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Interesting Story about AC

go_leafs_nation 13 Oct 09 at 10:02 p.m. GMT

Most of you will probably know that I am a big John Dickson Carr enthusiast. I was reading Douglas G. Greene's biography of Carr (John Dickson Carr: The Man Who Explained Miracles, which I highly recommend), and this following section was so interesting, I felt pretty certain it would be of interest to others in this forum (I was kindly given permission by Mr. Greene to quote this):

The Carrs often entertained at their new flat. The Detection Club might object to party games, but at their own apartment, John and Clarice always had pen-and-pencil challenges and they often played the Murder Game. Among the guests at the Carrs’ parties were Powys Mathers (“Torquemada”), the famed Yorkshire novelist J. B. Priestley, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy L. Sayers. The first time Christie came to one of their parties, she and Priestley were stuck for more than half an hour in the lift. “Of Mr. Priestley’s language,” Carr said, “it is best to draw a veil, but the creatrix of Hercule Poirot was only amused.” In the Murder Game that evening, Priestley played a chief inspiector from Scotland Yard and Agatha Christie one of the suspects. When she claimed an alibi at Westminster Bridge with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Priestley accused her of having done in the cleric.

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Puffinjill 14 Oct 09 at 2:18 p.m. GMT

Have you ever read The Floating Admiral (I thinkit's called!!), written by various memebers of The Detection Club? You'll have to forgive me, as I'm trying to write this from memory (as I am work and haven't got the book to hand), but from what I can remember each memeber of the club wrote a chapter of the book, each leading the story in a different direction as they each had a different conclusion in mind. Forgive me if you already know this!!

I actually thought I had lost my copy but recently came across it again during a recent house move. I was delighted to find it, as you can see, need to reread it to refresh my memory!

Thanks for the story! I haven't read John Dickson Carr's autobiography (wasn't even aware there was one) so must hunt around that too, as I'm a fellow fan.

go_leafs_nation 14 Oct 09 at 5:33 p.m. GMT

I'm aware of The Floating Admiral's existance, but I haven't yet read it. You're right, various members of the Detection Club contributed, including G.K. Chesterton. There are several books like this, actually. Dorothy L. Sayers and John Dickson Carr did this too, in different stories; they were collected into one book (haven't read this yet either, but I have seen it on a bookstore shelf), Crime on the Coast (Sayers') and No Flowers By Request (Carr's).

I don't know if I was unclear, but it isn't Carr's autobiography that I pulled the story from (that book is non-existant, btw; Carr never wrote a biography). The author is Douglas G. Greene, and it is entitled John Dickson Carr: The Man Who Explained Miracles. It's a very good read, but also hard to find. (Thankfully, my library has a copy handy-- they risk not getting it back one of these days... :P)

Puffinjill 14 Oct 09 at 7:08 p.m. GMT

Sorry, you did make it clear, leafs, I was just being dopey and misread the post about the biography. But thank you mentioning the other similar books - I wasn't aware of either of these and will have a good hunt on the internet so see if I can find either of them.

I think it's such a shame that JDC's works are sooo difficult to get hold of nowadays. I'm sure there would be a huge audience out there who would appreciate him and Gideon Fell.

Bundle_ 26 Oct 09 at 4:48 p.m. GMT

I have a question: How come AC didn't set any of her books in America? Or has she and I just haven't read it yet?

Puffinjill 26 Oct 09 at 7:04 p.m. GMT

I can't think of any US locations off the top of my head. Maybe she felt she didn't know the country well enough to be able to write about it in a believable way. All her other choices for places to set her books are ones she herself knew well - whether using the country of her birth or the places she travelled to with Archie or Max. Her locations always have the stamp of authenticity to them (they don't just sound as if she has read a description of the place), and she makes them come alive.

I'm not sure how well she knew the US. I know her father was American and she uses many American characters but perhaps she felt unable to do the country justice if she used it as a location.

go_leafs_nation 26 Oct 09 at 8:08 p.m. GMT

Yes, it really could be a fatal mistake for authors to set their books in places they have no idea about. Why, for instance, didn't we ever get a full-length Poirot novel in Belgium? AC was simply making a smart move. She wrote about what she knew best, and when she did that, it resulted in some of her finest works.

Bundle_ 27 Oct 09 at 3:01 p.m. GMT

Oh, I see now. Thanks guys. Still, it would have been nice to have read about Poirot in America!

kindaichifan 09 Jul 10 at 6:04 a.m. GMT

I found this site while doing a search using the name of Agatha Christie and John Dickson Carr.  So the two did know each other. 

I came to this site in a roundabout way. There is a Japanese mystery series called 'Case files of the Young Kindaichi."  The detectives name is Hajime Kindaichi, The wikipedia says these myteries are along the John Dickson Carr "locked room" mysteries. This led me to do some reading about Mr. Carr.

The local television station aired subtitled TV dramas based on the young Kindaichi stories.

While I'm here I thought I'd share a little history. After World War II, the occupation Forces banned military literature in Japan. As an alternative, the Occupation people encouraged mysteries. At about this time Agatha Christie was translated into Japanese (according to the magazine article I read.).  I think mysteries became popular in Japan in the 1950's.  Someone, I think named Yokimizo, created a detective named Kosuke Kindaichi.  Later some other people created a "grandson."  The family of the original creator were not too pleased, but somehow the differences were ironed out and Young Kindaichi stories were allowed to continue.

kindaichifan 09 Jul 10 at 6:06 a.m. GMT

My apologies, I forgot to say thank you for posting and reporting on the relationship  or connection between John Dickson Carr and Agatha Christie.