Agatha Christie

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Agatha Christie Page 51

by Janet Morgan


  Bachmann, Larry, 331, 334, 336

  Baghdad, 169–71, 267, 273, 275, 283–4, 296

  Baillieu, Clive, 106, 115, 119

  Baillieu, Ruby, 119

  Baird, N.H.J., 10–11

  Balikh Valley (Syria), 215, 223

  ‘Ballad of the Fleet, The’ (poem), 60

  Barnard, Robert: A Talent to Deceive, 260

  Barnett, Richard, 209

  Barttelot, Sir Walter and Lady, 44

  Barzun, Jacques, 265

  Bates, Francis W., 88, 90–3, 97, 99, 101–3

  Battle, Superintendent (character), 118, 211

  Bayreuth Festival, 327, 331, 362

  Beckett, Samuel, 327

  Behind the Screen (BBC serial), 195–6, 259

  ‘Being So Very Wilful’ (lost story), 52

  Belcher, Major E.A.: on Empire Tour, 86–103

  temper, 86, 90–2, 97, 102

  career, 86–7

  AC’s relations with, 105

  as ‘Sir Eustace Pedler’, 109

  and Nancy Neele, 133

  portrayed by AC, 335

  Bell family (Australia), 97–9, 213

  Bell, Gertrude, 172, 180

  Bell, Guilford, 213–4, 219

  Belson, Mrs (housekeeper), 330, 368

  Benenden School, 165, 205, 216, 309

  Bentley, E.C., 195, 200, 261

  Beresford, Tommy and Tuppence (characters), 83, 109, 167, 227, 371

  Berkeley, Anthony, 195, 259, 261

  Berry, Major, 197

  Big Four, The, 163, 234

  Bingo (dog), 365, 376

  Bird, Walter, 359

  Black Coffee (play), 177, 193, 197, 239

  Bles, Geoffrey (publisher), 117

  ‘Bloodstained Pavement, The’, 316

  Blue Book Magazine, 112

  ‘Blue Geranium, The’ (short story), 342

  Bodley Head, The (publishers), 79, 81–2, 105, 108–12, 117, 217

  Body in the Library, The, 159, 234, 323

  Boehmer, Ernest (AC’s uncle), 16

  Boehmer, Captain Frederick, 2–3

  Boehmer, Frederick (AC’s uncle), 16

  Boehmer, Gerald (AC’s cousin), 26

  Boehmer, Harry (AC’s uncle), 16

  Boehmer, Mary Ann (née West AC’s grandmother, ‘Grannie B.’), 1–3, 14–17, 27, 69

  Boodles (London club), 330

  Booker McConnell (company), 355–6

  Bookers Books, 355–6

  Boston, Amyas, 70

  Boué, Monsieur (singing teacher), 47

  Boyd, Constance, 26

  Brabourne, John Ulick Knatchbull, 7th Baron, 374–5

  Bracken, Brendan, Viscount, 236

  Brand, Christianna, 314

  British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), 195–8, 262, 264, 293, 304

