Christie, Agatha. An Autobiography 1977

Fine reading, with a good account of the life of an upper middle class family in the period before the 14/18 war, the effects of that war on the people of her class, and the periods afterwards. Mrs. Christie (later Mrs. Max Mallowan) writes sparingly, which but highlights the interest of what she has to say. It is not a book to find answers, but, rather, good observations.

12: that she keeps the Imitation of Christ by her bedside.

51: "Himself is a good head to me" An Irishwoman on her husband.

72: Never go back to a place where you have been happy. Until you do, it remains alive for you. If you go back, it will be destroyed.

130: Her brother‑in‑law's re‑action to his son (James Watts) becoming a Catholic: "They are all liars".

139: Her math teacher telling the class that they will all come to a moment of despair.

177: On men and women as friends.

217: In August 1914; war didn't happen; it was newspaper talk; the politicians had care of it.

246: Lovely passages on her happiness with Archie Christie.

When first she went to the Mideast, she noted how skillful the boys were with slingshots. It was Goliath who was at a disadvantage: outgunned.

322/23: On writing

341: [after her divorce from Archie]: Something that reminds you of the happy things almost breaks you in two.

344: "I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write when you don't want to write, don't much like what you are writing, and aren't writing particularly well.

‑‑‑: "If you can't drive a train, be a wheel‑greaser"

456/60: On writing

484/5: On writing