Interview With Agatha Christie, The First Lady Of Crime

    INTERVIEW WITH AGATHA CHRISTIE - THE FIRST LADY OF CRIME
 

DETECTIVE UNDER LACY HAT

“If I was born once again, I would like to be a woman - always!”

Agatha Christie

Do you read novels of Agatha Christie? That is a silly question! Who today doesn't - publicly or secretly - read detective stories? Sure tastes differ, but there are only few people who can resist the charm of novels of today 76-years old Englishwoman and hers characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. I also like to read them, so the news about her arrival in Slovenia cheered me up, but even more the decision of redaction: “Go to Bohinj and don't come back without an interview with Agatha!”

I had to choose tactics. But wait a minute, why is this women’s magazine? Let’s use women’s weapon - charm! The plan is made to use “offensive of charm”.

At first famous people are “victims” of offensive: she doesn't like journalists because they wait for her behind the trees when she goes for a walk, they accede to her chair in the evening, in the morning they try to break into her room, they are knocking on her door… OK! Why don't we try different? Why don't we regard that this is an old person, eagerly of break, who instead of lovely smiles - which are shared to every other person on holidays - sees only silly looks, which insult her, and the cameras? So let's be as first - kind!

Agatha Christie with her second husband Max Mallowan.

I landed in front of our hotel “Jezero - Bellevue” and immediately informed myself about “the situation on the front”. Bad: they are annoying her all the time and she didn't leave the address to anyone in England, but there are letters coming every day, but in fact she is on a trip in Bled. Of course, she will return tired… I also wouldn't let them to annoy me…

When I came to hotel “Bellevue” married couple Mallowan appeared: Agatha Christie with her husband. They were in a good will and they were walking up the stairs.

What to do? Let's stay devoted to “offensive of charm”: there is no need to grab the first chance and ruin everything! The most important thing is that she is here in hotel and there is a reserved room waiting for me. Even more, the room is on the same floor, told me sympathetic Alenka from reception. Together we unwound the flowers. Alenka is enthusiastic: Agatha will surely like them. She likes flowers (we had good nose!).

Alenka hadn’t return for a long time - good or bad sign? The door opened suddenly and Alenka shouted from threshold:

Agatha Christie in Bohinj in the end of August 1967.

"Quarter to nine! - in enthusiasm she continues in English."

"Today? This evening? Now? Quarter to nine?"

"Yes, yes, enjoys Alenka with me."

It has just been seven o'clock so I still have one hour and 45 minutes. Let's look at the situation: I am dirty and tired from travelling, I didn't eat my breakfast, prepared questions in English are shaking in my hands.

First: washing. There is a pleasant surprise waiting for me - I took everything except a shampoo. I wash myself with the toothpaste. Great - I will come on conversation like a travelling advertisement for “Kolodont”…

It could have been even worse - I comfort myself. - Think only: Agatha is in the room opposite of mine, Agatha. Ready for an interview…

I am repeating questions once again. I am biting chocolate.

Still two minutes to quarter to nine. I am ready, I have a tape-recorder in my hand.

I am knocking on door. Nothing. One more time. They aren't here. They wouldn't… just calmly. Maybe they are, simply, on dinner?

 

AT SIGHT AS AN USUAL OLD WOMAN

Yes, they are siting over a cup of tea by the window with flowers. Two old people who are talking so peacefully by soft light, surrounded by chatter and usual noises of the hotel restaurant.

 

Sir Max Mallowan just before the Second World War.

"Excuse me, I am from woman magazine…"

"O, please, sit down. Thank you for the flowers…"

"Forgive me, because they were little withered, they were travelling with me from Zagreb…"

"You are from Zagreb? We traveled across Zagreb."

The ice is broken through! Now conversation leads Max E. L. Mallowan, famous archaeologist and second husband of the famous writer. He is looking curiously at me and my tape-recorder, which I have just been opening. It is known that he takes care that one doesn’t tire up too much his wife.

 

"Can I turn on my tape-recorder?"

"OK, but not right a way, first we will arrange what are you going to talk about" - responds with a kind smile, but sharp. "My wife doesn’t hear well."

Agatha Christie in the kitchen of Greenway House.

Until then I didn’t dare to look on right side where Agatha Christie was sitting. She looked tired. One could think: entirely usual old woman if she didn’t have kindly-mocking face, if her eyes didn’t shine and if she didn’t look so penetrating.

"I like the book “Yugoslavian kitchen” which you have brought" - she begins to speak. "It is enough just to look at it and one can get appetite. You have to recommend me some cake so that I can try it when I come back home. I like cooking. It is the same like, how should I say, a creative business!"

