Ee Bee Weir eee eS Cee a) es 7Arata KpacTa PACCKA3bI ABanmauus mercma, ynpacnenus tw enoeaps HH, Kousarosoi BR omeaK 811.111075) [BBK 81.240-93 Kaz Cepia nema menoseersarn yseSue nD obit, plccunraimite na rare aTamon Hey A nexoro sua: Elementary (0 navwnapuunn), Pre Tncermediate (via npoxoneanouus nepaoro ¥po8ia) Inermediate (ata npoxonaouustoporo ypows), Upper Intermediate (ate npotessenounix rpeTicro yPODis) Adhanced (ax conepuencrayouts). Cepuiios opepuncine A.M. pazoe0c0 Kner Kyo Pocekaau / Arava Kpwers ananreuusreecva, ynpoxnes8 cerosape HH. Kouanonon, — M.: Adpuc-npece, 2008. — 24: a. — (Asean x1y6),— lonaunee rent) Spon. B acne cee 075) © 000 -ttsarencras SON ores-nni-mee Atego 2 DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE, (September 15, 1890 — January 12, 1976) ‘The Public Persona Everyone who has studied or written about Agatha Chrisie agrees on one point. She is very famous — the mest famous woman writer ever. During her 85 years of life, she authored 78 erime novels, 150 shor stories, 6 conventional (not crime) novels, + non-fiction books, and 19 plays. By one count, more than 2 billion copies of her books and plays had heen sold in 108 languages — outselling even William Shakespeare! More than 7.5 milion people have seen her most famous play, The Mousetrap, since it fist opened in 1952, ‘But, despite all of this fame, Agatha Christie was a complex‘woman, whom few people filly understand, The public's knowledse ‘of Chsti limited, because she cael voided public appearances, ‘id lite in public, and never gave public speeches. Ti her autobiography, Christe Wrote how slow-wited she was, so child, and chronically incapable of expressing her feelings. In frustration, Christie once decided to turn fo music, since she Was sulfcienly talented as a pianist to consider becoming a profesional But, alas, even with small audiences, Christie would freeze up ‘when playing the piano. She wrote, “leartculate 1 shall always be. Tes probably one of the causes that have made me 2 writer.” ‘AS she grew oder, and beeame more and more famous, Christie seomed to become even more private, silent and inadequate in pubic Here's an example. In 1962, atthe age of 72, Christie was invited asthe gucst of honor to an exclusive party a the Savoy Hotel in London. The party was made to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the running of her popular play, The Mouserap. However, the ‘doorman refed to let Christe in, not knowing who she was. Chie ‘didnot protest or brush the doormen aside. Instead, she turned meekly sway, saddened and confused, later to write how the party ended: up a5 pitfl far. Some writes have suggested that Christie may have suffered throughout her ife from a ehronic form of agoraphobia. This is a ‘mental disorder ereating an intense Tear of public places. ‘An Adventurous and Happy Childhood Christe was bor in an upper-middle class family, growing up in a lage Ratian-style stucco vila on the English seashore, She had # happy and peaceful childhood ‘Chratie was alowed by her fee-spiited. mother to run wid a much 25 posible. She would regulary amaze family and fiends with her actions. On her own, she went oUt at a Yery Young age on a sailboat with her unreliable brother She went on a mule trip with, her sister without permission. A the age of 6, she climbed out the 4th floor window of « hotel and walked risky along the foot-wide ledge. In 1911, atthe age of 21, Agatha’s mother paid 5 pounds for her to 20, Up in that new invention called an apne for 5 minutes. Despte her public shyness, Agatha was obvious adventurous andl bold. ‘Azatha Christie was homte-tutored, which was customary for young women during the Victorian era She nevertheless demonstrated She had a brillant mind, excelling in mathematies, logic, ad mus CChiriste aso grew up from being a serawny litle kid into & fal, slim blonde, who was very popular with the opposite sex. She had many suitor as a young woman, before she finally married. Highlights of Her Adult Life Agatha Christie showed her sense of adventure in her atitude to marrage. She wrote about how exciting it was being a gil Who ambled her life on her choice of a mate, and to whom anything ‘might happen. She eventually maried Archie Christie atthe age of 24, taking his ast ame. ‘Twelve years later, in 1926, Agatha's mother died. Later in the same year, she went through a biter divorce, when her husband stunned er with the news that he wanted to mary their mutual friend, Nancy Neele. "These two events put her in a deep depression. Then, she generated sensational and scathing news coverage, which she spent the rest of her life trying to live down. This occurred after she abandoned her cat ouside of London, and