Book Club

Marple Stories

Christie never intended Miss Marple to rival Poirot in the publics affections, but this spinster sleuth soon proved a hit with the public.  Here's the place to discuss her stories - but beware spoilers!

If you can't find your favourite Miss Marple story, don't worry - more will be added shortly.

Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!

A Murder is Announced

Jemma 05 Sep 09 at 12:44 p.m. GMT

With remarkable calmness "Little Paddocks" becomes the focus for this murder. How does Christie make us believe that the villagers follow their instincts and go to the scene of the crime? Why would they when they believe it to be nonsense?

Full of clues which manifest themselves as "red herrings" Christie unearths a multitude of suggestions for the culprit. How well does the author allow us to believe that Craddock's sesitive ego results in him listening to Miss Marple?

As Christie's characters unfold we are also given insights into which newspapers she read. If Christie were alive today, which paper do you think she would read and why?

Login or register to add posts and reply

78 replies

Reverse order

Tommy_A_Jones 26 Sep 09 at 2:45 p.m. GMT

Curiosity, The Villagers would have gone assuming that nothing would happen but they didn't want to not be there in case something did happen, that is why people watch huge events on Television or go to events, they don't want to be unable to say they watched or saw something, If none had gone noe of them would have been able to say 'I was there' in case others were who would look down on them that is why to some extent people watch Live Aid or Royal Weddings or Sports events.

Puffinjill 27 Sep 09 at 6:22 a.m. GMT

I think she would read The Telegraph as it's one of the few newspapers that hasn't gone over to the tabloid format. Plus it has great crosswords!

As for the the villagers of Chipping Cleghorn, I think they are very typical of most people (as Tommy A Jones has just said). People may pretend that curiosity isn't something they suffer from, but most would be loath to miss out on something that others partake in. A big part of human nature is wanting to belong and feel part of something, and I feel that this is why we can understand the mentality of those going along to Little Paddocks. AC was very astute - it did not matter where her characters may stand in the social scale, under the skin they are all much alike.

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Sep 09 at 2:28 p.m. GMT

I think if I remember rightly The Telegraph is mentioned quite alot, Wasn't that the Newspaper that had about Jason Raphiel's Death?

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could be people of leisure and go on Adventure's because of nsomething wee had read in a Newspaper?

Puffinjill 28 Sep 09 at 5:22 p.m. GMT

Absolutely!!! Not have to go to work OR have to travel long distances on very early morning trains to get to boring seminars in Birmingham that you really, really don't want to go to.

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow.....and I'm starting a cold, too.

Adventures and excitement seem a long way off. (But I shall be taking a coulpe of Christies to read en route)

ampman 29 Sep 09 at 5:43 a.m. GMT

Living in a village does bring out the curiousity in most people. I myself would turn up for the opening of an envelope. Also, remember that the book was set just after the War when there was not so much to do as there is now and any diversion would be welcome. However it was only people of a certain rank in society that turned up at Little Paddocks, the  working class villagers must have assumed that the invitation did not include them.

I think that AC would probably read the Telegraph and Times but I think she would occasonally dip into the Sun or The News of The World for some juicy gossip. She would also read local papers because even today they are full of inspiraton for plots based on the gossip and petty squabbles you find in them. I always start with the Deaths,Bankruptcies and Court cases in case someone I know is included.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Sep 09 at 11:53 a.m. GMT

I have never had the opportunity to stay in a Hotel for Confrences (or for anyother reason for that matter) but when I see them on Television they always sound so exciting, but perhaps I am letting my Imagination taske over, What Christies are you taking Puffinjill?, another person on the site he found one when staying in a Hotel, I would love that, The only time I have been to a Hotel was for a Murder Mystery Night but as it was just for the evening we didn't stay the Night. 

To ampman your post reminded me of The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side where Cherry gewts Miss Marple Magazines to help her understand more the Show Biz world so there is an argument to suggest that she might just read The Sun and News Of The World when she needs to. I think the only time the Working Class Villagers would go to a house like Little Paddocks or Gossington Hall is when the house is being open for visitors or if they worked there as Cleaners, Cooks and Gardeners etc.  

ampman 29 Sep 09 at 1:46 p.m. GMT

Are there any AC books that feature people who are not middle class? The only characters who are working class are servants or tradespeople. Did AC stick to writing about just the sort of people she knew about.

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Sep 09 at 2:10 p.m. GMT

I think all her Books have Middle Class people at the Centre of the books as she probably followed the old adage Write what you know about and she obviously moved in those circles. I personally don't think the stories would have been as good if she was writing about people who were Working-Class, when Characters are in Books by Agatha Christie and her peers they are usually either Tradesmen, Servants or Criminals who are given odd Moniker's like in The Veiled Lady

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Sep 09 at 2:38 p.m. GMT

Tommy_A_Jones

I think all her Books have Middle Class people at the Centre of the books as she probably followed the old adage Write what you know about and she obviously moved in those circles. I personally don't think the stories would have been as good if she was writing about people who were Working-Class, when Characters are in Books by Agatha Christie and her peers they are usually either Tradesmen, Servants or Criminals who are given odd Moniker's like in The Veiled Lady

Tommy_A_Jones 29 Sep 09 at 2:42 p.m. GMT

I don't think it is just Agatha Christie who has Middle Class Characters in the Centre of her books, nor do I think it is just books of that era that have Middle-Class Characters, P. D. James and Simon Brett both have Middle-Class Characters at the Centree of things.

