her intention to write in the style of Agatha Christie, but to write a story about the character Hercule Poirot, placing him in 1929, a four year period when Agatha Christie concentrated on introducing Miss Marple. The Monogram Murders is a case solved by Poirot and his new side-kick, ‘not published before’. Already sales of The Monogram Murders and the sale of Agatha Christie books has seen a new, younger reader pick up the books. A very clever marketing program of creating the revival of The Bloxham Hotel, has enabled the new book to hit the No 1 in a number best sellers lists.
Will there be a follow up book? No one has thought that far ahead. Only the reaction to the sales and true Agatha Christie fans will guide that decision.
This are my own notes from attending the launch of the book. Hope this helps fan of this site to understand the reasons of the launch of The Monogram Murders. I have read it three times now, and would give it a high score.
Comments
Someone somewhere else says that if people are introduced to Agatha Christie through ths book they will be doing themselves a disservice, surely the fact people have bought the book is no indication whether the book is any good, after all a lot of people would have bought it because Curiosity Killed the cat as the saying goes, the best way to know if a book is good is through Forums, that way and only that way can you tell if a book is any good.
Monday September 15th continued:
Mystery Film Event with John Curran. The evening was spilt into two parts: 1. We heard the radio play Witness for the prosecution and 2. Lord Edgware Dies: the 1934 black and white film starring Austin Trevor, (Poirot was very tall and had no moustache).
Tuesday Septmber 16th
International Panel Event: Speakers: Dr John Curran, Ragnar Jonasson (Iceland), Jaclyn Lurker (USA), & Scott Wallace Baker (Australia).
This event looked at the way that books had been translated in various countries and how Agatha Christie still attracts a global audience. Contributions were invited from the floor and comments came from people from Switzerland, Brazil, Italy, France, Germany and Spain. We learnt that in Iceland there is no translation for French Windows and they do not eat kidneys as a meal or have Yorkshire puddings. It was evident that book titles are often changed as a marketing tool.Tuesday September 16th
Susanna Jones – Crafting The Thriller.
When writing, Susanna does not start off with a plot, preferring to let the story develop direction as she writes. She writes in the first person which she feels allows her characters to focus on what is happening to them. Susanna read a chapter from her latest book. She has written four acclaimed novels and currently lectures in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway University London.Tuesday September 16th
S,J, Parris – The Historical Thriller
Real name Stephanie Merritt. She has written seven books. Her interest is Tudor England. Stephanie’s latest book is Treachery, which features Giordano a spy, who meets up with Francis Drake. She read the opening pages of Chapter One; a letter from Drake describing an incident that has taken place below decks on his ship. (A good read)Wednesday September 17th
Agatha Christie, Foreign Travel and its influence on her writing. Talk and PowerPoint presentation by John Curran.
Ladies Afternoon Tea. Strictly for the ladies; they looked fabulous and from all accounts had a great time. Music, talk on clothes worn by characters in the books, champagne and cream tea.
Ann Cleeves & Helen Pepper – Forensic Accuracy
Ann Cleves is the author of Shetland and Vera book series (and others) and calls on Helen to get the forensic aspects right. Helen is a Senior Lecturer in Policing at Teeside University. This was a great session, and the audience were given an insight into forensic methods of solving crime: Why you should not put a body in a fridge to preserve it and why a body should not be left on the beach when the tide comes in.
Thursday September 18th
Agatha Christie – Literary Daughter of South Devon
Historian John Risdon gave a talk Agatha Christie’s childhood.
A Garden Party to Die For
Ali Marshall, Head Gardener at Torre Abbey gave a talk on the typical plants that Christie characters used in her novels as a method of disposing of people. The little plot devoted to poison plants is fascinating with lots of references to Christie’s books. Followed by Music and cream tea served on the lawn. (A must attend event)
Thursday September 18th
Agatha Christie at the BBC
This was a discussion with Mathew Pritchard and Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama Commissioning at the BBC. They discussed the filming of Tommy & Tuppence TV drama and the making of And Then There Were None film, both due on the TV just before Christmas in the UK. The audience learnt lots of aspects about the TV programmes and how the books needed to be adapted to manage what could be put into an hour’s programme.
Friday September 19th
Agatha Christie in the University
Jamie Bernthal, a PhD researcher and teacher at Exeter University, gave a talk on what inspired him to focus on Agatha Christie.
A Crime in Rhyme with Simon Brett
Following a short introduction Simon gave a performance of a one man play he wrote 15 years ago, where he played all the characters in different voices, with much of the conversation between characters rhyming, sending up all the clichés of the Golden Age of crime writing. Hilarious.
Murder Mystery Dinner Experience with Tommy & Tuppence.
The award winning After Dark Murder Mystery Events company gave a performance of The Sheppard’s Warning interactive play where the dinners were tasked with solving the crime while they sat down to a sumptuous three course meal. A highlight of the week’s events.
LesleyK do you have any sleuths LIKE Miss Marple or Battle or The Beresfords in Australia? Or any sleuths Created by Australian Authors who is foreign?