Agatha Christie: Divorce, Depression & Disappearance | Ep.59 | Scandal Mongers Podcast
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- When famous crime writer Agatha Christie suddenly vanished without trace in December 1926 it triggered one of the greatest tabloid sensations of the age. Behind it lay a twisted story of love, loss and love affairs that’s worthy of one of her greatest novels.
Returning to the podcast for the third time, writer Laura Thompson peels back the layers to explain exactly what happened - and why this was the most important month of Agatha Christie's life and work.
You can buy Laura's excellent biography of Agatha, and books from the other authors we feature here, in our own Scandal Mongers bookshop - along with thousands more.
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Agatha Christie died in 1976 , aged 85 , she wrote 66 detective novels, 14 short stories, and more than 20 plays. Worth noting, some of artefacts including her typewriter, dictaphone, and her final Poirot novel Curtain , can be seen at Cambridge University.
I am a huge fan of Agatha Christie and have spent countless hours revelling in her books. I particularly love the Poirot series and am grateful to David Suchet for bringing him to life in such a marvelous fashion. Hercule Poirot is the only fictional character I have ever seen get an obituary. The NY Times did one on August 6, 1975 which I thought was a wonderful tribute to Agatha Christie.
I never knew that about the obit. Wow!
Wise and enigmatic words from Agatha that could have stepped out of a Dostoyevsky...
' Everything that has existed,lingers in the Eternity. '
' Every murderer is probably somebody's friend.'
' One of the luckiest things that can happen to you is, I think, to have a happy childhood...'
' Evil is not something superhuman, it's something less than human.'
' But surely for everything you have to love you have to pay some price.'
I think someone needs to come up with a Scandalmongers bingo card. Lord Mountbatten is definitely on it 😂
Harsh but fair
Many of us AC students over the decades know the disappearance story, but we don't really know how she was received when she returned home...i.e. the backlash. Were people angry with her for causing so much concern? Did the press not get a story from her after she returned?
I wish we had asked that! Next time we have Laura back I will.
I love Laura's brilliant book about AC. I adore AC's books -- especially the Mary Westmacott novels. I've read Lucy Worsley's book about her too and I agree with Laura, Agatha's life is endlessly fascinating. Editing to add: I never understood the motivation behind Agatha's disappearance until I endured my own divorce and the extreme duress and emotion of that experience has informed me of two things -- divorce is not represented as the terrible trauma it is for everyone involved; and losing a marriage is immense and, as there is no playbook for grieving, everyone has to deal with the distress of it in their own way.
So glad you enjoyed it Kim. There's a lot of humanity and warmth in all of Laura's work.
And yes, having lived there for three whole years, I really, really should know that Sunday evening in the UK is NOT Sunday morning in Australia!
Judgement hindered by haircut and shave ?
Guilty as charged @@jonathanbrewer7072
One of the most delightful things in the world is a nice bit of scandalmongering. Sheer heaven. I am enjoying your series hugely, this is my third, I will be with you for many more. I am in!!
And you’re very welcome Rikki
So glad you are enjoying. Always open to suggestions
That would have been fascinating talking to the people connected with Agatha Christie, I wish I was a fly on the wall!. Laura is wonderful. I agree Agatha Christie was a woman in distress. Thank you to Laura for wonderful conversation and compassion to Agatha Christie. Wonderful show.
Thanks so much for your loyal support
HAVE to comment… Phil…. Please know as an ex pat and long time Canadian citizen.. the Suez episode was EXCELLENT! Really interesting. LOVE your programs and Andrew, really enjoy all your books. Please keep up the great work.
Really interesting show. The Mousetrap was based on the true story of my uncle Terence O'Neill (who passed away recently) and his brother Dennis (known as Denny). They were both abused by the couple who fostered them and Denny died as a result of the beatings.
In 2010, Terry had a book published with his very moving account. I don't think he realised that The Mousetrap was based on his and Denny's experiences until it was pointed out after his book was published.
What an extraordinary story to be connected to - Thank so much for sharing it!
I love Agatha Christie! I started to read her books when I was 12 ( 1972) the Christmas of 75 I asked for the last Poirot book.
She fascinated me!
That you for this episode!
You're welcome Monica
No other podcast has so many classy guests.
