tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post6715600789531253530..comments2024-03-28T10:31:55.774-07:00Comments on The Passing Tramp: The Pyne-Poirot Nexus, Part 2: The Labours of Hercules (1947), by Agatha Christie, Part 1The Passing Tramphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-65994921411576670352015-10-14T10:12:23.130-07:002015-10-14T10:12:23.130-07:00Having reread the book and watched the film, I was...Having reread the book and watched the film, I was much happier with the film than I expected to be. Given the darker tone of the series in its last decade it would have been hard now to adapt the stories exactly as they appear in the book. (They should have been filmed in the 1990s, along with the other Poirot stories, when the series was in its lighter period.) I'll talk about the film later, but I thought it dida good job with the stories it took on; and it had some interesting meditations on Poirot, which fit it in with the theme of the book.<br /><br />As you say, the collections is a triumph as well in its depiction of Poirot as a colorful character. An essential part of the Poirot canon.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-21717345459321755102015-10-14T10:05:50.981-07:002015-10-14T10:05:50.981-07:00I haven't actually read the original Cerberus,...I haven't actually read the original Cerberus, but would like to do so now. I like the version in the book, as I will explain fully next week.<br /><br />Yes, it would have been nice to have Amy Carnaby appear in the novels occasionally.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-26966321380664906572015-10-14T09:48:41.377-07:002015-10-14T09:48:41.377-07:00As you commented over at my place, Curt, the paid ...As you commented over at my place, Curt, the paid companion is one of the most interesting characters in Christie. (I wish I had had the room to discuss them.) In fact, the spinster in Christie is a fascinating creature! Amy Carnaby is one of the best, and I'm sure you'll discuss her second story next week. This is the best Poirot collection by far, as it combines both his detective skills and his personal qualities and fancies. "Papa" Poirot is in evidence, as is Poirot the avenger for the common good. I also look forward to more of your insights on the film version. While I wish that Suchet had made twelve separate shorter films - a season devoted to this book - I thought it was an interesting take on the book as a whole. The last season of Poirot was certainly an odd one, and, aside from Curtain, it was perhaps the least faithful, of all the seasons, to the source books.Brad (ahsweetmystery)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12012914349226406144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-66311521163080088332015-10-14T09:36:11.922-07:002015-10-14T09:36:11.922-07:00I also love The Nemean Lion, as was obvious from m...I also love The Nemean Lion, as was obvious from my last week's posting. Miss Amy Carnaby is a wonderful character and it would have been nice to have her in some later stories (not just the one in this collection). Having now read the original Capture of Cerberus in John Curran's book I can understand why it was discarded. Absolutely preposterous and not precisely what people would have wanted to read in 1940. The substitute story is silly, of course, but not nearly so bad. And it does have Miss Lemon. Yay!Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13799545178433498944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-11896995940349716442015-10-14T03:52:02.871-07:002015-10-14T03:52:02.871-07:00At least on this matter Poirot drew the line at mu...At least on this matter Poirot drew the line at murder!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-41618262386827890102015-10-14T03:50:27.556-07:002015-10-14T03:50:27.556-07:00Such a pleasing conception, carried out with much ...Such a pleasing conception, carried out with much charm.The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-18244526013960023542015-10-14T01:58:38.223-07:002015-10-14T01:58:38.223-07:00Nice look at this lovely collection Curt - I think...Nice look at this lovely collection Curt - I think it doesn't get notice much, so I'm glad to read some detailed analysis. It is very varied, very clever, very good.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-2263925880690101522015-10-14T00:45:06.348-07:002015-10-14T00:45:06.348-07:00Christie is often labelled "conservative"...Christie is often labelled "conservative". Her characters sometimes tell each other that it's all about money - that the Conservatives must stay in power or otherwise.... what? Deflation as in the Weimar Republic? Fortunately Money is in the safe hands of the mysterious Mr Robinson. But please note that her social values are a lot less conservative.Lucy R. Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08632983296994349550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-35831590594833693612015-10-13T23:57:22.801-07:002015-10-13T23:57:22.801-07:00Oh, yes, it's one of my favorite Christie shor...Oh, yes, it's one of my favorite Christie short stories!The Passing Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09830680639601570152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-137677673775151256.post-72870657584077041762015-10-13T18:32:15.020-07:002015-10-13T18:32:15.020-07:00The Labors are some of my favorite Christie short ...The Labors are some of my favorite Christie short stories. I particularly like "The Nemean Lion" and the thought that Poirot begins his labors with a little dog. Bev Hankinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127476456755776574noreply@blogger.com