then disappeared for II ‘ays, She was well known by this time, and her disappearance resulted in national publicity, with the police beating the bushes, Tooking for her, ponds being dragged for her body, and many volunteers devoting time looking for her. She was discovered staying ina hotel north of England, under the mame Teresa Neel Her octors later claimed she had been in an automobile accident, even ‘hough there was no damage to her ear, and she was suffering from amnesia. Despite her doctors’ claims, the national pres ridiculed her, claiming this was an elaborate hoax perpetrated by her, inconveniencing the police and the many xolunteers looking for het. And, it did not go unnoticed that using the name “Neele” at the hotel where had been staying o° hiding, Christe had put the ‘name ofthe woman her husband wanted to marry on the Front page of every newspaper in the country. ‘Christe refused to discus this incident forthe rest of her ie although in her autobiograpiy she stated tha it created a life-long revulsion for the press, journalists, and crowds Despite the biter experiences in 1926 with her frst husband,‘Agatha Christi found she was still very much the center of attention with men. And, at the age of 40, Agatha had a whole new life ‘open up for her again, with rich new cultural opportunities. She married aman 14 years younger than she was, and they had an exceptionally happy relationship. TBut for the 1926 escapades, writers often complain that Christie's life is so unrewarding as a biographical subject, There Is some truth to this, as you ean See. Most of Christie's life was spent relatively uneventfully ‘There stil litle ight shed on how her prodigious writing talents fist developed. All we know i that Christie's father died at an early age, and overtime his death lft her mother and siblings in a more dificult financial situation. These changed financial circumstances prompted Christie to se if she could earn money to help her family keep the seashore vila, CCuristie's fist husband also had limited financial resources for the fins few years of their marriage, and this gave her additional reason to ly 0 earn some additional money through het weting. “These early efforts at writing led to her fst publishing contract Jn 1919, at the age of 29. Agatha had received litle financial reward for her effors. up to that point. By 1923, she was starting to develop a reputation asa detective novelist. She continued writing at Teast one novel a year forthe res, ‘of her life, with her fame and reputation growing by leaps and bounds throughout the rest of her lif. In 1971 she became "Dame ‘of the Briish Empire,” which is an honorary rank equivalent 0 knighthood, but awarded much more rarely. ‘Observations about Her Writing Style ‘The question isoften asked why Christie became internationally Popular, and has remained popular, in so many diferent cultures, and languages? Here are some ideas for you on ths. ‘We know that she had an uncontesed genius for corseucting complex plots ‘She wrote that er problem was not having a shortage of new ideas for her novels. To the contrary, she would have 5 diferent stories inher mind at the same time, requiring tremendous intellectual ability and energy to stay focused on ene progct im In her stores, Christe did not stimulate readers’ interest in the cultural values of her day which ean date a writer's work. Her stories remain as fresh and interesting today as when she wrote them. ‘She used a broad range of imaginative and atypical characters, which did not misrer the norm in society. Thus, for example, she ‘would write about young woman who was a solid breadwinner, oF 4 woman over 60 who can dominate the life of family and ‘community, oF a murdores who Was just as handsome, hard headed, and ambitious, as any man. ‘Christie had the insight and genius to create her great detective, Piro, in her very fist novel. There is something very clever about Poirot. He presents an image of a funny litle man, with an egghead and moustache, who is a former policeman and possesses an ‘outstanding intellect, However, you will note that he otherwise has no family, oF nation, oF clas. His background is never developed fr explained. Only in a very limited sense is he developed as a ‘charter. He serves instead as an efficient device or tool for Chisic logically and uneventfully to tell her story without developing a new person which would distract her readers Similarly, Christie has developed a stereotypical friend in ‘Captain Hastings, who serves another role in her stories. Since most of her stories deal with the upper middle class in British society, she uses Hastings, wit his cultural and class connections, 1 gain Poirot access to the drawing rooms and the upstairs corridors and other intimate settings necessary for his investigation. Exercises Checking Comprehension 1 The following questions wil help you to recall he major moments of ‘The Public Persona 1) Inwhat different, objective ways can we measure Christie's popularity?» 