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Question about 'The Clocks'

(Contains spoilers!)

Tommy_A_Jones 27 Jun 09 at 10:44 a.m. GMT

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I have just finished reading 'The Clocks, I loved the book, it had everything I like, A picture puzzle, the Mysteryb as nto who the victim and aswell as mentioning Hastings it indrectly included Ariadne Oliver and Battle which for me just added to my enjoyement but I have a question; What made Colin Lamb realise who Sheila Webb's Mother was?

Until Chapter 14 I was willing to believe Colin Lamb was Race's son but as in Chapter 14 when he goes to see Poirot he reveals that he and his Father aren't in the same Profession I realised how he must be Battle's son as earlier when he goes with Hardcastle to interview the Miss Martindasle he reveals he slightly knows Ariasdne Oliver who appeared with Battle and as it happens Race in 'Cards On The Table'e . I give the book 10 

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Tommy_A_Jones 02 Jul 09 at 1:19 p.m. GMT

I live in Britain and when I hear one man talking to or about another of the same age It has usually been with the phrase 'Old Boy' not Old man the phrase was 'How's THE Old Man which would suggest Hardcastle was older than Colin but not old enough to be his Dad and Colin's Dad is older than Hardcastle, btw, can no-one help me with my original Question?

AndThenThereWereToon 01 Jul 09 at 8:22 p.m. GMT

In Britain we sometimes just use the phrase "old man" to mean "father" (e.g. "My Old Man's A Dustman") - Hardcastle could have meant it in that sense only.

Could also be a chummy reference, i.e. Colin's father is someone Hardcastle socialises with.  Not likely to be someone of a much lower rank, but wouldn't have to be anyone of a higher rank either.  And Chief Inspector (Japp's rank post-1935) is only one step below Superintendent.

Of course, in real terms if AC says it's Battle, it's Battle.  Just nice to look at other possibilities.

Tommy_A_Jones 30 Jun 09 at 11:03 a.m. GMT

That would be a credible but Hardcastle asks Colin how 'The Old Man is? which would suggest to me that Colin's Father is not only oldcer than Hardcastle but also a Higher rank and Japp always stays an Inspector although I admit my reason for Colin's Father not being Japp is very weak to say the least, the only other person who I would like Colin's father to be is Spence but I admit it is only because;

A) I would like it to be someone the readers know and

B) Spence and Ariadne Oliver appeared in 2 books together which is how Colin is slightly aquainted with her.

Did Ariadne and Japp ever appear in the same book? I tghink the answer to that is no.

AndThenThereWereToon 29 Jun 09 at 4:46 p.m. GMT

I've read a couple of critical works that claimed Colin was Battle's son.  Charles Osborne ("The Life and Crimes of Agatha Christie") quotes AC herself as saying it, but in his footnote he carelessly didn't say where she said it - just took a pop at Earl Bargainnier for suggesting Japp might be Colin's father instead.

Personally I think the Japp theory's a goer - he had an interest in botany and was involved in a few "sensitive" cases that might spice up his memoirs, so the clues fit.

Tommy_A_Jones 28 Jun 09 at 10:20 a.m. GMT

That's true, I have been trying to think of another theory of perhaps one character being related to another without it really stating it but I can't.

Frndorfoe 27 Jun 09 at 3:44 p.m. GMT

What I mean by conjecture is that nowhere in the book is it explicitly stated that Battle is Lamb's father. Whatever conclusion we may draw about Lamb's parentage depends upon our own point of view.

Tommy_A_Jones 27 Jun 09 at 2:32 p.m. GMT

As you say Frndorfoe each to their own, obviously what you disliked about the book I liked, Why do you say Battle being Colin Lambs Father is conjecture? It would be a let down if his Dad wasn't a regular Agatha Christie Character and it can't be Race because he says he is in a different Occupation and as Battle only appears in 1 book with Poirot I like the idea Battle is Lamb's son it gave the feeling that Battle who I like was in the book indirectly.

Frndorfoe 27 Jun 09 at 1:13 p.m. GMT

You liked the book? Well, to each his own I suppose. The book had too many things going on murder, international intrigues, spying, missing parents, etc. I found the plot itself to be interesting but the book seemed rather long. The book's narrative was kind of rambling. It took a lot of time to reach its point. If the narrative was a bit more 'tighter' I would have liked it better. Lamb could be Battle's son. But that is just a conjecture.