We’re so lucky to have a lot of great friends in the storytelling business!
Thanks. We try to find the top people on each subject.
Dream Guests ? Karen Armstrong on religion in the 21st Century, Prince Harry on the legacy of Spare, Simon Heffer on Andrew's King Edward VIII biography or possibly his reassessment of Neville Chamberlain, Andrew Marr on Ukraine/Russia, Alvin Felzenberg on the JFK myth,Franny Moyle on Constance Lloyd ( Wilde's wife ), Darwin Porter on Rock Hudson, or maybe Paula Bryne on Hardy [ Thomas ] Women.
My favourite movie adaptation - Murder on the Orient Express - starring Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, and Ingrid Bergman. 1974. So underated.
Very interesting deep-dive into Agatha Christie's life. I had no idea she was so interesting. Such a humane portrayal of a complex woman.
I am thrilled the algorithms finally led me to your channel! Currently working my way through your uploads so please continue to create many more ❤
Very informative and interesting. Nice to hear the true motivation for the missing eleven days. Makes you wonder why its been such a mystery over the decades.Thank you Andrew, Phil, and Laura.( Don't we all love an Agatha Christie whodunnit and those numerous television and movie adaptations ! ) I would love to have met Agatha.
Fascinating! The hour whizzed past. Looking forward to the spy scandals!
Thanks!
They are fascinating
Great episode. Laura is really good. My 2 favourite episodes so far are this one and the Miford sisters one. Fascinating!
Yes I loved the Mitford sisters one. She seems to have a real sensitivity towards her subjects.
There’s a lot of compassion and insight in both episodes I think - Laura’s superpowers!
Interesting insights ! Am waiting for your episode on Edward Heath, with his connection to Haut de la Garenne and Dolphin Square. The famous writer Georgette Heyer lived above Heath at that address and says in her biography how spooky to hear him playing his organ. She also travelled with her barrister husband around the empire, wrote in huts and on digs. Also that other dodgy politician Cyril Smith and his boys homes !!!
Yes some great ideas here Tina - thanks 😊
Very interesting interview with a very knowledgeable writer- I will be ordering the book. I very much enjoy your podcasts (in The Netherlands). I recently listened to an interesting podcast on the French radio station, RTL, on their l’Heure du Crime, fascination with Agatha Christie in France as well and this period of her ‘disappearance’ was discussed. Keep up the really interesting podcasts.
Thanks for the comment. How great to think we’re being watched in beautiful 🇳🇱!
May I be very naughty, and put forward a proposal for a future podcast on St Stephens House ( Oxford ) primarily focusing on the colourful two decades 1960s and '70s ? AN Wilson shares his experiences in his super autobiography Confessions : A Life of Failed Promises.
Oh my.
Love your podcasts.. thank you always so interesting and SCANDALOUS!! Tracey Perth WA Australia Australia
Thanks so much Tracey. I spent several years working part time in Fremantle and I love your part of the world!
Great Great Fan of Agatha Christie… and having listened to this today it does add so much more weight to The Hollow, Sad Cyprus and Murder on The Nile, now I know more of Agatha’s sense of loss of her first husband I am wondering if the 3 were cathartically for her in some way if that is the word and yes 5 Little Pigs too another of my favourite. Another excellent podcast, thanks to all 3 of you
You’re welcome Jane
I love your content! Displaying the book you’re discussing would help the authors and your viewers. ❤
Good point Annette. There is a link to it in the episode bio but in future we will do a visual as well when we can.
I agree… subjects should be wide and varied but add vava boom to title… a little eye candy to tempt 😂😂😂😂
the phrase ‘Vava Boom’ is going to be mentioned a lot from now on! Thanks Jane.
I wonder sometimes if you guys underestimate how good you are. Your podcasts are informative scandalous and a pleasure to listen to. Love your stuff and have family member who is addicted too and thus brings forward great conversations when podcasts have ended
Ah that's lovely to hear Jane - and please do help us spread the word if you can. For the number of views we now get the subscription rate is way too low!! @@janebuckland737
Wonderful entertainment. Thanks chaps and Laura
I think Laura needs to invent the Agatha board game
I really enjoyed this episode - enjoy them all actually, but I really liked Laura's take on Agatha Christie and felt it fair and insightful. I recently read a biography on Agatha by another historian - mmm - won't name her here, but I thought she was mean to Agatha, particularly with too many references to her weight or waistline! That aside, I will be reading Laura's book now. Keep up the great work!
