Thursday, January 21, 2010

And Then There Were None


Crime fiction- the genre

Crime literature is a comprehensive term for entertaining and exciting literature, where the tension concerns investigation and clarification of a crime. The traditional detective novel has a number of regular and almost mandatory conventions: the solution of the mystery can be compared to a jigsaw puzzle where the pieces fall into place one by one, until one can see the picture clearly and the riddle is solved.

The crime genre was invented in the nineteenth century, and this new style of writing practically revolutionized literature. The famous author and poet Edgar Allan Poe is considered the”father” of crime, he wrote the first modern crime novel and created the detective. Based on his writings there has been made conventions that are used as a template of crime novels. Poe did only write three detective novels, but already in the first one, called” The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841) – he shed light on at least six elements which have become permanent features of crime novels.

A perfect crime novel should contain:

1) A seemingly perfect crime.

2) An innocent and not-guilty but suspicious person who all circumstantial evidences point to.

3) Deficient police work.

4) An eccentric detective with an intellect that can solve any crime.

5) A slow associate (often the storyteller.)

6) The assertion of seemingly important evidence which always turns out to be irrelevant.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Vera Claythorne

Vera Elizabeth Claythorne is one of the ten little soldiers, she is a young teacher, secretary and ex-governess. A job offer from a person called Una Nancy Owen brought her to the Soldier Island. During dinner the first evening an unknown voice presents a striking resemblance; the ten persons tricked onto the island are all accused guilty of murders. Vera Elizabeth Claythorne had apparently killed a boy called Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton. Sadly the truth agrees with the accusation, but there is more to the story behind the tragic death; the governess Vera Claythorne was engaged to be married to Cyril´s uncle, a man named Hugo Hamilton. They were in desperate need of money, in which drove Vera to commit a devious action. Hugo would inherit a great amount of money if only she could get rid of his nephew Cyril. She succeeded in the first try, but Hugo got suspicious of her interference in the tragic death, and broke the engagement. In the book Vera Claythorne is described as a lively person on the surface, but deep down she is a creature filled to the edge with regret of her previous actions, and the guilt of her crime is practically controlling her. Nevertheless, she is a perfect example of how guilt and regret can control a human life.




"And Then There Were None"



"And Then There Were None" is a detective fiction novel written by Agatha Christie, and it was first published in 1939 under the title "Ten little niggers". It is her best- selling novel, with 100 million sold copies worldwide, and it is therefore the world's best-selling mystery and the seventh most popular book of all time.

In the novel, eight persons are invited to an island mansion off the Devon coast, the Soldier Island. The hosts, a couple named Mr. and Mrs. U.N.Owen are currently away because of compelling circumstances, and the eight guests are therefore taken care of by two servants after their arrival. These ten persons are all strangers to each other, and it turns out that the only thing the ten of them have in common, is that they are all guilty of murders, and none of them was ever charged for their crimes. Their host fails to appear, and as the weather conditions change, the island becomes a sinister and claustrophobic place to be stranded. The first murder occurs before the ten poor little soldiers realize their fate. Haunted by an old nursery rhyme, they are executed one by one, stuck in a death trap they are unable to escape from.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Accusations

Each and everyone of the ten persons trapped on the Soldier Island, are accused guilty of murders. An unknown voice presents these accusations:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Silence please! You are charged with the following indictments:
"Edward George Armstrong, that you did upon the 14th day of March, 1925, cause the death of Louisa May Clees."
"Emily Caroline Brent, that upon the 5th of November, 1931, you were responsible for the death of Beatrice Taylor."
"William Henry Blore, that you brought about the death of James Stephen Landor on October 10th, 1928."
"Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, that on the 11th day of August, 1935, you killed Cyril Ogilvie Hamilton."
"Philip Lombard, that upon the a date in February, 1932, you were guilty of the death of twenty- one men members of an East African tribe."
"John Gordon Macarthur,that on the 4th of January, 1917, you deliberately sent your wife´s lover, Arthur Richmond,to his death."
"Anthony James Marston, that upon the 14th day of November last, you were guilty of the murder of John and Lucy Combes."
"Thomas Rogers and Ethel Rogers, that on the 6th of May, 1929, you brought abouth the death of Jennifer Brady."
"Lawrence John Wargrave, that upon the 10th day of June, 1930, you were guilty of the murder of Edward Seton."
"Prisoners at the bar, have you anything to say in your defence?"

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hercule Poirot & Miss Marple

These are two of the most famous characters created by Agatha Christie.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The poem; "Ten little soldier boys"

"And then there were none" is based on the poem "Ten little soldier boys" written by Frank Green in 1869. The poem is also a short summary of the plot.

Ten little soldier boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were Nine.

Nine little soldier boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were Eight.

Eight little soldier boys travelling in Devon;
One said he´d stay there and then there were Seven.

Seven little soldier boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were Six.

Six little soldier boys playing with a hive;
A bumble bee stung one and then there were Five.

Five little soldier boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were Four.

Four little soldier boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were Three.

Three little soldier boys walking in the Zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were Two.

Two little soldier boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was One.

One little soldier boy left all alone;
He went and hanged himself

And then there were None.