my pa 4 ° FS & ° ° r=)AGATHA CHRISTIE, WOMAN OF MYSTERY ‘Many people enjoy reading murder mysteries, because they are puzzles. Can we guess the murderers name ‘before the detective tells ts a che end ofthe book? Was the broken chae an accident, oi it an important cue? How did the murderer get into the howse? Did he (or she) have key? Why were there ¢hree coffe eups on the table? Agatha Christie's murder mysteries ae famous all vee ‘he world. She wroee more shan seventy books snd they have sold millions of copies. There have been many television plays and fms of her stories. Her detectives, Hercule Poros and Miss Marple, arefamoustoo~ashort sound Belgian with a black moustache, anda dea litle ‘olla, who secs, hears, and remembers everything. “This is a story about Agatha Cheistie' fe. What kind cof petson was she? How much da we know about her? She was rch famous, and twice married. And there was a mystery in ber life, too~ The Stories Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery Seige 2 70 besdvont) Seve ator: ener Bast Feder Edo Ta Hedge Aine Edo: emir Bott and lon BaseAgatha Christie, Woman of Mystery ~OXFORD i SE ‘hain ee pees wanna ns ReCONTENTS, ‘why don'tyou writea ston? Ashy young man ‘Tes athe rivay station A detective story A good detective story writer Agatha disappears Ayoungarchacologist, Dame Agatha actin: Before Reading actives: While Reading scriveies: ter Reading 6 2 3CHAPTER 1 ‘Why don't you write a story?’ AS Mary Clarissa Miller was bored. It was a winter morning in 1908, and she was in bed because she was il “rm feeling much better today, she said to her mother, Clara. ‘Tehink Pll getup." ‘You'te stil ill said Clara. ‘The doctor told you to stay ined and keep warm. And thar's what you're going co do!” Agatha was eighteen years old at this time, bur in those. days daughters had to do what their mothers told them. “But I'm bored’ ‘Well, do something, then,’ said her mother. ‘Read a book. Or write story. Yes, why don’t you write a story ‘Write a story? said Agatha, surprised, “Yes,” her mother said. “Like Madge. Madge was Agatha’s sister. She was cleven years olderAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery than Agatha, and sometimes wtote short stories for magazines like Vanity Fair “don't think that I can write storie said Agatha. “How do you know” said her mother. ‘You've never tied.’ And she went to find a pencil and papers. Soon after, Agatha sat up in hed and began to write a story. It was called House of Beauty, a strange story about dreams Ie wasn’t a very good story. She typed it on Madge’s old typewriter, and sent it off ro a magazine. But they sent i back with a letter: Thank you for sending us your story. We are afraid we cannot publish it ‘You must try again,” said her mother Clara was always sure thar her daughters could do anything, So Agatha went on writing stories, and sending them lout to magazines ~ but they a litle disappointed, “Tl ery writing a novel,’ she devided. [Aniidea came to ee. She remembered secing.a beautiful I came back. She was & young git in a hotel in Cairo when she was visiting Egypr with Clara, The gil was always with to men, one on each side of her. One day, Agatha heard someone say “That girl will have to decide between them som Ie was all that Agatha needed for an idea, and she began writing, Ie was nor a detective novel. Ie was the sory of a young gil who lived in Cairo, and ic was called 2Why don’ write a story? Snow Upon the Desert I was really two long stories put rogether to make a book. When ic was finished, Agatha sentitto three or four publishers, but they al sen it back, “Oh dear,’ said Agatha. “What shall I do now?” “Why don't you show it to Eden Phillpotts? said Clara. Eden Phillpotts was a writer who lived near the Millers. During his life, he wroce more than a hundred Amides fora novel, 3Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery popular novels, and many plays for the theatre. Agatha was a litle afraid of sending her novel co this famous ‘man, but she agreed to do it and sent it off Mr Phillpotts was a good writer, and also a kind man, He read Agatha’s novel carefully and wrote her a letter Some of your writing is very good, so Lam sending you 4 letter 10 take 10 my agent, Hughes Massie Agatha — still only eighteen years old — went to London Toney inthe early 19008 4Asby young mane ‘on che train, Ie was a Jong journey — more than 200 miles from her home in Torquay in Devon, and the trains were rot so fast in those days. She was very shy, and Hughes Massie was a big, frightening man, Agatha gave him the letter from Eden Phillpotts. Massie read ie, talked with Agatha for a while, then kept her book to read. Agatha went home to wait Some months later, Massie returned Snowe Upon the Desert to hes. I do not think that I can find a publisher for it, he wrote to her. The best thing is to stop thinking about it any more and to write another book. Agatha was disappointed. She did write another book, bur some other important things happened inher life rst. CHAPTER 2 A shy young man Ait ates Peder ded to 1901, when Agatha was eleven yeats old, He was an American, and was ten years older than Clara. After he died, Clara began to travel a lot, and often took Agatha with her. In 1911, when Agatha was twenty-one, C a was ill. *You need to go somewhere warm and sunny 0 get better Clara’s doctor told her,Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery So Clara decided t0 go to Egypt again, and she took ‘Agatha with her, They stayed in a horel in Cairo. There were some English soldiers staying near the hotel, and they often came to the hotel dances ‘Agatha wasa shy young woman, but she loved to dance, During her stay in Cairo, she went to fifty dances. She met alot of exciting young men and had a wond ‘When she came back to England, she was soon getting invitations to garden parties, tennis parties, dances, and to country houses for the weekend. ‘Then a young army officer called Reggie Lucy came home from Hong Kong. Agatha was a friend of Reggie's three sisters, and often played tennis with them. Bur she Jd not know Reggie. He wasa very shy young man who did not go out very much, He liked to play golf but did not like parties or dances. “Like to play golf but 'm not very good avis,’ Agatha said when she met him. ‘IL could help you," said Rega, shyly. He had dark hair and brown eyes. Agatha liked him, So, while Reggie was in England, he and Agatha played golf nearly every day. ‘One very warm day they played golf for alittle while, then Agatha said, I'm hot, Reggie! Shall we have a rest?” They sat under a tre, out of the sun, and talked. Then, suddenly, Reggie said, ‘I wane vo marry you, Agatha. 