Let’s get to “business”:

Dame Agatha Christie Mallowan.

"Let me first ask you some questions related to your work. It is known that you are author of large number of detective and - as we call them - “usual novels”, which you had for years published behind your pseudonym. If we add the passion for archaeology, family and housework then it is clear that you had to organize your life strict. Would you describe us your workday?"

"It is not organized at all" - she smiled a little ironic.

Yes, it seems like that - she is kind but she answers just a half of a question! No, there is no need to lose courage. Let’s hit on the “weak” point of married couple - archaeology.

 

“I AM INTERESTED IN SO MANY THINGS”

"Does archaeology represent a certain period for you, for example, ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia or do other periods attract you as well?"

Agatha Christie in expedition.

"We are interested in all periods, that is also a difficulty! Today it is specially in science needed strict specialization in one thing, but we are interested in so many things!"

"Still, you have made a good guess - continues Prof. Mallowan. We had been dugging for years on Bliski island. You know, my wife is always present as an official photographer, and so she has filmed one of the most beautiful collections of statues of the elephant bones, which we had found there."

"Are you also interested in locations in Yugoslavia?"

"O, we are interested in all. We take an opportunity to look at all remains of history. You know, archaeology means for us also to enjoy in art - you always find something beautiful what you like. That’s why we like things from all periods."

Their house in Bagdad

"We visited a lot of remains from history in surroundings. Also today, in Bled, we enjoyed in pictures of the church on island…"

"Specially the statues are beautiful" - adds Agatha Christie.

"Probably you have heard about site in “Lepenski Vir”…"

"Yes, I have informed Sunday Times immediately, so they will send somebody…"

"Will you go there too?"

"Unfortunately, we won’t" - she answers.

"It is very far and we are afraid of greater heat. Age…"

 

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE

The conversation has developed. While I have been asking the next question, I turned on my tape-recorder:

Agatha Christie in the library

"Once you have said that is your work in detective stories divided in two parts: fun, when you are thinking up the plot and “boring” when all of that has to be put on paper."

"Yes, that’s right. It is much more fun just to think about what is needed to be written as to write it!"

"Do you also in reality think as Miss Marple?"

In the rustle of the restaurant she didn’t hear well my question but she smiled and said:

"Oh, I think that people like differences, like Miss Marple is. Why did I choose her? Who knows?At that time I first noticed that she “washes her hands” from her characters - they do what they like to do."

When I repeated my question she said:

"No, I don’t really think the same as she. But who knows, why does she think like that?"

Margaret Rutherford playing Miss Marple in Murder She Said (1962).

"Would you mind telling us how the ideas are born and how do they develop into novel?"

"So, how the ideas come?" - she slowly repeated the question, sitting in the chair and her fingers of right hand, as if they are searching something on the chair, wrinkle cover and move away a cup of tea.

 

"They come suddenly, I even don’t know how. Whenever: when I am listening to opera, walking on the street… they come from everywhere! Also, when a smart idea falls into your head, which you like, you have to build a believable story from it. Suddenly faces grow as well, one by one. And then comes this unpleasant day, when you have to sit down and everything what had beautifully grown put on paper. Yes, the first part is much more fun!"

Agatha Christie thinking during her writing.

"Some writers of detective stories buy ideas. What about you?"

"No. I like ideas which fall into my head, that’s more fun!"

"You can’t imagine - adds her husband - how much letters we get:  Here, an excellent idea for a novel… We answer: Then write it yourself!."

"Why do I need a story about which I know everything? That’s not exciting any more!"

"When will you kill Hercule Poirot?"

Agatha with her daughter Rosalind.

"He already should have died of age! Maybe. I really don’t know!"

"But, what destiny are you preparing for Miss Marple?"

"I really don’t like to talk about either of them two. She is just one of those old ladies, who themselves decide what will happen to them."

"Were you telling “frightening stories” to your daughter when she was small?"

"O, not certainly. It depends what is thought to be “frightening story”. Much or less all stories are frightening. But when she learned to read, I let her to choose by herself what she liked."

 

“I READ FAST AND A LOT”

"What kind of books do you like reading?"

"It depends… I read everything for what I think that I could be interested in. I like books which impose thinking. For break I decide to read pocket issues. In general I read a lot of books."

Agatha Christie surrounded with books.

"Do you like, for example, educational - fantastic novels?"

