Agatha Christie, The Mysterious Affair at Styles

Amy Lee (The Open University)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1920

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Crime and Detective
Novel

Resources

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This was Agatha Christie's first detective novel. Published in 1920, it was a true product of the times which frequently refers to the First World War, in which the author herself has served as a nurse. We are introduced to the favourite partners in detection among all Christie's work, Captain Hastings and Hercule Poirot, perhaps the most famous partners since Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes. And in the style of the reliable Dr. Watson, Captain Hastings begins the narrative as a record of the events after all the questions are answered. The narrative is thus to be read as an inside story of what is known as “The Styles Case” in the papers.

Hastings has been granted a month's sick leave after being invalided from the Front and having spent months at a convalescent home. He meets with

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1359 words

Citation: Lee, Amy. "The Mysterious Affair at Styles". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 October 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=111, accessed 20 April 2024.]

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