6A shy young man ‘Reggie and Agatha played golf nearly every da. Did you know that? Perhaps you did. But you are still very young, and: *No, I'm not! said Agatha, ‘Not very young.” “Of contse,a pretty gil lke you could marry anybody,’ said Reggie.Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery [don think I want to marty anybody,’ Agatha said L=yes, [think I'd like to marry you!” “‘Thave to go back to Hong Kong in ten days’ time,” said Reggie. ‘And I'll be chere for two years, Bue when | come back, if there ist anybody... “There won't be anybody’ said Agatha, ‘So Regie wene back to Hong Kong, Agatha wrote letters to him, and he wrote to her. It was all agreed. When Reggie came home again, they would get married CHAPTER 3 Tea at the railway station fh October the 12th, 1912, when Agatha was twenty-two, she went to a dance at the home of Lord and Lady Clifford. They lived near Chudle twelve miles from Torquay, and there were many young, people there for Agatha to talk to. Daring the evening a young army officer eame up to her, Will you dance with me he asked Agatha, *Me?" said Agatha. ‘Oh, yes, allright. He was tall and good-looking, with friendly blue eyes, and his name was Archibald Christie. Agatha liked him immediately. They danced together many times that sTea atthe raeay station Lwant 10 fl” he said, ‘and U'm trying to get into the Royal Flying Corps.” “How exciting!” said Agatha and Archie told her is plans, |A week later, she was having tea with some friends at house opposite Ashfield, her home, when there was a telephone call for her. Ie was her mother ‘Come home, will you, Agatha?" said Clara, ‘There's a Archibald and Agatha danced togerber many ties that evening 9Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery young man here. He's just arrived and Pm giving him tea, T don’t know him, and [think he wants Agatha had 0 leave her friends and hurry home, so she was not very pleased. But when she got hhome, she found Agatha asa yourg woman said. “I was in Torquay and and I shought thar perhaps it would be nice {see you." His face was red and he looked at his shoes. Agatha smiled, Archie stayed for the rest of the aft toon, and for supper that evening. When it was time for him to leave, he said, ‘Will you come to a concert in Exeter with me, Agatha? We can go to the Redcliffe Hotel for tea after 0Tea a the nalway station ‘Vd love 0,’ said Agatha, then looked at Clara, ‘Can 1, mother? “A concert, yes, Agatha,’ said Clara, ‘But tea at a hotel? No, I don't think so, Not a hotel.” ethaps 1 could take Agatha to tea in — in the restaurant at Exeter tailway station! said Archie. Agatha tried not co smile, but her mother agreed. So ‘Agatha and Archie went to the concert ~ and then had ea at Exeter railway statios “There'sa New Year's dance in Torquay on the second of January; said Agatha, when Archie took her home ‘Will you come?” He smiled. “OF course,’ he said. ‘I want t0 see you as often as Fean. But when Archie came to the New Year's dance he was very quiet and did not seem happy. He seemed 10 be worried about something, but Agatha said nothing. ‘Two days later, on the 4th of January, 1913, they went 10 another concert together. Archie was still very quiet, and after the concert Agatha asked, ‘What's wrong, Archie? “The Royal Flying Corps have said "yes" to me, said Archie. ‘T have to leave Exeter in two days sime, [have to go to Salisbury.’ He looked at her. Agatha, you've got to marry me! There will never be anyone for me, only yout F've known thar since our first evening together, at the Cliffords* dance."Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery Agatha was very surprised, ‘Bue — bur [can’t marry you, I've already cold Reggie thac PIL marry him.” And then she told him about Reggie Lucy. “You didn’t marry him before he went away? said Archie. ‘Why nor? It's because you don't really love him! “We thought it was hetter to wait— began Agatha. “L won't wait said Archie. ‘I want ro marty you next month, oF the month after” “We can’t” said Agatha. ‘We haven't got any money. How will we live?” But she did wane eo marry Archie “Archie has asked me to marry him, and I want to, 1 want to very much? she cold her mother, ‘Clara was very surprised. "You must wait,’ she cold them both. ‘Tike you, Archie, but you are only twenty: three years old, and neither of you has any money.’ So Archie went to Salishury, and he and Agatha ced. Agatha wrote to Reggie Lucy. Ie was a difficult Texter o write, but Reggie wrote a very kind letter back tohet. Don't worry about i,’ he told her.‘T understand.” In August 1914, England was suddenly at war with Germany. Archie went to France with the Royal Flying, Corps, and Agatha went to work as a volunteer nurse at the Torbay Hospical in Torquay, Archie came hack to England for five days in December, 2Tea atthe vaileay station and Agatha went up r0 London to meee him, Then the two of them went down to Bristol, where Archie's mother lived. They could not wait any longer. They wanted 10 get married Archie's mother was not happy about this, but Clara though differently. “Yes, get rmaried now she said, There's a war on. Who knows what will happen? Be ha ‘while you can.” ‘So Agatha and Archie were martied at last on the 24th of December, 1914, Two days later, Archie went back to the war, and Agatha did noe see him again for six months, a Archibald ChristeAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery During the summer of 1915, Agatha was ill and could not do any nursing work at che hospital for three of four weeks. Then, when she returned, she went to work in the hospital dispensary. And here she learned something, which was very useful for a writer of detective stories. She learned abou poisons. HAPTER 4 A detective story ba ened ed hs indo bok vey mich “hdtetouyantwries dace sry ml i Thea syed m Agthoshs adhe sated shon Maths eld oe nd when Seat Sh wn 0 werk te spl dpa