Book Club

Mary Westmacotts

For fifteen years Agatha Christie managed to keep a secret from the world. The secret was that she also published six novels under the name Mary Westmacott. These were not crime novels - Christie described them as "straights novels".

Part romance, part autobiographical, they give a fascinating insight into another aspect of Christie's work and are well worth reading in their own right.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

The Rose and the Yew Tree

Jemma 28 Aug 09 at 10:09 a.m. GMT

The story of John Gabriel’s life is told by Hugh Norreys, crippled by a road accident and convalescing in Cornwall where he meets Gabriel, the potential MP for St Loo.  Gabriel isn’t a conventionally attractive man but he has a charisma that draws women to him like moths to a candle.  This includes the ethereal Isabella who, despite her longing to be married to childhood sweetheart Rupert, seems happy to be treated badly by Gabriel. 

This is one of Christie’s darker tales with not much in the way of happy endings for anyone.  Remembering that the Westmacott novels are often classed as ‘romances’ which usually implies a happy ending, was Christie right to end the book in the manner she did?  Christie’s husband Max Mallowan regarded this as the best Westmacott – do you agree?

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1 reply

Reverse order

jakat 02 Dec 11 at 9 p.m. GMT

YES