Hercule Poirot's Christmas facts for kids
First UK edition
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| Author | Agatha Christie |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Not known |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Detective fiction |
| Publisher | Collins Crime Club |
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Publication date
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19 December 1938 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 256 first edition, hardback |
| Preceded by | Appointment with Death |
| Followed by | Murder is Easy |
Hercule Poirot's Christmas is an exciting detective fiction novel by the famous British writer Agatha Christie. It was first released in the UK on December 19, 1938. In the United States, it was published in February 1939 with the title Murder for Christmas. Later, a paperback version in 1947 was called A Holiday for Murder.
This book features the clever Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. It's a type of mystery called a locked-room mystery. This means a crime happens in a place that seems impossible to enter or leave. The story is about a family gathering for Christmas. They find the host of the party murdered in a locked room. When the book first came out, many people liked it. They said it showed how brilliant the story idea was. They also thought Poirot's mind worked better than ever!
Contents
Story of the Mystery
Simeon Lee is a very old and rich man. He surprises his family by inviting them all to his home for Christmas. His family members are suspicious of this invitation. Simeon is not usually a warm or loving person. His family also doesn't get along very well. Especially, his son Harry, who is known for causing trouble.
Simeon also invited his granddaughter, Pilar Estravados, to live with him. Pilar was born in Spain and is an orphan. None of the family had met her before. She turns out to be a very charming person. Simeon seems to enjoy playing tricks with his family's feelings.
A surprise guest named Stephen Farr arrives on Christmas Eve. He is the son of Simeon's old business partner from the diamond mines. Simeon welcomes Stephen very warmly. That afternoon, Simeon calls his family together. He lets them hear him on the phone with his lawyer. He says he wants to change his will after Christmas. This news makes his sons and their wives very upset.
After dinner on Christmas Eve, loud noises are heard from Simeon's room. People hear furniture crashing and a terrible scream. Several family members rush to Simeon's door. They find it locked and have to break it open. Inside, they see furniture overturned and dishes smashed. Simeon is dead.
The local police superintendent, Sugden, is already at the front door. He arrived before anyone could even call the police. Superintendent Sugden notices Pilar pick something up from the floor. He asks her to give him a small piece of rubber and a small wooden object.
Sugden explains that he was at the house because Simeon had called him earlier. Simeon had told him that a lot of uncut diamonds were stolen from his safe. Poirot joins Colonel Johnson to investigate the murder. Many questions come up. How was Simeon killed in a locked room? Was the murder connected to the stolen diamonds? What do the small rubber triangle and the wooden peg mean?
Main Characters
- Hercule Poirot: The clever Belgian detective.
- Colonel Johnson: The Chief Constable, a high-ranking police officer.
- Superintendent Sugden: The police officer who investigates the murder.
- Simeon Lee: The old, rich man who is murdered.
- Alfred Lee: Simeon's son, who lives with his father.
- Lydia Lee: Alfred's wife.
- George Lee: Simeon's son, who is an MP (a member of the UK government).
- Magdalene Lee: George's wife.
- David Lee: Simeon's son, who is an artist.
- Hilda Lee: David's wife.
- Harry Lee: Simeon's son, often called the "prodigal son" because he left home and returned.
- "Pilar Estravados": Simeon's granddaughter, but her real name is Conchita Lopez.
- "Stephen Farr": The son of Simeon's old business partner, but his real name is Stephen Grant.
- Horbury: Simeon's personal helper.
- Tressilian: The butler, who manages the house staff.
- Walter: The footman, a house servant.
Book History
Hercule Poirot's Christmas was published in different ways over the years:
- In 1938, it was first published in the UK by Collins Crime Club.
- In 1939, it was published in the US as Murder for Christmas.
- In 1947, it was released as a paperback in the US under the title A Holiday For Murder.
The story was also published in parts (serialised) before the full book came out:
- In the US, it appeared in Collier's Weekly magazine from November 1938 to January 1939.
- In the UK, it was in the Daily Express newspaper from November to December 1938.
TV and Radio Shows
The story of Hercule Poirot's Christmas has been made into TV shows and a radio play.
1994 British TV Show
This story was made into a TV special in 1994. It was part of the show Agatha Christie's Poirot. David Suchet played Hercule Poirot. It first aired in the UK on Christmas Day, December 25, 1994.
The TV show is mostly like the book. However, some characters were left out. Colonel Johnson from the book is replaced by Chief Inspector Japp, who is a regular character in the Poirot TV series. Stephen Farr is also not in this version. His romantic interest in Pilar is given to Harry instead. The outside scenes for the show were filmed in Chilham, Kent. Chilham Castle was used as the house called Gorston Hall.
Main Actors:
- David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
- Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
- Mark Tandy as Superintendent Sugden
- Vernon Dobtcheff as Simeon Lee
- Simon Roberts as Alfred Lee
- Catherine Rabett as Lydia Lee
- Eric Carte as George Lee
- Andrée Bernard as Magdalene Lee
- Brian Gwaspari as Harry Lee
- Sasha Behar as Pilar Estravados
French TV Shows
The story was also adapted for French television.
- In 2006, a four-part series called Petits Meurtres en famille was made. This version changed a lot of the story and characters.
- In 2018, another French TV episode was made for the series Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie. This version did not have a Christmas theme.
Radio Play
Hercule Poirot's Christmas was also made into a radio play by BBC Radio 4. Peter Sallis played Poirot. It was broadcast on December 24, 1986.
See also
In Spanish: Navidades trágicas para niños
