Agatha Christie – The Big Four, With Hercule Poirot and Hastings
Author admin
The Big Four is a work of detective fiction by the famed novelist Agatha Christie. First published in 1927, the Big Four is quaint, adding to the charm and unpredictability of these amalgamated short stories. Agatha Christie initially published these stories in Sketch magazine. They are a compilation of the adventures of the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and the slow-witted Arthur Hastings.
The Big Four are the arch villains that vex Poirot and baffle Hastings. They are the literary equivalent of Professor James Moriarty, the archenemy of the great detective Sherlock Holmes in the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The Big Four are like Moriarty rolled into four figures, and give Hercules Poirot four times as much trouble.
The Big Four Stories
When Captain Hastings visits Poirot, he finds him off to America, after having accepted a huge sum from a millionaire, Abe Ryland, who has made his fortune in soap. Poirot asks Hastings if he knows about the Big Four. Hastings, as is typical, is naïve and clueless. The stories are loosely connected, involving the usual suspects and unexpected murderers. Naturally, behind all this carnage are clues left behind by the Big Four. Hastings, meanwhile, as Hastings always does, provides a sounding board for Poirot and comic relief for the reader.
Rather than spoil the story by going into the how Poirot, the egg-shaped Belgian detective, surprisingly outwits the Big Four let’s get a “feel” for the intrigue in the book.
The Big Four Characters
Who are the Big Four? We learn that Li Chang Yen, who lives in a subterranean chamber hung with rich oriental silks in London’s East End, is Number 1. Number 2 is never named. He is a wealthy American who leaves symbols behind, a dollar sign or two stripes and a star. Number 3 is a charming and deadly Frenchwoman. And number 4 is simply called "the destroyer."
A Flashback To The 1920s
Agatha Christie has four villains who are vintage 1920 national stereotypes. The Chinese villain echoes Fu Manchu; the French woman, femme fatale; and the American, vulgar wealth. The Agatha Christie villains weave mayhem using surprising poisons from secret underground hideouts.
Other Colorful Characters
Agatha Christie introduces Poirot’s brother. Then there’s Countess Vera Rossakoff, a beautiful double agent.
Finally, no Agatha Christie book would be complete without a doubtful Russian; in this case a Russian who was once an aristocrat before the October Revolution ruined his life.
Heroic Comparisons
Poirot is in fine form despite international villains with an insatiable lust for world domination. Hastings, meanwhile, like Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes chronicles, appears to valiantly create clever theories but turns out to be as dense. However, Hercules Poirot is not like Sherlock Holmes. The Belgian detective often appears to be a parody of a detective. Poirot amuses the reader between displays of intuitive brilliance. Unlike Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie doesn’t take anything too seriously.
Plot Tension
The greatest threat to the Poirot and Hastings is Number Four. While they have some idea about the other three, Number Four remains a mystery to the bitter end. Since Poirot and Hastings can’t predict an unexpected attack during their meticulous inspections, the tension never eases up.
Vintage Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie remains an adroit writer throughout the narrative, explaining why her book has continued to be republished since 1927. Agatha Christie has the knack of never telling you too much but giving you the impression that you have enough hints to figure it out. She also hints at malice but never basks in gory details; this keeps the suspense high. In typical Agatha Christie fashion there are mysteries within the mystery. interpolated mysteries keep the reader intrigued by the brilliance of Poirot and the stubborn obtuseness of Hastings as they tackle the machinations of the Big Four. The reader is unable to put the book down and roll over in bed for a sensible night’s sleep.