Agatha Christie Visits Norman Williams Public Library
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie was born September 15, 1890 and died January 12, 1976 at the age of 85. An English writer, Christie is known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around her fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. Christie also wrote the world's longest-running play, a murder mystery, "The Mousetrap", and six romances under the name Mary Westmacott.
Lang introduced the library audience to Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller and her early life in Torquay, Devon in England. Agatha was very close to her mother and was devastated when her mother died. Expecting comfort from her husband, Archie, she only received a request for a divorce. She ran away and was missing for ten days. This spawned a massive manhunt and was even featured on the front page of the New York Times. Two years later her divorce was finalized in 1928.
Agatha's writing career spanned decades but didn't start off well. Her first six novels were rejected but that changed when she penned "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" which featured Hercule Poirot. The novel was published in 1920. This novel is a personal favorite of Lang's, although Lang claims that "Murder on the Orient Express" is her favorite book. "I don't like his bushy moustache" she said of Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Hercule Poirot in the 2017 Twentieth Century Fox movie remake, "it should be a pencil thin one."
Lang (in character) said "some say I'm the best-selling author of all time", her novels have sold roughly two billion copies and her estate, managed by her son Matthew, claims that her work is ranked third in the world's most widely published books behind Shakespeare and the Bible.
Agatha's writing career spanned decades but didn't start off well. Her first six novels were rejected but that changed when she penned "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" which featured Hercule Poirot. The novel was published in 1920. This novel is a personal favorite of Lang's, although Lang claims that "Murder on the Orient Express" is her favorite book. "I don't like his bushy moustache" she said of Kenneth Branagh's portrayal of Hercule Poirot in the 2017 Twentieth Century Fox movie remake, "it should be a pencil thin one."
Lang (in character) said "some say I'm the best-selling author of all time", her novels have sold roughly two billion copies and her estate, managed by her son Matthew, claims that her work is ranked third in the world's most widely published books behind Shakespeare and the Bible.
Agatha had many interests and passions. Lang (as Agatha) told the group how she worked as a pharmacy assistant at University College in London. Here she learned a bit about poison, especially curare from a colleague and incorporated this knowledge a few times in her novels.
Another interest for Christie was archeology. Christie left England in 1928 and traveled on the Orient Express to Baghdad. Later on this trip she met Max Mallowan, an archeologist and guide for Christie and some other tourists to an excavation site in Iraq. She married Max,13 years her junior, in 1930. She and Max traveled extensively and spent two decades living on excavation sites in the Middle East. Agatha is also know as Lady Mallowan.
Lang enjoys portraying Christie because Lang is intrigued by Christie's "quiet determination and her ability to overcome adversity." One might say these two women are kindred spirits; they both love picnics, travel, London tea shops and doing research and they each have had their own life challenges.
Professor Lang grew up in Massachusetts and went to Boston University. She taught in public schools and for the United States Navy overseas. She was a professor of literacy and literature at the University of Vermont for many years. She and her husband, Dick, have three sons and five grandchildren. They have been married for 62 years. "He has been carrying my books all these years" she said.
Another interest for Christie was archeology. Christie left England in 1928 and traveled on the Orient Express to Baghdad. Later on this trip she met Max Mallowan, an archeologist and guide for Christie and some other tourists to an excavation site in Iraq. She married Max,13 years her junior, in 1930. She and Max traveled extensively and spent two decades living on excavation sites in the Middle East. Agatha is also know as Lady Mallowan.
Lang enjoys portraying Christie because Lang is intrigued by Christie's "quiet determination and her ability to overcome adversity." One might say these two women are kindred spirits; they both love picnics, travel, London tea shops and doing research and they each have had their own life challenges.
Professor Lang grew up in Massachusetts and went to Boston University. She taught in public schools and for the United States Navy overseas. She was a professor of literacy and literature at the University of Vermont for many years. She and her husband, Dick, have three sons and five grandchildren. They have been married for 62 years. "He has been carrying my books all these years" she said.
Lang was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer has spread throughout her body. She doesn't want any more treatment and she definitely doesn't want pity; she quotes from Agatha Christie's autobiography " I'm grateful for all the love that has been given to me." This pretty much sums up the lives of two very special women.
More photos of "Agatha": CLICK HERE
More photos of "Agatha": CLICK HERE