he hat Find of nde penn? Who al “4A detective story die? Who will the murderer be? When? How? Why? Where? And what about a detective? ‘There were some Bel an people living in Torq who were there because of the war in Belgium, Clara, Tike everyone in the town, was very kind and helpful to them when they arrived. She gave them chairs and beds for their homes, and tried to make them feel happy and comfortable, Now; Agatha suddenly remembered them, ‘What about a Belgian detective? she thought, and began ro build the character in her head. “He'll be a very clever, very tidy litle man, But what shall {call him: know, I'l call him Hercules!” She smiled. “I's a good 1sAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery fname for a small man. And his second name? Poirot. Hercules ~no, Hercule Poirot! Yes, chats it? Agatha thought about her detective story during every quiet minute in the dispensary. She knew alot about poisons now. She knew which poisons worked auickly, and which worked slowly. She knew how much co give, and what different poisons smelt and tasted like. She knew how people died from poisons ~ did theit faces turn blue? Did they die in their sleep, or die sereaming in pain? A good detective ~ and a good writer of detective stories ~ must know these things. She began to write her story at home, and used Madge’s old typewriter again, “What are you doing?” Clara asked her one day “I'm writing a detective novel,’ said Agatha, ‘I want ro it, bur it's very dificult.” fin “Why don't you finish ie during your holiday? said Clara. ‘Go away somewhere nice and quiet, and take it with you. Where do you want 10 go? Dartmoor?” “Yes! said Agatha. ‘Dartmoot!” Dartmoor was a beautiful, lonely moor in Devon, Agatha took Madge’s typewriter with her and stayed at the Moorland Hotel at Hay Tor. Ie was a lange hotel with a lot of rooms, bur not many peaple were staying there, For ewo weeks she wrote in her room every morning, then went for long walks alone on the moor in the afternoons. Everything went well. The characters 16A detective story Dartmoos «beaut lonely moor Devon sccmed to come alive inside her head, and during her walks she planned her writing forthe next da ‘She finished the lst half of the book during her holiday, and soon after she sent it to.a publisher. They returned i, bur Agatha was nor surprised. She sent ic out again, bur it came back once mote. She sent it toa third publisher, butAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery they returned it t00, Then she sent it to The Bodkey Head publishing company ~ and forgot all about it. ‘Two years went by. Archie came back to work in London, the war ended, and Agatha had a baby — Rosalind. The three of them were living in a flat in London when a letter arrived one morning in 1919, Ie was from The Bodley Head. Agatha quickly opened the letter, and sav the words: - will you cal at our offices? «we would lke to tall. about your book “vs about my book ~ The Mysterious Affair at Styles,’ she told Archie. ‘I think they want to publish ie “Then you must go and see them at once!” said Archie. Agatha went co the publishers’ office. She met John Lane, a small man with white haie “Do sit down,’ he said, He had a kind voice, and blue eyes that looked carefully at Agatha, ‘Some of my readers think that we could publish your book. But you will need to change the last chapter. And there are afew coher small things. Agatha was too excited to listen, She was happy 10 do anything, The Mysterious Affair at Styles was her first detective story, and she wanted ro see it in the bookshops. So she wrote a different ending for ic and changed one oF to more small ehings, and at last John Lane was pleased with ic.ccHAPrER 5 A good detective-story writer Amit Be took The are Afi at Spe was published in 1920. But before this, she began writing another book. Te was Archie's idea, “Mother is finding it difficult to pay all che bills at Ashfield,’ Agatha told him. “Why doesnt she sell Ashfield2" Archie said to Agatha, “The house is too big for just one person. Then she can bay something smaller” “Sell Ashfield? said Agatha. ‘Oh, no! She can’t! [love it~ and ies our family home “Then why don't you do something, about i?” said Archie. “Do something? What do you mean?" “Why don’r you write another book? said Ar “Perhaps i will make a Tot of money: Agatha thought about it. Ashfield was her family home, and it must stay in the family. Could she do anything co help? “Perhaps | could write another book," she thoughi “But whar ean ie be about? The answer eame one day when she was having tea in »Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery 4 tea-shop. Two people were talking at a rable near her. ‘Agatha heard a name ~ and began ro listen, They were talking about somebody called Jane Fish. “What a strange name,’ thought Agatha. ‘But what a 00d beginning for a story! Somebody hears a strange name in a tea-shop. And then. ..? Wait, perhaps “Jane Finn” will be better. Yes! Now, let me think «.." And before Agatha left the tea-shop, an idea for a story was running around inside her head. She went hhome andl began it immediately. She called it The Secret Adversary, and the book was published in 1922, ‘The story did not have the Belgian detective Hercule Poiror in it, but her next book, Murder om the Links, did. Readers loved Poirot. He was a very short, tidy litle man, with green eyes, black hair, and a beautiful black moustache. And, like another famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, he was very, very clever. He was not shy about this, and was always telling other characters in the story just how clever he was. Other books followed, some with Poirot, some without ~ The Man in the Brown Suit, Poirot Investigates, and The Secret of Chimneys Hughes Massie, the agent, was helping Agatha nov. “You noed another publishes,’ he told her. ‘A publisher \who will pay you more than ‘The Bodley Head. You're a 2A good detecive-story writer Horede Poot, played by the actor David Suchet ood detective-story writer, Aga! beginning to sell well” So Massie sent Agatha’s next book ~ The Murder of Roger Ackroyd ~ to William Collins’ publishers. Ie was an important book for Agatha, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd came our in the spring, of 1926 ~and people