"O, yes. I think that some of them are really good. I don’t like so much the latest, in which is too much “science fiction”. Previous educational - fantastic novels were very good because they were only plod of fiction. Today they are too much formal, overfilled with technical details, science fiction - for that is necessary to have above all central talent."

"What about detective stories?"

"Detective stories? I read them a lot. I liked them already when I was a girl, when I was reading them secretly. I don’t like novels which have only brutalities, they are really boring to me. It’s always same! For example, if you read page 17 or 45: somebody is beating somebody. Then you skip on page 55 and you will see that you didn’t miss anything from the skipped pages: again somebody is beating somebody!"

The Moustrap is the longest running show in the world: It has opened on 25 November 1952 and it is still running today.

"Do you like theatre, cinema, TV?"

"Yes, all. Especially theatre, I am really fan of it. I can enjoy in almost everything what I watch in theatre."

"Are you preparing some new theatre play?"

"No, not now..."

"What kind of music do you like the most?"

"Operas. Wegner the most. Don’t you like them? - she smiled. - Yes, in any case, they are very long..."

"Beatles?"

Agatha Christie in Slovenia in the end of August 1967.

"Oh, I think that they are really talented but... ER, you mustn’t forget that I have got well on years - she smiled happily- but they are young, aren’t they? Nevertheless I enjoy in them."

"Some say “social revolution” to what they are doing and Mary Quand and all young generation of England."

"Maybe this is too strong expression. They simply have to find something new: just look the fashion for example."

"Every young generation - once again Prof. Mallowan joins in conversation - wants to shock the older, more than they can and how good are they in it."

"Yes, some are shocked by young. But it really is hard to find something completely new."

"Maybe they only have more publicity."

"Yes, specially press" - adds Agatha Christie.

"It is clear that every generation shocks when it comes on the scene, they are searching new things in everything, and also in dance, music..."

 

KILLER - READER?

"In your novel "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" it is only in the end discovered that the character who is telling the story in first person - is a killer. What can be the next step? Somebody said that it remains only that the killer is - a reader!"

Agatha Christie working in a hospital dispensary - This had been very useful for her in her later career.

"Yes, that would be a really good idea - she smiled cheerfully, glittering eyes from behind glasses sank into wrinkles, her long teeth shined. - Certainly it would be. But how to do this?"

"In the end only one more question: If you could be born once again..."

"O, that is an interesting topic!" - her eyes shined.

"...would you choose to be a famous person or just an ordinary person?"

"It is hard to decide. I hate just a thought to take a responsibility to live like whichever human. But in any case I wouldn't choose to live as a famous person. Not either like a successful person. Who knows what is hidden behind success, what are the things we never hear of? I would rather be just an ordinary person."

Agatha Christie with Max Mallowan taking some walk.

"For example?"

"I can't tell you an example because you won't know what I will be talking about. It is hard to say what I would be interested in, in which period for example could I be born. There were so many unpleasant things in the history! Imagine just that you are thrown in the Middle Ages: you would vegetate in stony mansion and there would also be other unpleasant things, which mansion has, think just about stink... I am certain I wouldn't like that."

"Would you be rather born as a man or a woman?"

"Oh, as a woman - always! She said in haste. I think that we do the biggest part of the work in the world, don't we?"

 

EXCHANGED PARTS

Questions had surely been tiring and I had also took them a lot of time so I thanked them, closed my tape-recorder and I was ready to go. But they two seemed like they like to chatter after the dinner. Just parts have exchanged! They asked questions about Yugoslavia and about anything else. My letter appeared from Prof. Mallowan’s pocket.

Agatha Christie reading some newspaper.

He was interesting how my name is spelled and where do we have so many “j” (“džei”) in our alphabet from, which one doesn't spell? That was cause for a talk about phonetic transcription, about our languages (“We thought that the Macedonian language is similar to Greek language! We are regular ignoramus!” Comments Agatha Christie), then generally about language, that there is no articles but 7 cases ("Seven? Horror! Which are they? And ablative?”), then about self-management (“How does this look like?”) They were also interested in how magazine ”Svijet” is sold and generally about press in Yugoslavia. That lead to a conversation about advertisements which are flooding the newspaper.

"American newspapers have become so heavy and big - the famous writer is angry - that is why I don’t have the will to take them in my hands. And articles are divided into paragraphs which are lost among advertisement - who wants to search them!"

Agatha Christie arranging some flowers.

"We already haven’t seen any newspaper for days. We went to have a peaceful holiday and nothing interests us. How will we again include into it?"

