Hercule Poirot

1893

He could pass as a detective to an outsider but not to a man who was a policeman himself. — Hercule Poirot Hercule Poirot was active in the Brussels police force by 1893.

Twice I have been struck down with illness just as I was on the point of success. Nevertheless, he regards the 1893 case in "The Chocolate Box", as his only actual failure of detection.

1904

Poirot also became a uniformed director, working on trains. Inspector Japp offers some insight into Poirot's career with the Belgian police when introducing him to a colleague: You've heard me speak of Mr Poirot? It was in 1904 he and I worked together – the Abercrombie forgery case – you remember he was run down in Brussels.

He first met Poirot in Belgium in 1904, during the Abercrombie Forgery.

1905

(In The Mysterious Affair at Styles Poirot had retired at age 55 in 1905) === Private detective === I had called in at my friend Poirot's rooms to find him sadly overworked.

1910

Mason's fictional detective Inspector Hanaud of the French Sûreté, who first appeared in the 1910 novel At the Villa Rose and predates the first Poirot novel by 10 years. Christie's Poirot was clearly the result of her early development of the detective in her first book, written in 1916 and published in 1920.

1916

Mason's fictional detective Inspector Hanaud of the French Sûreté, who first appeared in the 1910 novel At the Villa Rose and predates the first Poirot novel by 10 years. Christie's Poirot was clearly the result of her early development of the detective in her first book, written in 1916 and published in 1920.

On 16 July 1916 he again met his lifelong friend, Captain Arthur Hastings, and solved the first of his cases to be published, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

Particulars such as the date of 1916 for the case and that Hastings had met Poirot in Belgium, are given in Curtain: Poirot's Last Case, Chapter 1.

This took place at Styles Court, the scene of his first English case in 1916.

1920

Mason's fictional detective Inspector Hanaud of the French Sûreté, who first appeared in the 1910 novel At the Villa Rose and predates the first Poirot novel by 10 years. Christie's Poirot was clearly the result of her early development of the detective in her first book, written in 1916 and published in 1920.

At the time of Christie's writing, it was considered patriotic to express sympathy towards the Belgians, since the invasion of their country had constituted Britain's casus belli for entering World War I, and British wartime propaganda emphasised the "Rape of Belgium". === Popularity === Poirot first appeared in The Mysterious Affair at Styles (published in 1920) and exited in Curtain (published in 1975).

In An Autobiography, she admitted that she already imagined him to be an old man in 1920.

The novel was called The Monogram Murders, and was set in the late 1920s, placing it chronologically between The Mystery of the Blue Train and Peril at End House.

1926

In between, Poirot solves cases outside England as well, including his most famous case, Murder on the Orient Express (1934). Hercule Poirot became famous in 1926 with the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, whose surprising solution proved controversial.

1928

He appeared on the West End in 1928 in the play Alibi which had been adapted by Michael Morton from the novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. In 1932 the play was performed as The Fatal Alibi on Broadway.

1930

Following the latter, Poirot was the only fictional character to receive an obituary on the front page of The New York Times. By 1930, Agatha Christie found Poirot "insufferable", and by 1960 she felt that he was a "detestable, bombastic, tiresome, ego-centric little creep".

Another Poirot play, Black Coffee opened in London at the Embassy Theatre on 8 December 1930 and starred Francis L.

1931

Another production of Black Coffee ran in Dublin, Ireland from 23 to 28 June 1931, starring Robert Powell.

It starred Allan Corduner in the role of Hercule Poirot. === Film === ==== Austin Trevor ==== Austin Trevor debuted the role of Poirot on screen in the 1931 British film Alibi.

1932

The novel is still among the most famous of all detective novels: Edmund Wilson alludes to it in the title of his well-known attack on detective fiction, "Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" Aside from Roger Ackroyd, the most critically acclaimed Poirot novels appeared from 1932 to 1942, including Murder on the Orient Express (1934); The ABC Murders (1935); Cards on the Table (1936); and Death on the Nile (1937), a tale of multiple homicide upon a Nile steamer.

He appeared on the West End in 1928 in the play Alibi which had been adapted by Michael Morton from the novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. In 1932 the play was performed as The Fatal Alibi on Broadway.

1935

Hastings first visits the flat when he returns to England in June 1935 from Argentina in The A.B.C.

1936

(The Florin Court building was actually built in 1936, decades after Poirot fictionally moved in.) His first case in this period was "The Affair at the Victory Ball", which allowed Poirot to enter high society and begin his career as a private detective. Between the world wars, Poirot travelled all over Europe, Africa, Asia, and half of South America investigating crimes and solving murders.

1937

Also, in "The Erymanthian Boar", a character is said to have been turned out of Austria by the Nazis, implying that the events of The Labours of Hercules took place after 1937.

1942

The novel is still among the most famous of all detective novels: Edmund Wilson alludes to it in the title of his well-known attack on detective fiction, "Who Cares Who Killed Roger Ackroyd?" Aside from Roger Ackroyd, the most critically acclaimed Poirot novels appeared from 1932 to 1942, including Murder on the Orient Express (1934); The ABC Murders (1935); Cards on the Table (1936); and Death on the Nile (1937), a tale of multiple homicide upon a Nile steamer.

Death on the Nile was judged by detective novelist John Dickson Carr to be among the ten greatest mystery novels of all time. The 1942 novel Five Little Pigs (a.k.a.

1945

On 22 February 1945, "speaking from London, Agatha Christie introduced the initial broadcast of the Poirot series via shortwave". An adaptation of Murder in the Mews was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1955 starring Richard Williams as Poirot; this program was thought lost, but was discovered in the BBC archives in 2015. === Other audio === In 2017, Audible released an original audio adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express starring Tom Conti as Poirot.