began co talk about itimmediacely and your books areAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery What did they talk abour? The big surprise at the end of the book! “Tha’s cheating!” some people said, when they got to the end and found out the name of the murderee, ‘No it's noty said other readers, “Ie a very clever story. “What's the matter with everybody?" Agatha said to Archie. ‘I didn'r cheat. I's wrong co say that. People ‘must read the story carefully And she was right. All the clues were there in the story, and a very clever reader could guess the name of the murderer, But most people couldn. (So what was the surprise at the end, and who was the ‘murderer? The only way to find out is to read the book!) After The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published, more and more people began to buy Agatha’s books, and Agatha had more money to spend. ‘The Christies hought a house at Sunningdale, about thirty miles from London. “Whar shall we call it? said Agatha. “Styles, said Archie, ‘after your first book.” And they put a pieture of the front cover of the book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, on the wall But not long after they moved to Sunningdale, something happened thar pur Agatha’s name on the front pages of every newspaper in England. re disappeared.Agathe disoppears People think that it happened because she was very unhappy at this time, Fest, her mother died, And then Agatha found oue that Archie was in love with a young, woman called Nancy Neeke CHAPTER 6 Agatha disappears nthe morning of Friday, the 3nd of December, 1926, Archie left Seyles and went to stay with some friends for the weekend, Nancy Necle was also. staying at this ho rnd. Pethaps Agatha knew this, perhaps she didn’t ~ we ean Nobody knows what Agatha was thinking, late that dark winter evening. Rosalind, now seven years old, was in bed. The Christies’ two housemaids were in the 1 for the wel be sure. kitchen. But we know this. At about eleven o'clock that evening, Agatha went out and drove away in her eat She diel nor reruen home that night. On Saturday morning, a woman arrived by taxi at the Hydro Hotel in Harrogate, Yorkshite. The Hydro was fone of Harrogate’s biggest and best hotels, near the centre of the town, ‘Can T have a oom, please? the woman asked. She 2Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery was earrying.a small suitcase, and she looked very tire. “Yes, of course,’ said the man behind the hotel desk “There's a nice room on the first floor ~ room number five. Te has hot and cold water, and the cost is seven pounds for a week.” “Thank you, that will he all right,’ said the woman. “Whar name, please? asked the man. “Mrs Teresa Neele’ said the woman with the suitcase eee Also on that cold Saturday morning in December, « fifteen- year-old boy was walking beside a lake called the Silent Pool. This was a a place called Newlands Corner, about fourteen miles from Sunningdale. The boy's name was George Best Suddenly, George saw a car It was off the road, down, by the lake, bur the lights were on, “That's strange,’ he thought. “Why is thar car down, there, and why are the lights on?" And he went co have a better look The car was empty, but the driver's door was open. George looked inside, He ssw a coat, and an open suitcase. Half-out of the suitcase were three dresses, some shoes ~ and some papers with the name “Mrs Agatha Christie’ on them, ‘George quickly went to find a policeman. 4Agathe disoppears Agutha car, oud st Newlands Corner ‘The newspapers were soon full ofthe story, and Agatha’s picture was on the front pages. Where was the detective- story writer? Was she dead? Was she murdered? Did she kill herself? ‘The Daily News wanted answers to these questions, and said, on December the 7th, thar it would give £100 to the first person with the answers. By the next weekend, hundreds of policemen and thousands of people were looking for her “Did your wife ever talk about disappearing?” a Daily Mail reporter asked Archie, “Yes, said Archie. “She once told her sister, “I could disappear any time I wanted to, would plan it carefully, 2sAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery ouDS SEARCH FOR NOVELIST |Agathe disoppears and nobody would find me.” Pethaps this happened. Or perhaps she's ill and can’t remember who she i.” ‘The police asked Archie lots of questions, watched his house, and followed him to his office. “They think I've murdered Agatha,” he told a friend ‘The woman at the Hydro Horel had breakfast in her room each morning, and sat quietly reading in the hotel sitting-room in the afternoons, She said “Good morning? and ‘Good afternoon’ to other people in the hotel, and scomed worried hecause there were no letters for het But one of the chambermaids went to see Mrs Taylor, the wife of the hotel manager. ‘Mrs Neele looks like the woman in the Daily Mail picture,’ said the chambermaid. “You know the one ~ Agatha Christie!” Mrs Taylor spoke to her husband about it, bur they decided to say nothing. They did not want any trouble ar the hotel But ewo more people at the Hydeo Hotel were also. looking carefully at ‘Mrs Teresa Neel’ Bob Tappin and Bob Leeming played music in the hotel each evening, and both of them watched the quiet woman in the corner of the room — and began to think. 'm sure thar Neele woman is Agatha Christie," Bob Tappin said to his friend of ening. yAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery AL think you's right Bob Leeming agreed. ‘What shall we do about ic? [And the next day they went to the police ‘The police immediately told Agatha’s husband, and Archie Christie arrived at the Hydro Hotel at 6.45pm on “Tuesday, the 4th of December. When his wife walked out of the sitsing-toom, Archie saw her and went up to her “Hello, Agatha,” he said. ‘She looked at him carefully, but did not seem sure who he was, ‘Hello,’ she said, “The hotel was soon full of newspaper reporters. Archie told chem later, “I don’t think thar my wife knows who she is. She doesn’t know me, and she doesn’t know where she is. He and Agatha left the hotel the nexe day. There were reporters everywhere. They followed the Christies to the railway station, eying to get pictures of the frightened ‘Agatha, who was hiding her face behind het hands. She looked