  British Empire Exhibition Mission (1922), 87–103

  British School of Archaeology, Baghdad, 275, 295

  Brooke-Popham, Major Robert (Henry), 61

  Brown, Ralph, 139–41

  Browne, Annie see Watts, Annie

  Brown’s Hotel, London, 338

  Buchan, John, 265

  Bundle (character), 166

  Burden, The (‘Mary Westmacott’), 304–5

  Burn, Colonel A.H., 213

  Burnett, Sybil, Lady, 316

  Burrows, Father Eric Norman Bromley, SJ, 210

  Butter in a Lordly Dish (radio play), 304, 367

  By the Pricking of My Thumbs, 230, 345–6

  Cabernet, Mlle, 23, 27

  Cairo, 40–1, 50–1, 235–6

  Calder, Ritchie (later Lord Ritchie-Calder), 140, 159–60, 314

  Caledonia (Bexhill preparatory school), 165, 216, 309

  ‘Call of Wings, The’ (story), 49, 199

  Canada, 101–2

  Canary Islands, 164

  Cards on the Table, 211

  Caribbean Mystery, A, 335, 366

  Carr, John Dickson, 259, 261

  Carter, Howard, 41

  ‘Case of the Rich Woman, The’ (short story), 207

  Cassie, Aunt (AC’s American relation), 103

  Cat Among the Pigeons, 14, 166, 309

  Cauterets (France), 24, 118

  Chabrol, Claude, 235

  Chaflin, H.B. (New York firm), 3, 34, 62

  Chagar Bazar (Syria), 209–11, 213, 215

  Chamberlain, Neville, 223

  Charles, Moie, 269, 298

  Cheadle Hall (near Manchester), 36

  Chesterton, G.K., 167, 221

  Cheyney, Peter, 354

  Chicago Tribune, 205

  ‘Choice, The’ (short story), 50

  Christie Copyrights Trust, 353, 356

  Christie Settlement Trust, 353

  Christie, Dame Agatha (née Miller): spelling, 5, 20

  born, 8

  names and pseudonyms, 10, 48, 50–1, 163, 207, 250

  portraits, 10, 347, 348, 359

  childhood and home life, 10–14, 29–32, 38–9

  food and cooking, 11–12, 174, 243–4, 278, 287, 301, 315, 338, 360–1

  early reading, 18–21, 76–7

  education, 20–3

  music and singing, 23, 46–8, 72

  pets, 23

  imaginary friends and inventions, 23, 25–6

  childhood friendships, 24, 26–7

  in France, 24

  as French speaker, 25

  shyness and reticence, 27, 42, 233, 250–1, 311, 357–9

  nightmare, 30, 159

  and father’s death, 33–5

  income from trust, 34

  dress and appearance, 38–9, 40–1, 99, 227, 275

  accompanies mother to Egypt, 40–2

  social life and meetings with men, 42–4

  theatre-going, 44–5

  and amateur theatricals, 45

  early writing and poetry, 45–6, 75, 117

  stories, 48–50, 52

  first novels, 51–2

  romantic friendships, 54–7, 60

  courtship by Archie, 57–63, 67–8

  as VAD in World War I, 66

  marriage to Archie, 68, 70–1, 74

  works as dispenser in World War 1, 69–73

  first detective story (The Mysterious Affair at Styles), 75–9

  birth of daughter, 79

  London homes, 81, 174, 192, 209, 256, 266, 309

  Empire Tour, 85, 86–103

  neuritis in arm, 101, 102

  professionalism as writer, 104–5, 108–9

  on motherhood and Rosalind, 107–8

  relations with Bodley Head, 108–13, 217

  literary earnings, 112, 128, 167, 175, 187, 197, 222, 246, 253, 260–1, 295, 351

  and Madge’s play, 113–5

  moves to Scotswood, 115, 123–4

  motor cars and driving, 116–7, 296–7, 368

  trip to Pyrenees, 118

  married life, 119–20, 127

  disappearance, 123, 135–47, 314, 358

  account of, 148–62

  golf, 124

  mother’s death, 126–7

  financial situation, 128, 223, 228–9, 231–5, 246, 253, 267–8, 351–6

  estrangement from Archie, 129–34, 205

  dogs, 131, 142, 164, 192–3, 223, 236, 365

  private and public personality, 162–3

  psychological treatment, 163, 169

  divorce, 163–5, 207, 218

  working methods, 166, 282–3, 317–8, 322–4

  writes ‘straight’ novel, 167–8

  first trip to Baghdad, 169–74

  weight and shape, 174, 244, 278

  literary output, 175

  meets Max, 179–81, 184–5

  religious feelings, 183

  marriage and honeymoon with Max, 185–90

  returns alone to London, 191

  drawing, 193

  scientific speculations and ideas, 194, 212–3, 249, 363

  contributes to BBC serials, 195–7

  interest in occult and mysterious, 199, 212, 230, 249
>
  miscarriage, 205

  at Arpachiyah, 206

  Winterbrook House, 209

  at Chagar Bazar, 209–10

  as model for Ariadne Oliver, 211

  at Tell Brak, 213

  writes on archaeology, 216

  photography, 217–8, 274

  relations with Rosalind, 217–8

  buys Greenway House, 219–20

  use of ‘stock’ characters, 221–2

  US taxes, 223, 228–9, 231–2, 234–5, 253, 267–8, 351–4

  homes in World War II, 226, 231, 236, 242

  proof-reading and alterations, 227

  works as dispenser in World War II, 233

  wartime correspondence with Max, 237, 238–50

  views on Shakespeare, 238

  and alcohol, 244, 271

