OhSoManyQuestions t1_j5tk9xe wrote on January 25, 2023 at 1:55 PM

Reply to comment by FigFromHell in Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie by starrynight179

Same as with any other period book. Consider them snapshots of history and what was probably acceptable at the time. You can enjoy a work whilst also acknowledging that a modern-day lens may render some parts of it problematic. It's unfair, in my opinion, to judge past art through a modern lens. It's not as though Agatha Christie was out there on the streets spreading hate, you know?

Snickerty t1_j5tr529 wrote on January 25, 2023 at 2:45 PM

I think Christie also sideswipe the casual racism of upper class (white) British people, too. Poirot is often the subject of zenophobia. His foreigness is pointed out in numerous "those people" and "what do you expect from foreigners" comments. Our hero may not rant and rave about the injustice of ridiculous comments made by small minded, high handed, unpleasant people, but we do witness the insults with him. Poirot is a stoic intellectual: his mustachioed upper lip may well be Belgian, but it is definitely stiff.

Also,as you say, the books are written of their time too. Christie was born a Victorian, after all.

FigFromHell t1_j5tm6f3 wrote on January 25, 2023 at 2:10 PM

Yeah, I guess it's just a representation of the times. Thank you

Grace_Alcock t1_j5u4uv5 wrote on January 25, 2023 at 4:15 PM

It’s not just the period. If you read other Golden Age mysteries, she stands out as particularly racist and classist.