"Oh, that won’t be hard: the news are certainly equally bad, there is always war somewhere…"

"We English - her husband is smiling - have a bad tradition always to beat somewhere. Wouldn’t it be great - I and my wife has thought for many times - if all persons which are responsible for the wars would be walled in with a big wall. And let them then beat each other!"

The conversation returned once again to Yugoslavia. It is just incredible what all are they interested in, what all have they seen and noticed: from new factories, splendidly tidied gardens (“I adore flowers- explains Agatha Christie- and here all gardens are filled with them. But if I say sincerely I rather just look at them than to dig in them!), and all to young people for who they have unanimously confirmed that they are seldom kind.

"But young people are incredibly beautiful!"  - says Agatha Christie

Greenway house in Devonshire.

Around us the restaurant was empty, the guests have already dispersed, there was bullet proof silence, which seemed to come through the window along with the dark. They stood up - she with difficulty because she has ill legs. We shook hands - her arm on mine was soft, cushion-like and handshake was strong.

They slowly went away: we had been talking more than one hour! Yes, “offensive of charm” was successful but it had opposite offensive - they charmed me both! One can seldom meet a couple like Mallowan: they are simple, spontaneous, without bad personalities, which usually come along with fame. But what interest for everything!

 

TOURISTS - AS EVERYONE ELSE

The next day I was looking at them as they were walking by the lake: she was leaning on a walking stick, she was walking slowly and she was lagging behind. He was for some time walking in front of her and for some time behind her, and he had an usual small net in his hand in which there were two books. They chose a bench on the sun, sat down and took the books in their hands. Entirely usual tourist couple! Yes, foreigners- from the sun is protecting her her lacy hat and rosy dress.

Agatha Christie with Sir Max Mallowan in the last months of her life.

They go every day to the lake, usually after ten or eleven o’clock, although they have breakfast early. They eat in their room our usual breakfast, which they sometimes - by English custom - enrich with ham and eggs or with soft-boiled egg or with (they liked very much this home-made specialty ) buckwheat hard-boiled corn mush and with sour milk. Sometimes they go with a hotel car on a trip, to look around on historical monuments.

They always have dinner in jointly restaurant. Of course they dressed themselves specially for this special opportunity - like all the English: he in a dark suit, she in one of her silky dresses, which at the first look they all look like they have the same shape: small low neck reveals inevitably a string of pearls, but the dress has a coat made from the same textile.

They are satisfied with Bohinj and with the quiet hotel.

Agatha Christie on the balcony of the Bellevue Hotel in Bohinj in 1967.

"Here is a real break. Just- she smiled - if it hadn’t been so many journalists here! First days it had seemed like there was one behind every tree. We couldn’t go for a walk. If they only came all together and not each day a new one..."

Yes, also today came another colleague. “Just five minutes”, said to him Prof. Mallowan and then he entered into conversation with me about learning foreign languages, specially about the Arabic language which seems to him impossible to learn because of the excavations in Near East… Has he forgotten that I am also “one of them”? As the journalist went away Agatha all happy showed me a postcard which she has received only in the morning.

 

Agatha Christie in the end of August 1967 in Bohinj. She is holding a poscard which sent it to her her daughter Rosalind leaned against her chest.

"This is my daughter writing to me. You know, she traveled on holiday with Concor but there are always airplane accidents…"

When I took a photo of her she was holding the postcard leaned against her chest!

They waved to me when we separated and went for a walk. Isn’t this a lovely scene? Two old persons but not grown old: they loved their work which they have been doing all their lives and they love them also now (she writes novels, he waits for the news about excavations in Lepenski Vir “because the news will change all our views”). They are going on a walk with eyes wide open to see people and things so they can find something beautiful in which they can enjoy.

Their figures are lost among other tourists. They didn’t distinguish from them. Agatha Christie entered into conversation with someone. She would be an entirely usual old woman…

This interview  was published in Yugoslavian woman magazine called Svijet. It was published on 15.09.1967 in issue 18. So this article was first written in Croatian language and then I translated it in Slovene and English language. The author of it is Višnja Ogrizovic. If you want to see a photo of the original article click here:Article_01.jpg I can also write that I found this interview a few years ago  just by a happy coincidence while I was "tidying" some old newspapers...

     

AGATHA CHRISTIE IN BOHINJ (SLOVENIA) IN 1967:

Agatha Christie was in Bohinj with her husband Max Mallowan in the end of August 1967. They stayed in Hotel Bellevue, if someone is thinking about visiting this place, they can even book the "Agatha Christie room" and there have also some pictures of A.C. and a library. http://www.globtour-bled.com/en/bohinj-hoteli.html

 

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