  wartime illness, 245

  and grandson (Mathew), 243, 245–6

  literary sales, 252–3, 260–1, 292, 295, 326, 338, 350, 377

  British taxes, 253, 267–8, 272, 351–7

  writes for Ministry of Information, 253–4, 261

  as crime-writer, 257–60

  accused of anti-Semitism, 264–5

  insularity, 265–6

  post-war visits to Baghdad, 267, 273, 296

  wins US publisher’s award, 268

  reprints and adaptations, 269

  at Nimrud, 269, 272, 273–81, 292, 299, 308, 311

  and Rosalind’s remarriage, 271–2

  and archaeological method, 233–4

  literary style, 282–3, 321–2

  temperament, 283, 357

  60th birthday, 287

  uses dictating machine, 295, 322

  party at Savoy, 298–9

  and BBC, 304

  silver wedding, 304

  C.B.E., 305

  visits USA, 306–7, 343–4, 346

  eastern tour, 312

  70th birthday, 314–5

  ideas, sources and inspirations, 316–7, 322, 363–4

  plots and characters, 317–21, 324, 327, 342, 346, 362–4, 370

  reading, 322, 360, 372

  on own work, 323–4

  readers’ correspondence, 326

  1961 visit to Iran, 327

  film rights and adaptations, 327–8, 331, 335–7

  generosity, 330

  at Bayreuth Festival, 331

  makes speech, 332

  memoirs, 338–40

  proposed biographies of, 339

  collected edition of works, 341

  and Max’s knighthood, 344–5

  Yugoslav holiday, 345

  deafness, 345

  80th birthday, 347, 364–5

  dislike of television, 347

  dislike of photographs, 347, 359

  Kokoschka paints, 347–8

  popularity and status, 349–50

  sets up Company and Trusts, 353, 355–7

  estate and duties, 354

  detachment, 357

  D.B.E. 365

  and idea of retribution, 366–7

  breaks hip, 368

  heart attack and fragility in old age, 372–5

  political conservatism, 372

  death, 375–6

  see also individual works under titles

  Christie, Archibald (Archie AC’s first husband): meets and courts AC, 57–63, 67–8

  flying, 58–9, 61–2

  appearance, 59

  service in World War I, 64–6, 69, 71, 73

  marriage, 68, 70–1, 74

  D.S.O., 73

  at Air Ministry, 79–80

  work in City, 80

  London home, 81

  on Empire Tour, 86–103

  bronchitis in Canada, 102

  employment and career, 105–6, 115

  and AC’s motoring, 116–7

  visits Cauterets, 118

  married life, 119–20, 127

  at Scotswood, 123–5

  income, 124

  and Clara’s death, 126–7

  Italian holiday, 128–9

  in love with Nancy Neele, 129–32, 161

  and AC’s disappearance, 136–7, 139, 141–4, 146–7, 152–3, 156–7, 162

  marriage to Nancy Neele, 162

  divorce from AC, 163–5, 205

  relations with Rosalind, 205, 218

  in Unfinished Portrait, 207

  AC writes to, on Nancy’s death, 313

  death, 313

  Christie, Archie (‘Beau’ Archibald and Nancy’s son), 313

  Christie, Campbell (Archie’s brother), 141–2, 155–6, 163, 298

  Christie, Dorothy (Campbell’s wife), 298

  Christie, Nancy (née Neele Archie’s second wife), 129, 132–4, 161, 313

  Christie, Rosalind see Hicks, Rosalind

  Churston parish church, 313

  Clair, René, 234, 253

  Clifford of Chudleigh, Lord and Lady, 58

  Clocks, The, 334, 341

  Close-Up (BBC programme), 304

  Cochran, Sir Charles B., and Evelyn, Lady, 44, 239

  Codd, Harry, 150–1

  Coke, Roger, 168–9

  Cole, G.D.H. and Margaret, 224

  Collier’s (magazine), 222, 228, 236, 254, 266, 352, 356

  Collins (publishers): relations with AC, 111, 224, 226, 234, 241, 249, 252–4, 261, 263, 284, 290, 295, 297, 299, 306, 308, 322–3, 327, 337, 341, 345, 362, 364, 371–3

  contracts with AC, 175, 207, 222, 233, 253, 295, 351

  bombed in war, 246

  celebration parties for AC, 287, 365

  and films, 336

  publish collected edition of AC, 341

  Collins, Sir Godfrey, 117, 226

  Collins, Pierre, 309

  Collins, Sir William (Billy): supplies tickets to AC, 224, 261, 297, 351

  and Rosalind’s marriage, 225

  AC’s affection for, 226

  soothes AC, 233

  sends gifts to AC, 241, 272, 299, 338, 368

  and The Rose and the Yew Tree, 263

  and AC’s book jackets, 267, 373

  and AC’s car, 296

  and AC’s delay in writing, 297

  visits Greenway, 304

  and AC’s plays, 309

  and AC’s accuracy, 322

  and AC’s films, 336

  and collected works of AC, 341

  and Fontana Modern Masters, 363

  and AC’s health, 371

  at AC’s memorial service, 376

  Come, Tell Me How You Live, 213, 252, 261, 339, 375, 378

  ‘Coming of Mr Quin, The’ (short story), 177

  ‘Confessions’ (family record), 3–4, 8, 10, 15, 31, 313, 332

  Core, Dr Donald, 148

  Cork, Edmund: becomes AC’s literary agent, 112–3

  and AC’s books, 117, 224, 232, 250, 262–3, 269, 283–4, 287, 290, 295, 303, 305, 308, 329, 338

