21 September 2008

Old Recordings of Agatha Christie Discovered

Thirteen Hours of Personal Dictations Unearthed After 40 Years

Speaking into a Grundig Memorette reel-to-reel tape Agatha Christie recalls how the elderly spinster, Miss Marple insinuated herself into the author's life.

"I did not know then that she would become a rival to Hercule Poirot." She says of Marple, who first made her appearance in the 1930 novel, The Murder at the Vicarage.

But she goes on to pour cold water over the idea that Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple should meet - apparently a popular suggestion among the many fans who wrote to her.

She felt that Hercule Poirot, who she describes as a 'complete egoist' would not like having to work with and to take suggestions from an elderly spinster. "Hercule Poirot - a professional sleuth - would not be at home at all in Miss Marple's world," Christie explains in a clear, old fashioned English accent.

The 27 half-hour long tapes were unearthed by Christie's grandson, Mathew Prichard in one of her former homes.

The personal recordings were made some 4 decasdes ago and were intended to be used for her biography (her autobiography was published posthumously in the 1970s).

Sections of the recordings have been released but Prichard said he wanted to consult with his family before deciding on whether to release more to the public.