Travels with Agatha Christie by David Suchet

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Actor David Suchet is best known for his portrayal of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective who featured in many of Agatha Christie’s books.  In fact, he is the only actor to have portrayed Poirot in the film adaptations of every one of the novels.  He is a great admirer of Agatha Christie, so he was intrigued at the opportunity to the retrace the author’s 1922 journey to various parts of the British Empire.  Accompanied by his wife, Sheila, Suchet set out to cover six countries in fifty-seven days.

Of course, the countries they encountered were in some ways quite different than when Agatha visited a century earlier; one of the themes Suchet addresses is the effect being a part of the British Empire had on these countries and the lingering effects of colonialism.

They travelled to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Canada. Suchet is a talented photographer, and the book is well-illustrated with his pictures.  The book is mostly a light travelogue with some observations about native cultures, natural beauty, and a bit of how these things may have appeared in Christie’s writing.  The idea is to try to show things as Agatha would have seen them, but in the intervening century, a lot of things have changed.

It’s also important to note that the trip took place in the early days of Agatha’s writing career.  She had just published two books at the time—The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which introduced the world to Hercule Poirot, and The Secret Adversary starring Tommy and Tuppence—so while she was making a bit of a name for herself, she wasn’t a celebrity.  She was married to her first husband, Col. Archibald Christie, at the time and rather trying to conform to society’s expectations at the time.

This isn’t to say that she didn’t indulge a bit! In Hawaii, she became fascinated by surfing and became one of the first white women to try the sport. 

One of the things I try when reviewing a book is to review what the book is, as opposed to what I wanted it to be.  In this case, I wanted it to be more about Agatha and how it may have related to her work.  Instead, it was a bit more of a modern travelogue, though entertainingly told.  The photos are excellent and add a great deal to the book. It’s also a very personal book in many ways, with information about Suchet himself, his family, his admiration for Agatha Christie, and a look at how things have changed since the Empire.  He has great admiration for native cultures and applauds those who are preserving traditions for future generations.

For me, the book came off as a bit flat. I kept thinking it read like an adaptation and sure enough, it seems to have come about as a result of a five part documentary.  I think it’s best read as a companion piece to the documentary, adding depth and possibly a more personal touch. However, if you are a fan of Suchet’s Poirot, I would definitely give this book a try whether or not you’ve seen the program.