2 » 3) o » » » Which famous English witer his sold more copies of his ‘wings than Agatha Christie? Is it fr measure to compare the numberof copies sold by thes two grea English writer? Why oF why’ not? ‘Why is the public's knowledge of Christe so limited? In what diferent ways did Christie avoid public exposure? ‘What about Christie's personality sas legendary as her books? What made Christie decide 10 become a writer? What was Christie chronically incapable of expressing i public? ‘As Christie got older, did she overcome her problem with ‘Shyness? What happened to her? Describe why the incident at the Savoy Hotel, when Cristie was 72 years od, ia good example of her shyness 10) What psychological or mental disorder do some wnitets » 2 » 4 3 6 » % » believe Christie sufered from? How docs it affect people ‘who sufer fam i? — ‘An Adventurous and Happy Childhood What was Christie's childhood like? What was so nice about where Cristie grew up? How do you think this affected her writing later in life? What way a disingusting characters of Chrisie 8 In what way did Christie's mother help her be bold and adventurous? ‘What are some ofthe ways in which Christie demonstrated she was a “Tree spin”? ‘What did Christe do when she was 21 that was so unusual? Who helped her? How well developed do you think an airplane would have been in 91 sch sth ane Crile hal he pprtanity ‘Would you have beem as adventurous, if you had had the same opportunity to flyin an airplane in 1911? Why oF why not? Ts there anything inconsistent about Christie being painfully shy in public, yet being bold and adventurous and spirited in her private if?” Why or why not? 8 10) In what way was Christe raised asa traditional woman in the Vietorian era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? 11) How did Christie demonstrate she had a brilliant mind? 12) Despite her public shyness, how did Christie relate to the opposite sex? 13) Ts there anything inconsistent here ahout her personality? Why or why not? Highlights of Her Adult Lite 1). At what age did Christie marry forthe fst time? 2) What was Christie's attitude to marrage? 13) How was Christie's atitude to marrage similar to her childhood? 4) How long was Christie married for the frst time? 5) What sensational news story did Christe erate when she ‘vas 36 yeas old? 6) How did the public and the press relate to Christie's isappearance at fir? 1) How did the public andthe press relate 10 Christe when they Teared she had been living in a hotel the entire time she was missing? 48) What was ironic about the name Christie used to check Into the hotel with, when she was missing for 11 days? Do you think she Used this name deliberately? Why oF why not? 9) How did Christie's doctors try to explain er disappearance for It days? 10) Did Christe later in life explain what had happened to her during her disappearance for 11 days? 11) How did Christie explain this incident affected her, and her attitude to being in the public limelight?” 12) Do you think this incident affected Christie the way she claimed, or do you think she had probleme with being the public limelight long before this incident ozcured? 13) What happened to Christie at the age of 40? 14) What do writers often complain about when studying (Christie's ie? 15) What do we know about how Christie's writing talents developed? a16) Why gid Christie stare writing professionally? 17) Atwhat age did Christie have her fist publishing contact? 18) At what age did she start to develop a good reputation as fa detective novelist? 19) Why was it an honor for Christie to be awarded the British rank of “Dame of the British Emite™? Observations about Her Writing Style 1) What was Christie's reputation as detective novelist? 2) Was Christe lacking in ideas for her stories? Why oF why not? 3). What in Christie's writing syle Keeps her stories fresh and 4). Were Christie's characters consistent with the roles normally played by men and women in society? Why of why not? 5) Who is the most famous of the characters in her novels, and short stories? 46). Inwhat book did Christi first develop the role of Hercule Poirot? 7), What is so clever about the role of Poirot in Christie's books? 8) What do we know about Poirot’s family, nationality, and class in society? 9) Who was Captain Hastings? 