PirateSteve's Reviews > And Then There Were None
And Then There Were None
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One of the worlds best selling books of all time, Agatha Christie's "and Then There Were None" sets the standard for crime fiction.
The book was first published under a different title in jolly old England, but even back in 1939 American publishers were far too politically correct to use a title they found so offensive.
Still again, in 1964 and again in 1986 a third title was published but political correctness struck again. I read the book under the authors original title because I wanted to read it as she intended it.
The book has inspired radio broadcast, stage adaptations, television mini series, several movies, board and video games.
As the 1939 story begins, 8 unacquainted guest have been invited to a very large home on an isolated island off the coast of England for a type of holiday. When the water ferry drops them off they find their host has not yet arrived but there are two staff members there to meet their needs. Soon it is brought to their attention that all 8 guest along with the 2 staff members are accused of various murders from their past. Then the first of the guest drops dead. By the next morning another of the remaining 9 is found dead. There is surely a murderer on the island and as the story continues to unfold the reader is never given any information other than that which the guest may encounter.
I didn't figure out who done it. I do know that I didn't do it.
But you fellow reader ... the way you so innocently stopped to read this review. Perchance to see if any incriminating evidence has been uncovered..
Very suspicious, I say.
The book was first published under a different title in jolly old England, but even back in 1939 American publishers were far too politically correct to use a title they found so offensive.
Still again, in 1964 and again in 1986 a third title was published but political correctness struck again. I read the book under the authors original title because I wanted to read it as she intended it.
The book has inspired radio broadcast, stage adaptations, television mini series, several movies, board and video games.
As the 1939 story begins, 8 unacquainted guest have been invited to a very large home on an isolated island off the coast of England for a type of holiday. When the water ferry drops them off they find their host has not yet arrived but there are two staff members there to meet their needs. Soon it is brought to their attention that all 8 guest along with the 2 staff members are accused of various murders from their past. Then the first of the guest drops dead. By the next morning another of the remaining 9 is found dead. There is surely a murderer on the island and as the story continues to unfold the reader is never given any information other than that which the guest may encounter.
I didn't figure out who done it. I do know that I didn't do it.
But you fellow reader ... the way you so innocently stopped to read this review. Perchance to see if any incriminating evidence has been uncovered..
Very suspicious, I say.
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Reading Progress
February 1, 2019
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Started Reading
February 12, 2019
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February 12, 2019
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PirateSteve
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Feb 12, 2019 10:59AM

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Good review, like the background info."
Ah, thank you Mr.Rich ... and I see that you are indeed without suspicion.

Thank you Diana.
Christie is noted as saying this was her most difficult book to write. Now here we are I believe some 80 years later still enjoying the fruit of her labors.


It's good to be back, seems the Winter weather puts in the reading mood. Thank you Charlotte for the kind words.

Nice one Steve! :)


Thanks Barbara. I'm very glad that I chose to read Christie's original story. To begin with I thought the publishers were being over sensitive but as I went further into the book I found there was some offensive racial slandering dialogue. Before the halfway point of the book Christie addresses this issue .... turns out Christie had something she wanted to say about it.
So the publishers remove the offensive dialogue and the book becomes one of the worlds all time best sellers. And it is still a great story.
I've not watched any of the films of this book but I will if a get the chance.

Nice one Steve! :)"
Thanks Tracey. Glad to see you will be enjoying a reread.

Thanks Pattie.
An Agatha Christie collection should be a well used set of books and I hope to see one of those films soon.

Personally, I struggle with all the different titles for this book. I realize that this title is from the closing verse of a children's song/poem. But "were none" just causes my grammarian hairs to bristle. Oh well, such is the life.

;)"
Ah, Ms.Cecily, right you are to question everything when dealing with matters of mystery.
I see that you, yourself, have added your name to the list of suspects ... and then immediately cast suspicion in anothers direction. What would Agatha think of this?


Personally, I struggle with all the different titles for this book. I realize that this title is from the closi..."
Thank you Kate.
Three different titles for the book and at least one movie used the 1964 book title. Why not go for ten little titles?

Thank you for the kind words Ms.Leila and I hope that you do enjoy the reread.



