Janet MorganRezensionen

I was disappointed with this biography as I didn’t feel that the author left me feeling as if I knew Agatha Christie any better than I did before I read it. However this was a family authorized biography and I am sure that this publicity shy family had many conditions and exceptions laid out before they allowed the author access to the author’s private papers. Agatha Christie, A Biography gives a surface overview of the author’s life, but leaves one with little or no information about the inner workings of this brilliant author’s mind.

I expect Miss Christie herself would have been pleased with this book as she consistently avoided the press. She disliked giving interviews and never agreed to appear on television. She did not discuss her writing process and saw no good reason why the public should expect a window into her life or mind. What does come across in this book is that she felt her writing was secondary to her roles of wife and mother. She strove to live a conventional and quiet life. The one incident that is often referred to is her strange disappearance when her car was found abandoned and she could not be located. Some said this was a publicity-stunt, which doesn’t ring true when she went out of her way to avoid any publicity, while others thought that she was suffering from amnesia. The author explains this incident as a time in her life when her marriage was going sour and her mother had recently died. Her husband had just announced that he was leaving her for another woman and she was suffering from depression.

I will always admire this author and love her mysteries but I think in the future I will honour her wish for privacy and not read anything more about her private life. Her wonderful characters, sparkling dialogue and intriguing mysteries are certainly enough for me.

Exceedingly well researched and well written. Very detailed. The scene is set with an opening chapter backgrounding the grandparents and parents of Edwina Ashley and her sister Mary. Their schooling is recorded, adolescence and Edwina's coming-of-age. Then follows her marriage to Louis Mountbatten, his progression through his naval career, the arrival of their two daughters, marriage difficulties, Edwina's lovers and friends. During World War Two Edwina developed a role for herself working tirelessly for Red Cross and the Order of St John, first in England and later globally as she travelled to assist in alleviating the appalling distresses faced in war-torn countries.
She and her husband became the last Viceroy and Vicereine of India, and lived there during 1947 and 1948, Lord Louis helping to guide the country to Partition. This he achieved, but the turmoil this caused was hearbreaking. Returning to England, the couple continued with their careers which again involved considerable travel.
Throughout the book are threads of the wealth, glamour, fashion, entertaining and being entertained, connection to Royalty, their many homes, and their love of the outdoors.
A very insightful biography into the life of this complex woman.

Fascinating and scandalous woman. Interesting side glance at her husband.

Excellent biography of Christie, though a bit heavy on her theatrical writings and a little light on her later years.

Agatha is driven to write books, the stories spill out when as a young married woman she seeks to earn a living.

oops sorry for misattributing it. G