10) In what way did Chrisie use the her detective stores? fof Hastings to tell A FRUITFUL SUNDAY “Well, really, I call this too delightful,” said Miss Dorothy Pratt for the fourth time. “How | wish Mrs. Mackenzie could sce ‘Mise Pratt's companion did not reply at once forthe best of| ‘eavons, When you have just purchased a Baby Austin, fourth hand, forthe sum of twenty pounds, and are taking it out for the second ‘ime only, your whole attention is necessarily focused onthe dificult task of using both ands and fet as the emergencies of the moment tate. “Well, you don’t talk to giel much," complained Dorothy Mr. Palgrove was saved from having 10 respond as at that, ‘moment he was roundly and soundly cursed by the driver of « motor ‘omnibus. "Well, ofall the impudence,” sid Miss Prt, tssing her ead.“only wish he had this footbrake,” said her swain bitterly. ‘ls there anything wrong with it?” You can put your foot on it till kingdom comes,” said Mr Palerove. “But sothing happens.” “Oh, well, Ted, you can’t expect everthing for twenty pounds Afterall here we are, ina real car, on Sunday aflemoon going out fof town the same as everybody ele."" “And you do drive something beautiful,” Dorothy added admiringy Inspired by feminine appreciation, Mr. Palgrove attempted a sash cross Hammersmith Broaay and was severe spoken 1 by 2 policeman. “Wel, you never,” suid Dorothy, as they went on towards Hammersmith Bridge in a moderate fashion. “You don’t know ‘what the police are coming to. “Anyway, T didn’t want to go along this road,” said Edward sacly. “I wanted to go down the Great West Road and do.a bust.” ‘And be caught in a trap as likely as not,” sald Doroshy “That's what heppened to the master the other day. Five pounds and cass” “The police aren't so dusty after all,” said Edward generously. “They pitch into the rch. Allright. No favour, It makes me mad to think ofthese swells who can walk into a place and buy a couple ‘of Rolls Rovees without turing a hait, There's no sense in it. I'm ‘8 good as they ar.” ‘And the jewellery.” sald Dorothy, sighing. “Those shops in Bond Sireet. Diamonds and pearl and I don't know what! And me with a string of Woolworth pears” ‘She brooded sadly upon the subject. Edward was able once more to give full attention to his driving. They managed to get through Richmond without mishap. The altercation with the policeman had shaken Edward's nerve. He now took the line of least resistance, fllowing blindly behind any car in front Tn this way he presently found himself following a shady country lane which many an experienced motorist would have given his soul to find. “Rather clever turing off the way I did" sad Edward, taking all the credit to hime “Sweety pretty. [call i” std Miss Prat. “And I do declare, there's @'man with fut t se” Sure enough, at a convenient corner, was a small wicker table with baskets of fruit on it, and the legend Ear More Fruit displayed on a banner. “How much?” said Edwand apprehensively, when frenzied pulling of the handbrake had produced the desired result “Lovely strawberries,” sid the man in charge "Just the thing for the lady. Ripe fruit, fresh picked. Cherries oo. Genuine Enalish, Have a basket of cherries, lady?” “They do Took like ice ones,” stid Dorothy. “Lovely, that’s what they ae,” said the man hoarely. “Bring you luck, lady, that basket wil He at list looked down on Edvard to reply. “Two shilings, sir, and dirt cheap. You'd say so if you know what was inside the basket.” “They look awfully nice,” said Dorothy. Edward sighed and paid over two shillings. His mind was obsessed by calculation. Tea later, petrol— this Sunday motoring business wasn’t what you'd call cheap. That was the worst of taking tins out! They alvays wanted everyting they sav “Thank you, sit.” sud the vendor. “You've got more than your money's worth in that basket of cherries.” Edward did not reply ‘Another half-mile brought them to an ideal spot by the banks | ‘ofa steam. The Austin was left by the side of the road and Edward ‘and Dorothy sat affectionately upon the river bank and munched cherries. A Sundey paper lay unheeded at their fet. “What's the news?” said Edward at last, stretching himself flat ‘om his back and ‘ting his hat to shade his eyes Dorothy glanced aver the headlines, “The Woefil Wife. Extraordinary story. Twenty-eight people rowned last week. Reported death of Airman, Starting, Jewel Robbery. Ruby Necklace worth fifty thousand pounds missing. Oh, ‘Teal! Fifty thovsand pound. Just faney!” She went on reading. “The neehlace Is composed of twenty-one stones set in platinum and was Sent by registered post from Pars. On arrival the packet was found ‘0 contain a few pebbles and the jewels were missing.” “Pinched inthe pet,” said Edward. “The posts in France ae sul, believe.” Pd like to see a necklace lke that,” said Dorothy. “AIL an