Puffinjill 30 Sep 09 at 12:11 p.m. GMT

I'm back! In answer to your question, Tommy, I took The thirteen Problems and The Hound of Death as I thought short stories would be better if I was tired and drifted off a bit. Plus, I hadn't read them both for quite a while. I didn't stay in a hotel overnight (although the offer was there) because I've always found that, far from being an adventure, its just an excuse for everyone attending to get drunk. Call me dull, but as I don't drink, watching others get that way isn't much fun.

BUT, back to the matter in hand. I think AC did tend to write about the type of people she knew and I think she did this for two reasons. Firstly, if it works (and the sales of her books proved it did), why change what you do?;and secondly, I think those from so-called lower classes liked to read about their 'betters'. Many would be striving to better themselves in order to raise themselves into this class and, maybe reading these books, they got glimpses into that kind of life.

I know I've spent most of my life wishing I lived within the pages of one of those books!

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Sep 09 at 1:59 p.m. GMT

Welcome back Puffinjill, I have read both the books you took and liked most of the Stories from The Thirteen Problems and about half from Hound of Death, I read an article a while ago talking about Upstairs Downstairs they said people usually imagned themselves Upstairs, I think there are now alot of people who see themselves downstairs I think the Majority of people see themselves as Upstairs, I think Compasnions like Jolly in They Do UIt With Mirrors see themselves between the 2. 

Puffinjill 30 Sep 09 at 5:07 p.m. GMT

Yes, and therefore not really belonging, except in that particular (rather odd) household. I think the lines between so-called 'social classes' are more blurred these days or, possibly, there is more social mobility so achieving a higher status is easier.

In villages like Chipping Cleghorn, there would have been very distinct lines between the classes.

ampman 01 Oct 09 at 1:26 p.m. GMT

Miss Marple remarks in one of the books that village life has changed since her youth when a newcomer carried a letter of introduction from someone who was in the same regiment or knew a mutual friend of a villager. The war changed that and people arrived whose past was a mystery to others and who could make up an identity for themselves.

It is amazing how the class system has been diluted in modern times. My own father,born 1912, had his ears soundly boxed for not removing his cap when the lady of the manor's carriage passed him by. He was even told by the Vicar that he was too tall for a boy of his position in life. He was literally getting above himself!

Tommy_A_Jones 01 Oct 09 at 2:19 p.m. GMT

The Media and TV has helped to blur the boundaries, people have less respect for their elders and people of certain proffessions, which Isn't nacessarily a bad thing as Doctors, The Police and other people like that don't always know as much as they think they do but I don't see anything wrong with politeness and giving respect to people who deserve it like the elderly or people who once upon a time would live at 'The Big House'. 

Puffinjill 01 Oct 09 at 6:50 p.m. GMT

I think people have to earn respect from others now rather than expect it due to their birth or status, which is fairer, but I do feel a certain politeness has vanished from everyday life. And it costs nothing, you know. my fellow Christie-ites.

At least the atmoshpere is friendly on here.

ampman 02 Oct 09 at 7:05 a.m. GMT

I think that ordinairy people have always liked reading about the failings f their so called betters ,hence the popularity of scandal magazines. There is nothing nicer than siting down with a cup of tea and reading in the paper that some titled pterson has been playing away from home or has been caught doing something they shouldn't.

I agree that respect should be earned and not expected because of money or position. Years ago when I was young,remember I am female, I was going through a sordid divorce. I was poor and down at heel but my solicitor treated me with as much respect and courtesy as if I had been the Queen. He was a real gentleman. That is what I like about Miss Marple, she is a real lady. I used to depsair that I hadn't been born a lady, just a woman, but I try to behave like a lady would.

Puffinjill 02 Oct 09 at 3:11 p.m. GMT

Sorry you have been through such sad times, but its a testiment to you that you have continued to act throughout with dignity.

Being a 'lady' tends to be frowned on today as it has conitations of sexism or 'the weaker sex'. I think thats nonsense. We can be 'ladies' and 'gentlemen' without patronising each other - its about respecting each other and celebrating our differences.

I was bought up by working class parents to treat others as I wish to be treated. I hope I do. I beleive AC was bought up with similar ideas, irrespective of her middle class background. Her portaraits of characters from so-called 'lower classes' are finely drawn, not just repetitions of each other to fill in the gaps in a plot. After all, I think she knew the majority of her readers would probably come from that class and they would see through any patronising.

Tommy_A_Jones 02 Oct 09 at 3:43 p.m. GMT

I agree Being a 'lady' or 'Gentleman does seem to be frowned upon these days, I am disabled and live in a Village in a Rural area and I have a Carer who lives in a Town in an town and when ever he sees on Television people like the Villagersd of Little Paddocks (But in a more modern setting he glowers at the screen and calls them snobs, He is a Working-class man who has always lived in the same Council House whereas I have never thought thgat class mattered before, I was also brought up to feel like you about people Puffinjill and hope that people that people would see that AC wasn't meaning to be patronizing to working class people but sometimes I worry that people might not see that she wrote at a less enlightened time and not enjoy te books for what they are; Cracking good books but there again maybe the books justv aren't for them just like some genres just aren't for me.

Puffinjill 02 Oct 09 at 7:21 p.m. GMT

True. Each to his own.

People do tend to forget that when AC was writing, everyone was less well informed of the world and social issues weren't to the fore. Just because we can see the injustice now doesn't take away from the quality of the book. We are all products of our own times and cannot see how things will be viewed in the future.

Hope your carer doesn't get you down.