thin and her face was white. And in London, hundreds of people were waiting at King’s Cross Station for the train from Harrogate. Everyone wanted to sce the ‘woman of mystery’ and her husband, Their lives now seemed to be like something. ‘out of one of her detective stories. Archie helped the silent, frightened Agatha through 28Agathe disoppears the crowd, Reporters shouted questions at them and rook pictures, but nether Archie nor Agatha said a word. And for the rest of her life, Agatha never again spoke about Harrogate, the Hydro Hotel, or “Teresa Neel’ But what really happened that night after she lefe The woman of mystery »Agatha Christi, Woman of Mystery Styles? Why did she leave her ear? How did she get to Harrogate? Ie was always a mystery Testi is CHAPTER 7 A young archaeologist uring the first weeks of 1927, Agatha went to stay with Madge and her husband in Cheadle, near Manchester. Archie stayed a Styles, bur he wanted 10, marry Naney Neel, and he asked Agatha for adivorce. At firs she would not agree, butat las she said yes, and they were divorced in April 1928, Rosalind lived with Agatha. “Iidon’t want to use the name “Christie” again,’ Agatha, told her publishers. I will think of another name to use.” “But you can’t change it now they said. “Your readers know “Agatha Christie" that’s why chey buy your books If you change your name, nobody will know who you are! In the end, Agatha agreed ro keep the name Christie, but she was not happy about it. But William Collins was right. Thousands of people in England (and America) were reading Agatha’s books now. "Then, inthe autumn of 1928, Agatha decided to visit the ‘West Indies, Rosalind was ar school, and Agatha wanted a holiday in the sun, so she gor tickets for a ship to Jama x0A young archaeologist ‘Two days before she lefe England, Agatha went ro «dinner with some friends, During the evening, she talked to some people who were just back from Baghdad, in Irag. Their names were Commander and Mrs Howe. “People always say that Baghdad is a terrible place,’ said Mrs Home. “Bur we loved it. ye went on aking about the city, and Agatha listened with great interest. She soon decided that she wanted to see Baghdad for herself “How do you get there? she said. ‘By sea?” “You can go by train,’ said Mrs Howe. ‘On the Orient Express." “The Orient Express” said Agatha. ‘Tve always wanted to ride on that famous train. Il go to Baghdad, not the West Indies! ‘The Howes were very helpful and wrote down the names of interesting places for Agatha to visit. ‘And you ‘must go to Us Commander Howe sai. Next day, Agatha changed her rickets for the West Indies for tickets to Istanbul by the Orient Express, and then on across the desert to Baghdad. Tr was an exciting journey for her, travelling alone for the first rime. And later it gave her the idea for another of her most famous books ~ Murder on the Orient Express. While she was staying in Baghdad, she remembered Commander Howe's words, “You must go to Ur” uAgatha Christie, Woman of Mystery PetA young archaeologist Archacology was something that interested Agatha very much, and Leonaed Woolley, the archacologis, and his wife were working at Ur Katherine Woolley was very happy to meet Agatha. “Llove your books? she told Agatha. ‘I've just finished reading The Munder of Roger Ackroyd. Ie was wonderful! ‘Agatha became the Woolleys' special visitor. She Towed Us and she loved watching the archaeologists, It was slow, tiring work, and they had to dig very carefully. Sometimes they found nothing for hours, and sometimes they found ‘old pots or knives. Ie was always exciting when one of the workers found something that was thousands of years old. *You must come back again another year,’ Katherine Woolley said So Agatha did. She went ou in March 1930, the week before the Woolleys planned to come back to England. ‘The plan was that Agatha could travel back with them through Syria and G |A young, atchacologist called Max Mallowan was working with the Woolleys. He was twenty-five years old, and a quiet young man. ‘I've told Max to show you Nejef and Kerbala,” Katherine Woolley told Agatha. ‘Nejef is the holy ciey of the dead, and Kerbala has a wonderful mosque. ‘When we leave here and go to Baghdad, he'll ake you there, You ean see Nippur on the way.” BAgatha Christi, Woman of Mystery “Oh, bur doesn't Max want to go to Baghdad with you?" said Agatha, ‘He will have friends 10 see there before he goes home to England.” “Oh no,’ said Katherine, “Max will be pleased to take you.” ‘The young archacologist wus pleased to take Agatha He liked her immediately, and Agatha liked him. They talked and laughed and enjoyed every minute of their e together. ‘They met the Woolleys in Baghdad, and the four of them travelled to Greece together. But when they got 10 their hotel in Athens, there were seven telegrams waiting. for Agatha. They all said the same thing. Rosalind was ill, Agatha must come home quickly. “Til go with you, Agatha,’ said Max. ‘Oh, thank you, Max,’ said Agatha. ‘But haven’t you got plans to? ‘ve changed my plans," said Max, quietly. ‘I'm coming with you, Agatha.” So they travelled home together, When they arrived, they found hat Rosalind was much better, so that was fone happy ending. Soon, there was another. Agatha was fourteen years older than Max, but during, the journey home Max decided co ask her an important ‘question. And when they were back in England, he asked Agatha to marry him. MA young archaeologist They were married on the 1h of September, 1930, in Edinburgh, in Scotland, 1930 was also the year when Agatha’s other famous detective first appeared — in The Muper atthe Vicarage Her name was Miss Jane Marple ~ a little old woman who lived in the quiet English village of St Mary Mead. Mav and Agatha a ther ome, in later yrs 35Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery Miss Marple looked like somebody's grandmother, a rive kind woman who enjoyed cooking and gardening, But she also had very good eyes and ears, She sa, head, and remembered everything ~ names, faces, the times of trains and buses, the colour of a shirt, che sound of a door shutting, And she always found out the name of the murdeter before the police di. Readers loved the Miss Marple stories, and she was soon as popular as Hercule Poirot. But was