Christie Talk
Christie Talk - Book Club - Poirot Stories
Poirot Stories
Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous and popular detective. No doubt he would agree that he deserves that accolade!
Here is the place to discuss all of his stories in detail with other fans. The most insightful comments will be added to the Stories pages. But remember to beware spoilers!
If you can't find your favourite Poirot story here, don't worry - we'll be adding them all soon.
Warning: These discussions may contain spoilers!
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2 replies
ZoltanBalogh on 05 Nov 2009 at 9:32 p.m. GMT
I have just finished reading this book and I can say I enjoyed it very much! Great story, exciting storyline...what else needed?
Puffinjill on 06 Nov 2009 at 8:33 a.m. GMT
I think the heart of the story is the character of Louise Leidner herself. I am aware that AC wrote this character after her time on a dig with Leonard and Katherine Woolley and used Katherine as her template for Louise. She found her a totally self-absorbed person around whom everyone danced attention - even herself. She didn't want to do this but found Mrs Woolley and her ways very hard to resist.
These are the same traits she gives to Louise Leidner. She sees only what she wants in this life and never considers how her actions will affect those around her. I don't think she would ever sufficiently be interested in another person to be able to know them and their personalities well enough. Even with the man she married, her main priority would be to feel adored, as she beleives she should be. His own past wouldn't really matter. She is not sympathetic and has no insight and would probably never have known her first husband well enough to be able to describe him after such a time.
Therefore, the point made about domination actually doesn't come into it. Louise would not have any others will imposed upon her in such a way. Knowing her so well, Leidner would have been aware of how to attract her and play to her vanity. I must admit, she is one character that I feel no sympathy for and actually didn't want anyone found to be responsible for her death, as selfish people who only see what they want in their lives can cause so much pain to others. My sympathy this time was completely with the man driven by his jealousy to finally destroy woman who dominated his life in a way he could never fill hers.
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Amy Leatheran is a nurse employed to look after sickly Mrs Leidner, wife of the world famous archaeologist Dr Leidner. When Louise's health goes from bad to worse, culminating in her death it is just as well Hercule Poirot is visiting the dig as this death is not by natural causes and his supreme detective powers are surely needed.
One of several Poirot novels in a row that Christie wrote, is this really more than a very thin premise for a story? Can one person dominate another to the extent that they would be unrecognisable to that person? What do you think of the whole idea?