Many thanks - getting to know great writers like Laura is one of the best pets of doing this.
Fascinating stuff.
Excellent,loved this podcast,thanks to you all.
So pleased to read comments like this - thanks Mary
Such Thanks. I will buy the book.
I’m so enjoying this. Thank you.
Thanks for letting us know Irene- it’s a treat for us to talk to people like Laura
With this being the centenary of the death of the prolific writer and co founder of the Fabian Society, nice to pay a podcast tribute, Edith Nesbit ( 1858 - 1924 ). Her lasting and much loved works include The Story of the Amulet, Five Children and It, The House of Arden, The Enchanted Castle, The Story of the Treasure Seekers, and The Railway Children.
( Regarding the latter, The Railway Children , ( 1905 ), Edith was accused of lifting the plot from The House by the Railway ( 1896 ) by Ada J Graves. That horrid and beastly 'P' word once again rears its ugly head - plagiarism.) A couple of good biographies by Julia Briggs and Eleanor Fitzsimmons, by the way.
Such a fascinating video.
Agatha scribbled one mystery after another until her arm ached. She was diagnosed with Marple tunnel syndrome.
( Sorry. I'm a bit like Wilde, can resist everything except temptation ! )
😂
Great episode!
Love this❤❤❤❤
Please put the book on audible 🤗
I will mention that to Laura!
This is a bit frustrating You refer to your guest as Laura as she is a friend but for those of us who might like to buy her book ,it would have been helpful to know her surname !!! I have just finished her last book the very strange Tommy and Tuppence mystery..I felt she was trying to say something about the future in it.. So much of it could be about the situation today
Sorry Jenny and thanks for listening. There is a link in the bio but the basic details are - Laura Thompson ‘Agatha Christie, An English Mystery’
I have just found you and have subscribed to your program. I’ve watched about ten programs so far and I wonder if you could give us the name of your speaker and the name of the book they have written I live in Australia. Great program.
If you expand the description below the video, you'll see both.
Laura Thompson - Agatha Christie, A Mysterious Life. Enjoy! 😊
Sporting scandals ? The men's 100m Final. Summer Olympics Seoul 1988. Gee whiz !
Been saving this one up until I had enough time to listen all the way through. I’ve been a fan of Agatha Christie’s books since my early teens. Read them all. Watched all the Miss Marple incarnations on screen & love David Suchets Hercule Poirot. Less enamoured of other actors attempts to portray him. I’d have to say Agatha’s books have been a mainstay of entertainment for me for nigh on 50 years. I’ve even read some of her novels written under her pseudonym of Mary Westmacott. Those I could get my hands on. She certainly had an ingenious mind. I think there must have been an element of anger in her to disappear like she did. I don’t buy her having a breakdown as such. Too strong a character. The use of the mistresses name or a close proximity indicates anger to me & some measure of revenge. Certainly a watershed moment in her life. I enjoyed this podcast. Thanks you both & to your guest.
Really pleased you enjoyed Laura - and Agatha - as much as we did
An excellent analysis of Agatha's motivation for disappearance. What other choice did she have but to get away and work out her future plan?
I'll design the T Shirt for you need an Illustrator!
SPOILER: In the fictional 1979 movie "Agatha" with Vanessa Redgrave and Dustbin Hoffman, Nancy is also at the hotel, and Agatha tries to set her up for electrocuting Agatha.
Cool plot twist !
Phil, you very rude interrupting your guest the way you did!
Be gentle, he's from Yorkshire 😉
??? If it’s the part I am thinking of I think Phil brought things back on track
Phil rude… definitely not… just outspoken like me
Are you angling for one of those most sought after Scandalous Monger's podcast mugs ?
The Sherlock Holmes / Conan Doyle, scholar Richard Lancelyn Green died in mysterious circumstances. Some believe an elaborate suicide, some murder, some autoerotic asphyxiation. He was found on his double bed surrounded by cuddly toys and a gin bottle garroted by a shoelace. It's like a mystery penned by Sir Arthur...