1949

Goby) who provide him with the clues that he can no longer gather for himself. Notably, during this time his physical characteristics also change dramatically, and by the time Arthur Hastings meets Poirot again in Curtain, he looks very different from his previous appearances, having become thin with age and with obviously dyed hair. === Death === On the ITV television series, Poirot died in October 1949 from complications of a heart condition at the end of Curtain: Poirot's Last Case.

1955

On 22 February 1945, "speaking from London, Agatha Christie introduced the initial broadcast of the Poirot series via shortwave". An adaptation of Murder in the Mews was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1955 starring Richard Williams as Poirot; this program was thought lost, but was discovered in the BBC archives in 2015. === Other audio === In 2017, Audible released an original audio adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express starring Tom Conti as Poirot.

1960

Following the latter, Poirot was the only fictional character to receive an obituary on the front page of The New York Times. By 1930, Agatha Christie found Poirot "insufferable", and by 1960 she felt that he was a "detestable, bombastic, tiresome, ego-centric little creep".

In Christie's novels, he lived into the late 1960s, perhaps even until 1975 when Curtain was published.

1965

Hiscott directed the first two films, and Henry Edwards took over for the third. ==== Tony Randall ==== Tony Randall portrayed Poirot in The Alphabet Murders, a 1965 film also known as The ABC Murders.

1974

Much of the story, set in modern times, was played for comedy, with Poirot investigating the murders while evading the attempts by Hastings (Robert Morley) and the police to get him out of England and back to Belgium. ==== Albert Finney ==== Albert Finney played Poirot in 1974 in the cinematic version of Murder on the Orient Express.

1975

At the time of Christie's writing, it was considered patriotic to express sympathy towards the Belgians, since the invasion of their country had constituted Britain's casus belli for entering World War I, and British wartime propaganda emphasised the "Rape of Belgium". === Popularity === Poirot first appeared in The Mysterious Affair at Styles (published in 1920) and exited in Curtain (published in 1975).

In Christie's novels, he lived into the late 1960s, perhaps even until 1975 when Curtain was published.

1985

Poirot was voiced by Kōtarō Satomi and Miss Marple was voiced by Kaoru Yachigusa. === Radio === From 1985 to 2007, BBC Radio 4 produced a series of twenty-seven adaptations of Poirot novels and short stories, adapted by Michael Bakewell and directed by Enyd Williams.

1989

Branagh returned for the sequel, Death on the Nile. ==== Other ==== Anatoly Ravikovich, Zagadka Endkhauza (End House Mystery) (1989; based on "Peril at End House") === Television === ==== David Suchet ==== David Suchet starred as Poirot in the ITV series Agatha Christie's Poirot from 1989 until June 2013, when he announced that he was bidding farewell to the role.

2004

The series, adapting several of the best-known Poirot and Marple stories, ran from 4 July 2004 through 15 May 2005, and in repeated reruns on NHK and other networks in Japan.

2005

The series, adapting several of the best-known Poirot and Marple stories, ran from 4 July 2004 through 15 May 2005, and in repeated reruns on NHK and other networks in Japan.

2007

Poirot was voiced by Kōtarō Satomi and Miss Marple was voiced by Kaoru Yachigusa. === Radio === From 1985 to 2007, BBC Radio 4 produced a series of twenty-seven adaptations of Poirot novels and short stories, adapted by Michael Bakewell and directed by Enyd Williams.

2013

Branagh returned for the sequel, Death on the Nile. ==== Other ==== Anatoly Ravikovich, Zagadka Endkhauza (End House Mystery) (1989; based on "Peril at End House") === Television === ==== David Suchet ==== David Suchet starred as Poirot in the ITV series Agatha Christie's Poirot from 1989 until June 2013, when he announced that he was bidding farewell to the role.

2014

Murder in Retrospect), in which Poirot investigates a murder committed sixteen years before by analysing various accounts of the tragedy, has been called "the best Christie of all" by critic and mystery novelist Robert Barnard. In 2014, the Poirot canon was added to by Sophie Hannah, the first author to be commissioned by the Christie estate to write an original story.

2015

On 22 February 1945, "speaking from London, Agatha Christie introduced the initial broadcast of the Poirot series via shortwave". An adaptation of Murder in the Mews was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1955 starring Richard Williams as Poirot; this program was thought lost, but was discovered in the BBC archives in 2015. === Other audio === In 2017, Audible released an original audio adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express starring Tom Conti as Poirot.

2016

A second Hannah-penned Poirot came out in 2016, called Closed Casket, and a third, The Mystery of Three Quarters, in 2018. == Portrayals == === Stage === The first actor to portray Hercule Poirot was Charles Laughton.

2017

American playwright Ken Ludwig adapted Murder on the Orient Express into a play, which premiered at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey on 14 March 2017.

David Suchet considers his performance as Japp to be "possibly the worst performance of [his] career". ==== Kenneth Branagh ==== In 2017, Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in another film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express.

On 22 February 1945, "speaking from London, Agatha Christie introduced the initial broadcast of the Poirot series via shortwave". An adaptation of Murder in the Mews was broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in March 1955 starring Richard Williams as Poirot; this program was thought lost, but was discovered in the BBC archives in 2015. === Other audio === In 2017, Audible released an original audio adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express starring Tom Conti as Poirot.

2018

A second Hannah-penned Poirot came out in 2016, called Closed Casket, and a third, The Mystery of Three Quarters, in 2018. == Portrayals == === Stage === The first actor to portray Hercule Poirot was Charles Laughton.




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