she a real person? Where did the idea for the character come from? ‘Where? I can never remember” Agatha alvays said Mise Jone Marple, played bythe actress Margret Reeberfond 36CHAPTER & Dame Agatha for the next ewenty-five years, Agatha went with Max on all his archaeological journeys, She loved travelling, and those were the happiest years of her life. It was a good time for writing, too. “vs nice and quiet,’ Agatha always said. “There’s no telephone? And visiting these interesting places gave her ideas for some of her best books - Death on the Nile, Appointment with Death, Murder in Mesopotamia, They Came to Baghdad. She was now one of the most popular detective-story writers in the world, ‘One of the many people who enjoyed her books was Queen Mary, che mother of the King of England. (One day, in 1946, Agatha had a letter from the British Broadcasting Corporation in London, “They want me ro write a play for Queen Mary's S0th birthday? she told Max. ‘A play for the radio.” “Then yous must do it, said Max, Agatha’s play for radio was called Three Blind Mice. Later, she wrote the play again, for a London theatre This time ic was much longer, and she gave it a new name: The Mousetrap.Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery Ie isa very famous play. It opened in 1982, and has been in one of other of the London theatres ever since then, In 1997, 45 years later, people were still going 10 see the play Why? Ie’ a very good murder mystery, of course, but is another story about The Mousetrap, too. Every night, at the end of the pl ‘one of the actors talks t0 the people in the theatre, and says, “Please don tell your ee ia Programme for The Mouseteap 8Dame Agatha fiends who did che murder in this play. They must come to the theatre and see the play themselves!” And everybody keeps the secret of the murderer's rname~and so more and more people go to see the play. 'n 1971, Queen Elizabeth made Agatha a Dame of the British Empire~a very high honour fora woman Brean. But why was Agatha Christie so famous? Perhaps it is because she was a wonderful story-teler, She planned hher murder mysteries very carefully, puting a elue here, a clue there. And they are clever elues, soit is not easy 10 sess the name of the murderer. Who did it? We want 10 know, and by the end of the book, everyching fall ily into place —and we have the answer. And of course the stories are not really about murder and death ~ they are puzzles, with comfortable endings, because itis pleasing, to read that the detective always catches the criminal. For an hour or two, we can eseape from real life, which is often neither tidy nor comfortable. Agatha Christie died on the 12th of January, 1976, Daring her life, she wrote sixty-seven detective novels ten books of short stories, thirteen plays, six novels that were not about crime (using the name “Mary \Westmacott’), and ewo books about her life. Many films were made from her books; the most famous one is Murder on the Orient Express, made in 1974. »Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery Today, millions of her books, in more than forty Lifferent languages, are sil sold in every country of the world, from China to Nicaragua, Agatha Christie was, perhaps, the greatest detective-story writer of al time ~ ‘8 woman of mystery, both in books and in life Quven Ei ibeth and Dame Agatha in 1974 07LOSSARY agent someone who does busines for another person sppear to ome or go where somebody can sce you archacology the stay of very old buildings and sings chat are found inthe ground character a person in a story cheat 0 do something that not honest clue ching, of some information, that help to find the answer toa mystery Commander an important officer in the navy concert _ music thats played or sungin fron of a loc of people desert very ho, dey place where cere no sin or very tle) dig pase tense dug) to make a hoe in the ground disappear 0 go whore nobody can sce or ind you lsappointed sad, because something you wanted has not happened Aispensary place where medicines are prepared and gin 0 people divorce (n) the end ofa marriage dream (n)_ pictures or ideas in your head when you are asleep feigtened fed frightening making you afaid olf a game where a player his a small all into a hole with a Jong stick called golf lub {nes (0) togve an answce when you don't know if i's right or wrong. holy (ty) plave (ity) which special for God honour something very important and special ideas now thought or plan: picrare in your head aGlossary invitation asking someone to come somenbers or do something lake ant psce of water with land around it rmagaine a pape ‘book? hich comes out every medk or month raid a woman who works as servant in a hotel [chambers orn somebody's hows thowsemai) snager someone who looks after a basnes (ikea bank or ‘otel) and tells dhe workers what 0 do moor large piece of wild hilly ground without tees mosque a building where Muslims go to say sei prayers moustache thchairon a man's top lip below his nose roel» book that i one long story officer someone in the army. navy ete. who tls thers what to do play (n) story that people ct inthe theatre poison (») something tha an kil you or make you very iif ‘you eat or drink ie popular if somethings populas a lor of people ket prety nero look at Pblish to print and make books to sl nthe shops prale something that is dificult to understand, lke a game ‘where you muse find an answer railway station place where ens stop for peopl ro geton or olf reporter somcone who works fora newspaper, dio, television retuen tosend back, orto go back Royal Flying Corps che firs Bric ‘army” of men ro fy seroplanes seem to make you thiak that something i trueGlossary shy not sure about yoursel finding ficale o tlle to new people telegram a message thats sent quickly using rao signals ype tomentypewtiter typewriter a machine thar you use to make eters on paper sf if something is useful ilps someone ro do something luster someone who does seful work but wh doesn watt any money for doingit var fighting heeween armies of diferent counties, a1 ACTIVITIES Before Reading Read the introduction onthe first page ofthe book, and the back cover, How much do you know now about Agatha (Christe and her books? ick one box for each sentence. 