  and AC’s plots, 167

  negotiates Collins’ contracts, 175, 233, 254

  and AC’s archaeological book, 216

  and Poirot, 222, 230

  and AC’s dog, 223

  and AC’s book jackets, 224, 226–7

  and Ober, 228, 232, 234, 253–4, 312–3

  and US contracts, 229

  and AC’s finances and tax difficulties, 230–1, 235, 254, 267–8, 272, 353–7

  and Greenway, 231–2

  and film rights and adaptations, 234, 253, 327–8, 331, 336–7

  and AC’s war work, 235–6

  and AC’s theatrical works, 239, 251, 271, 285–6, 288, 291, 294, 297–8, 307, 309–10, 327, 333, 368

  on post-war fatigue, 254, 255

  and radio productions, 260–1

  and ‘Mary Westmacott’, 263

  and AC’s reticence, 264, 300, 358

  and AC’s ‘anti-Semitism’, 265

  and AC’s absences abroad, 266, 270, 279–80, 292

  supplies AC while on dig, 274–5

  and Max’s Nimrud book, 278

  given power of attorney for AC, 279

  and Gre
enway garden crisis, 293

  and AC’s new car, 296

  acquires Coronation tickets, 297

  at AC’s Savoy party, 299

  and AC’s US visit, 306–7

  and AC’s creations, 320–1

  aids AC, 326–7, 351

  and AC’s autobiography, 338–40

  and proposed studies of AC, 340

  and AC’s 80th birthday, 347–8, 365

  and destruction of AC manuscripts, 349

  and photographs of AC, 359

  dismay at Passenger to Frankfurt, 364

  and AC’s old age, 369–72

  and AC’s death, 376

  Corsica, 125

  Cosmopolitan (magazine), 262

  Cotes, Peter, 294

  ‘Cover Her Face’ see Sleeping Murder Crake, Captain, 42

  Crime Club editions, 211–2

  Crime Club News, 224, 323

  Crofts, Freeman Wills, 167, 195–6, 200, 259

  Crooked House, 267, 270–1, 346

  Cross, Ernest, 138

  Crow, Dr (singing teacher), 27

  Crowther, Captain, 94

  ‘Cuckoo’ (Rosalind’s nurse), 107–8

  Curtain, 229–30, 375

  Daily Express, 253, 285, 295

  Daily Mail, 136–8, 141–7, 151–3, 365

  Daily Sketch, 140, 153

  Daly, Elizabeth, 259

  Dane Calthorp, the Reverend Caleb (character), 327

  Dane Calthorp, Mrs Maud (character), 327

  Dane, Clemence, 195

  Daniels, Mr (witness at time of disappearance), 142

  Dankworth, John, 332

  Dannay, Frederick, 260

  Daughter’s a Daughter, A (play ‘Mary Westmacott’), 108, 286–7, 292

  Davis, Allan, 369

  Dead Man’s Folly, 302, 304, 346

  Dean, Basil, 113–4, 286

  ‘Death Beat’ (proposed musical), 332

  Death Comes as the End, 243, 245, 258, 320

  Death in the Air, 326

  Death in the Clouds, 191, 208

  ‘Death on the Nile’ (short story), 212

  Death on the Nile (book), 212–3, 226, 241

  dramatisation, 321

  de Casalis, Jeanne, 288

  de Silvo, Mrs (neighbour), 138–9

  Destination Unknown, 299

  Detection Club, 121, 259, 330, 345, 369

  Devon, 221

  Dickens, Charles: Bleak House, 331

  Dickson (accountant), 268

  Dietrich, Marlene, 306

  Dobson, Mrs (née Kenward), 156

  Dodd, Frank, 229, 292

  Dodd, Mead (US publishers), 121, 175, 229, 265–6, 284, 286–7, 295, 306, 351–2

  Donoghue, J.O., 7

  Dore, Frederick, 139

  Double Sin (short stories), 308, 327

  ‘Down in the Wood’ (poem), 75

  Dramatists’ Guild (USA), 298

  Draper, Ruth, 201, 316

  ‘Dressmaker’s Doll, The’ (short story), 308, 327, 333

  Dryden, Miss (Paris finishing school), 23, 40, 69

  Dumb Witness, 211

 

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