Agatha Christie's lesbian characters

[james_davis_nicoll]

In a recent discussion about the new adaptations of the Miss Marple stories, I commented that I didn't recall the original stories having as many lesbians as the TV movies do, where "as many" = "any"*. The person I was chatting to suggested that perhaps they were there but as a young lad of 10 or so, I did not understand the significance of, eg, two spinster ladies living together. Can anyone who has actually read the books recently tell me if the movies have introduced a new element or if I just missed something when i read them 30 years ago?


* Or as many sword fights as the Margaret Rutherford version of Miss Marple.

Comments

[chance88088.livejournal.com]

I could have sworn there was at least one lesbian couple, though for the life of me I can't remember in what book. Maybe in one of the short story collections.

A Murder Is Announced

[(Anonymous)]

I'm just in the middle of reading 'A Murder Is Announced', and it appears a very strong allusion to the spinsters Murgatroyd and Hinchcliffe being lesbians. An early chapter depicts them in somewhat stereotypical garments (Hinchcliffe in corduroy slacks and battledress tunic.... 'she turned her head with its short man-like crop and weather-beaten countenancer toward her friend... Murgatroyd 'wore a checked tweed skirt and shapeless pullover of brilliant royal blue.") And a classic oneliner from one of the women ('men are dirty dogs'), together with them living together at Boulders all seems to point toward it.