By Callum Ludwig
Agatha Christie is the pinnacle of murder myster writers, weaving 80 tales of intrigue and thrill that are still revered today.
2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the novelist’s little-known visit to Australia, including coming to Warburton, and a festival is being held next month to commemorate the author.
Freelance Writer and Educator Heather Zubek said the festival said she and fellow Agatha Christie fan Scott Wallace Baker always wanted to hold a festival about the author.
“When we realised it was the anniversary, we thought this is the year. We hope fans will get to meet with other fans of cosy crime mysteries and Agatha Christie,” she said.
“They will get to hear from local modern crime writers on how their writing has been affected or influenced by Agatha Christie’s stories. I’ve interviewed many of them, and a lot say how much Agatha Christie has inspired and influenced them.”
The ‘Death on the Yarra’ festival is at the Arts Centre in Warburton on Sunday 18 September.
Ms Zubek said crime mysteries take the reader out of their everyday doldrums and give them an escape.
“It also starts to get their mind ticking over, especially when it’s a very well-written crime, as Agatha Christie was a very good writer. You start to think of who’s done it, and it turns out to be another person. It’s a thinking person’s story.”
“I think it’s important to recognise quality literature and the fact that Agatha Christie is the highest ranking and selling crime writer of all time. She has stood the test of time and is a staple of the genre.”
Scott Wallace Baker is known as Australia’s Biggest Agatha Christie Fan [according to the Agatha Christie Foundation UK] and even featured in an episode of ABC comedy quiz show Hard Quiz as an Agatha Christie expert and won.
Mr Baker said he was about 10 when he first got into Agatha Christie.
“I found two recently published novels in my parents’ bookcase; Curtain and Postern of Fate. That’s where my love for Agatha Christie began,” he said.
“I think her novels are so beautifully written, and they’re easily accessible for people all over the world. The best thing, certainly in her very best novels, is that you become emotionally attached to certain characters, only for it to turn out the character you love is the murderer.”
Mr Baker has also attended Agatha Christie festivals in her hometown of Torquay in England. He also featured in a community theatre performance of her play The Mousetrap, and he recommended the professional depiction coming to Melbourne in February 2023 for the 70th anniversary.
Mr Baker said Agatha Christie had only just published her second novel when she came to our shores.
“It was in 1922 and she was not visiting Australia in her capacity as an author at all, she was there as a supportive wife to her first husband Archibald Christie, whose responsibility was to visit the Commonwealth countries to drum up interest in the upcoming empires exhibition of 1925,” he said.
“The festivals are absolutely great fun, so we were hoping to do something similar, but in a much smaller way and hopefully do bigger in the future. I love getting to meet authors, talk to them and listen to how Agatha Christie influenced them.”
Tickets for the event are $60, with bookings essential by contacting 1300 368 333.
The event begins at 9.30am with registration in the foyer, with presentations by Mr Baker, a film screening, discussions and quizzes on the agenda before concluding by 5pm.
