Description: Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was an inveterate user of proverbs in her fictional writings, the sales of which number in excess of one billion. An active writer for fifty-four years, Christie used proverbs in a manner that both reflected and shaped contemporary British speech. This lexicographical book examines 3,290 proverbs and proverbial sayings uttered by 785 characters in sixty-six novels, 142 short stories, seventeen dramas, and six romances. The author's premise is that Christie modeled all her fictional works on the well-made play formula and that proverbs are employed not in isolation, but as a function of plot, character, and thought. In addition to an introductory essay, the book contains a list of the distribution of Christie's proverbs according to title, a keyword index with citations of standard authorities, and an appendix containing six statistical tables.
Review Quotes: «Für Liebhaber, die etwas mehr über die verschiedenen Charaktere und Leitmotive erfahren möchten, bietet dieses Werk eine wahre Fundgrube.» (Thomas Przybilka, Magalog)
«...øan! intriguing and scholarly compilation which should interest not only paremiologists but students of popular literature as well.» (Frank de Caro, Proverbium)