1 Agatha Christi’ books ate love stories. og 2 Her hooks are rea all ewer the work og 3 Oncof her famous detstivesisa woman, CI 4 Hercule Poirot isa Frenchman. oo 5 Agatha Christe had four husband oo 6 There are many films of hee stories. oo What is the mystery in Agatha Christie's life? Ci guess? Choose one of these ideas. 1 For years she lives alone in a big house and never sees or talks to anybody: 2 She helps ro find a veal murderes, but nobody knows how she didi. 3 She disappears for some weeks sind nobody ever finds ‘out what happened to her 4 Somebody tries to murder her, but she never tells anybody about 4sACTIVITIES While Reading Read Chapters Land 2, and answer these questions. 1 Why did Agatha’s mother tll Agatha to write a tory? 2. What happened ro Agatha’s fst story? 3. Why did Agatha go to London when she was eighteen? 4 Whardid Agatha do in Cairo? 5 How did Agatha get to know Regal Lucy? 6 Why did Agatha and Reggie have to wait before they got married? Before you read Chapter 3, can you guess the answer to this, question? ‘When Reggie comes home again, will Agatha marry him? [Read Chapters 3 and 4. Who said, thought, or wrote these ‘words? Who or what were the words about? 1 *No, Edon'e think so. Nota hotel” 2 ‘Tye already told Reggie that I'l marry him.” 3 ‘Don’t worry about it. understand, 4 ‘There's wae on, Who knows what will happen? Be happy while you can. 5 "You couldn’ doi. They're very difficult co do.” 46ctwies: While Reading 6 “He'll bea very lever, very tidy Hele man, 7 *Go.away somewhere nice and quit, and rake ie with you. '8 "Bur you will need to change the last ehapree” Read Chapters § and 6. Choose the best question-word for these questions, and then answer them. What | Why slid Agatha begin writing another book? vas the detective Herc Poirot like? id people talk about The Murder of Roger Ackroyd? did people chink that Agatha disappeared? happened a eleven o'lock on 3rd December, 1926? slid George Best find in a ear at Newlands Comer? +s were people atthe Hydro Hotel in Harrogate so inorestd in Mrs Teresa Necle? really happened on the night that Agatha Christie left yes? Before you read! Chapters 7 and 8, can you guess which of these sentences are true? Agatha and Archie decide to stay married Archie is murdered, Agatha spends alot of er time eavelling 1 2 3 Agatha meets and marries another man, 4 5 Agatha is famous, hut nappy; forthe rest of her lifeACTIVITIES After Reading 1 Here is a passage about Agatha Christie, but it is fall of mistakes, Can you find and correct them? Agatha Christie was a famous writer of ghost stories ‘She was born in 1850, was marred thrve times, and ad ‘90 sons She met he died husband, Max Mallowan, in Scotland, He was a wellknown phorogeapher, who spent a Joc of time eraveling, but Agatha always stayed at home, Agatha Christie wrote neaely two hundred books. The famous detectives in her plays are called Mr Hercule Marple and Miss Jane Poirot. Two of her best known tls re the play The Murder of Archie Ackroyd, andthe novel The -Mousetnap, which you can sil hea on the eadio today 2 You are a reporter in 1926, and Agatha Chrisie has agreed to answer five questions about her disappearance. Which questions will you ask? Choose five from the lis below. Why did you go away without telling anybody? ‘Were you feeling ill before you went away? Did you know who you were? Why did you leave your carat Newlands Comer? How dl you get co Harrogate? ‘Why did you choose the Hydro Hotel? 48scrivrrs: After Reading 7 Why did you call yourself "Mrs Teresa Necle"? 8 Ate you in love with another man, and did you go away. 1 him secretly? 9 The police thought you were dead, and your hushand was the murderer. What do you say about that? 10 Your name sin every newspaper, and now more people will bay your books. Is that why you disappeared? How did Agatha answer your five questions? Think of possible answers and write a report forthe newspaper The police ask Archie a lot of questions after Agatha disappears. Complete their conversation (use as many words as you like). Pouce: Were__? ARCHIE: No, L wasn't Iwas aay, staying with friends Pouce: And why Acct: She ih’t wane to She did’ now these frends Pouce: So did __? ARCHIE: She didn’t say she had any plans. PoLice: Me Christie, where do you think ARCHIE: I don't know. 1 just do Pouce: Mm, Are? Ancite: Yes. Well, and wives Pouice: I sce Tell me, Mr Christe, do___? ARCHIE: Yes of course I want her to come home! know, ‘we're as happy as most husbands ”scrivrrs: After Reading 4 Find the cightcen words hidden in this word search, and dra lines through them. Words go from left to right, and fom top to bottom. All the words are four leters oF more, and many letters are used more than one. M 4 2/4/2/=|m/0/4|2|z 12 oe e/<4- m)e) mi re vot mz/-|\N|> 0 >/s)0.0 =] m]=]0|>|2)>[=|0. @/@ melo - =o|> © mm =z-|0@ v/-|2 2/0 a -|0 2 NlOolm— 0/0 40/< 2 N/2|> Fiximminim loin ex a >/- > mina [Now write dovn all the letters that don’t have lines through them (begin ac che top and go across each line to the end). ‘You will have twenty-four leters, which will make five words. 1 What are the five words? 2 Whar ew things are these five words used for? 3. How isa shore far Belgian with a moustache connected with these words? 4 How ld the last three of the five words begin to change ‘Agatha Christie's life? socrits: After Reading ‘5 Herearettles of ive Agatha Christie books. Can you match cach ttle with one of the story descriptions below? The Moving Finger / Death on the Nile ( Murer is Easy ! A Bertnam’s Hotel | Murder on the Orient Express 1 There have been several murders in Miss Pikes village. Luke tells Miss Pinkerton that i's hard co kill a lot of people. “The police always find out, he says. “Oh no,’ says Miss Pinkerton, “ie not dificult all 2 A famous train is stopped inthe snow somewhere in Europe, and a man is found murdered in his bed. One of the passengers isthe murderer —but whieh one? Hercule Poirot ison holiday in Egype, on a boat on one wof the other ‘of the world’s most Famous rivers. Bat passengers Linnet Ridgeway, tells him, ‘'m afraid 4 Someone is writing unkind leters to people living inthe litle town of Lymstock. Who is it? Bur the letters are only the heginning of the mystery. Soon someone dies train is robbed ... someone disappears. someone is shoe. Whats goingon