Book Description
A lavish labour of love full of colour photographs taking the reader into Agatha Christie's world decade by decade, Beginning with her first published book in 1920. Over 260 colour photographs include: historic locations of Christie's family mansion, Abney Hall, aerial photographs of Devon and Burgh Island, period ephemera relating to some of the fictional characters, full spread first UK and US dust jackets and period poisons are studied recalling her professional work and background as a dispenser in the first World War, which kick started her interest in the detective story. The text enables the reader to dip into each novel, giving the background to the novel, the storyline, first reviews and descriptions of binding s and editions. This book was received with delight by Chorion plc and Agatha Christie Ltd.

From the Inside Flap
Other crime writers may come and go, but the immortal Agatha Christie, the ‘Queen of Crime’, maintains her enduring appeal, and for her millions of fans this book is the next best thing to a new Christie novel. The authors, avid fans themselves, have assembled a mouth-watering feast of period memorabilia - the jackets and bindings of first editions from both sides of the Atlantic, stills from films and television series, photographs of the places and buildings that Christie used as settings for her stories, contemporary reviews and magazine features – which effortlessly transport the reader back into the world that Christie and her characters inhabited. Her first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920) was partly inspired by a challenge from her sister and partly by her experiences during the First World War, when she served as a VAD nurse and qualified as a dispenser, which gave her a working knowledge of drugs and poisons. These were the fortuitous circumstances that provided the springboard for a writing career of unsurpassed length and brilliance. The authors discuss each of the novels in chronological order of publication, with a summary of the plot-line and, in the case of the more famous books, bibliographical data, background information on Christie’s own life at the time the book was written, an account of its reception by readers and the press, and details of subsequent films and TV series. The reader is thus able to trace Christie’s career as an author, and the way in which her detectives were introduced and developed, while following, in parallel, her own life and travels. The result is a unique companion to her novels which will have enormous appeal to everyone who loves her work.

About the Author
Vanessa Wagstaff, co-author, photographer and designer, trained in set design at the Slade School of Fine Art , London. Graduating in 1995. Since, she has worked as a fine artist, selling work worldwide; as costume picture researcher on four Poirot TV productions for Carnival Films and other dramas; and recently as graphic designer for this book and London magazines. Stephen Poole, graduated in English and History, worked in publishing and now manages Biblion, a multi consortium antiquarian book business based in Mayfair, London. He specializes in modern first editions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

This splendid companion to the novels of Agatha Christie will have enormous appeal to anyone who loves her work. It’s brimming with memorabilia, including cover artwork, film and television stills, and photographs of settings. It features a wealth of literary and biographical detail; plot summaries and magazine articles; and a look at the films and television series spawned by Christie’s writing.