Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
As a massive, huge, unbearable Agatha Christie superfan, I love all her work. But this is my favourite of her titles. No spoilers here, so I’m not going to tell you why they didn’t ask Evans. But we see the enduring power of Agatha Christie everywhere.
Her books have sold an incredible 2 billion copies, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. New adaptations are springing up constantly. Her play, The Mousetrap, has been running since 1952, the same year Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne. And there are even Christie-themed events and holidays (which I can highly recommend).
But just what is it about Christie that makes her work some of the most enduring to this day?
Here are five lessons I think we can take from her writing to make our own storytelling – or indeed, your brand – stand the test of time.
1. Create compelling characters
Who hasn’t heard of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple? The fussy little Belgian detective brought to life so perfectly by David Suchet, and the ditsy, mannered old lady with a razor-sharp brain played superbly by Joan Hickson. They’re the ultimate brand.
Think Poirot, think Christie. Think little grey cells, big moustaches, a walking cane, precise mannerisms, and a surprisingly fierce voice declaring “Poirot does not approve of murder”.
Think Miss Marple, think Christie. And fluffy cardigans and quaint villages and vicars and afternoon tea and parlour maids.
Branding and values, all there embodied in her characters. You know exactly what you’re getting.
2. Use intrigue
I’ve already mentioned my favourite title, Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? But her stories are layered with intrigue throughout. Red herrings, seemingly meaningless asides, little clues, big clues.
She mastered the art of pulling her readers in and keeping them turning the pages until the grand denouement. (At which point, you turn the pages backwards to kick yourself as to why you missed EVERYTHING. Top tip, don’t read Christie on a Kindle, it’s much easier to flip backwards with a book.)
A little intrigue, a question asked and returned to later on, and a hint of what’s to come, keeps your storytelling compelling.
3. Appeal to aspirations
Agatha Christie travelled the world, later in life with her archaeologist husband on digs (which she sometimes financed). Her books are set in all kinds of glamourous locations, many of which may have been out of reach for her readers at the time.
Mesopotamia, Frankfurt, the Caribbean and the Nile feature in her titles alone. And who doesn’t associate the Orient Express with Christie, with its glamour and mystique appealing to those of us more used to the vagaries of British train travel. Closer to home, Miss Marple’s St Mary Mead is the quintessential chocolate box village we’d all like to live in, albeit with evil and malice lurking below the surface.
Appealing to your audience’s aspirations can transport them away from their everyday, giving them some much-needed escapism. If you’re writing commercially, it can also be a good sales technique.
4. Write your own rules
When Agatha Christie’s novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was published, there was general outrage over the ending (no spoilers). She’d effectively ripped up the conventional “rules” of a detective novel and in many readers’ eyes she’d overstepped the mark. It was controversial, challenging, audacious… and is now considered her masterpiece.
If you’re writing for a business, there will be certain conventions you have to follow. But you can still put your own stamp on your writing. If you’re writing fiction or telling your own story, such as on social media, do it your way. Fortune favours the brave.
5. Be your own champion
Although Christie was extremely shy, she was still incredibly protective of her characters. She point-blank refused to allow Poirot to be “sexed up” for a play, in which the writer adapting her short story wanted to make a younger, more attractive version of her famous detective (and to rename him “Beau” which she also, thankfully, refused).
Her daughter Rosalind took up the protective mantle after Christie’s death, telling David Suchet not to make Poirot a laughing stock – which he certainly didn’t.
When you write for a certain audience, especially in a professional capacity, you may have editors and proofreaders checking your work and making suggestions. Listen to their expertise and be willing to adapt. But when you feel strongly about something, don’t be afraid to stand your ground, even if you need to say it compliantly.
Agatha Christie was nothing short of a pioneer, a successful woman in a man’s world, and her novels and plays are showing no signs of waning in popularity. She didn’t bow to convention or pressure and she wrote about the things and the people she wanted to create.
If you haven’t read any of her books yet, start with The Mysterious Affair at Styles, get hugely irritated at The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and discover the answer to the question… Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?
And, if you need access to professional writing prowess in order to upgrade your brand, ask Yardstick about working with our talented team of writers. Just email hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call 0115 8965 300 to learn more.