at Miss Marple’ fvourite hotel? {6 What do you think about detective stories, in books or in films? Complete these sentences with your own ideas 1 Lenjoy detective stories becaus 2 I prefer detective stories which 3 Tike detectives who stABOUT THE AUTHOR John Essote worked in business hefore becoming a writer, Since then he has written many books for readers of all ages, but enjoys writing crime and mystery thrillers most of all. He ras born in Somerset, in the west of England, but now lives in Bournemouth on the south coast. When he isnot working, he likes looking for long forgotien books in small hack-strct bookshops, watching old Hollywood flms on video, and walking for miles along empey beaches. He has writen or retold many stories for the Oxford Bookworms Library. His orginal stores include Goodbye, Mr Hollywood (a Sage 1) and Dead Man's Island (a Sage 2).OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY Clas» Crime & Mystery acter» aatary Horton “umole » Mays Ter & Aone Tre Sons» Wot Storie The OXFORD HOOKWORNS LIBRARY provide eajoyabe reading in Engl with wide range of dane ard modern ition, nonfiction, an play Ie inhaes gal and adap ete seven ctl ade Language stages hich cae learners fom boner adbanced lee, An eri sen onthe nex pags AU Seage Uses ar aval at ao coding a well at ne hy te ies fra Sarto Stage. All Starter and many lee a tape tore specially commended for younger keatets ser Bookworm ita so Seares and Facts hae full stratons “The oxronD HOOKWORMS LMMARY also ofr extensive support. ack ook conine am inrsion tothe wry notes aboot the shor 8 own and acts. Adon source ince texts an workers, {nd anomers forthe ad forthe atv in the books, The fae ‘or inning cass Mary asing aio recolings ad he may ways ting Oxford Bookworm in wang programmes Resource materiale Ialibe on sh whute Swwrwouncom/bockworme™ ‘The Oxon! Bookworm Colleton is a seis for advance Hares I consi of rokames of shor tori by wall known thors, het anc nd dere. Tee are at abridged or adapted in any wb ctl {else tobe ass the achancd ten. ou cam find tis and fl ist of ts in he Oxf! Rockacorms Labrary Caalague and Oxford English Langage Teaching Catalogues, 33THE OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY GRADING AND SAMPLE EXTRACTS STARTER + 250 HEADWORDS cadens =a as rs Her phone i inging bur where st? Sally gets out of bed and looks in her bag. No phone. She looks under the bed. No phone. Then she looks behind the door. Thee is her phone. Sally picks up her phone and answers it Sly Phone STAGE I + 400 HEADWORDS past simple coordination with and, bt 07 suborintion wih fos fs hn, can, 0 1 know him in Pers, He as a famous builder and 1 worked with him there. For a time I was his frend, but rot for long, When he came to Paris, 1 came after him wanted to watch him, He was a very clever, very dangerous man. The Phantom ofthe Open STAGE 2 + 700 HEADWORDS preset eset wl ae] (dom) oe, ut not, conld— ‘omparion of ajar simples eer pnt consis Ta chenons alll five While twas writing chese words in my diary, | decided what to do. Lust ery to escape. I shall ey to gee down the wall ‘outside. The window is high above the ground, but I have to try Isha take some of the gold with me ~ if Tescape, perhaps it will be helpful later. Duce swSTAGE 3» 1000 HEADWORDS (Of course, it was most important that nb one should see Colin, Mary or Dickon entering the seret garden. So Colin ize orders to the gardeners that they must all Keep away from chat part of the garden in future. The Seem Garden STAGE 4» 1400 HEADWORDS pst pret continuous pase imple Forms) — ‘ton conn acs" inde ions ‘clas with rbeeeon~ gerund afer postions phases, I was glad, Now Hye could not show his face tothe world again. If he did, every honest man in London would be proud co report him to the police. Dr Jol and tr Hyde STAGE 5 + 1800 HEADWORDS face oninao —atreperies~ psi dal continous fre) seo hav onditonal ass - moda + pret nitive If he had spoken Fstlla’s name, would have hit him. Las s0 angry with him, and so depressed about my future, that could not eat the breakfast, Instead I went straight to the old house, Grew Expectations STAGE 6 + 2500 HEADWORDS sive ines, gerund) achancl odal meanings~ slate ofeoneson conden ‘When L stepped up tothe piano, Iwas confident. Re was asif knew tha the prodigy side of me rally did exist. And when I started to play, was so caughe up in how lovely [looked that I didn’t worry how {would sound. The fy Lack Cla ssThe Death of Karen Silkwood JOYCE HANNAM ‘Thisis che story of Karn Sikwood. Ie eins with her death, ‘Why docs her story begin whet it should end? Certain people wanted her death eobean ending. Why? What were they aad of Karen Silkword hal something to tll ws, ad she believed thei ‘was important. Why dit she live to tll wy? Will we ever know what rally happened? The questions go on and on, but there are “This isa ruc story. Ie happened in Oklahoma, USA, where Karen Sikoood lived and worked and did ‘The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories EDGAR ALLAN POE, Retold by Jobn Escout Everybody has bad dreams, when horrible things move rowanls youn he dark, things you san hear but not sce Then yo ke tis in your owen warm bes and rm crt go ask to sleeps Thur soppone you wake up on ar prison Hoon in «darkness backer than the blackes ight. You heat the sound of water, you touch cold metal wall and smell a wer dead smell, Death i all sound you, waiting Tn these stories by Edgar Allan Poe, death whispers a yu from every dark corr and fae can deve you mad 56Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery What does the name ‘Agatha Christie’ Tat-x-]a Pan KOM aat=TaNVa X-1e) 1 Pm na -seT = LoL 4 about a murder mystery - a ‘whodunnit’. ‘I'm reading an Agatha Christie,’ people say. ‘I’m not sure who the murderer is - | think it’s...’ But they are usually wrong, because it is not easy to guess the murderer’s name before the end of ita lele a Sila AR VEEE ANC LU Renee Lila Ee TRL Cea | her life quiet and unexciting, or was it full of interest and ELEM CRUE eM) 11m Mat Ue LoS (Word count 5,955) (-) «stace6 Riot Ae cas a PEN A LL arc -£) audio downloads, and Per een OSINED TT RU et Ok eT Clee COC CR Cee Cue cake Com Cg OXFORD OXFORD ENGLISH RUD s CED ety 19; 0-6 9 Wh 790505 www.oup.com/elt ys wv = ra ° = S ° ° a 2 Ps x