Books / 125 years
The search for Bristol’s Agatha Christie fan
The search is on for a young school boy from Shaftesbury Avenue in Montpelier who in 1958 wrote a letter to Agatha Christie telling her about his ingenious idea to make more money through his book club in order to buy more ‘AC’ books.
The letter writer was Grahame P Walker and his is one of many fan letters that have been published to celebrate the 125 years from Agatha Christie’s birth.
Walker started a book club at his school and used the proceeds to buy more of her work.
is needed now More than ever
He wrote: “I am now 14 years of age and last Nov: I was suddenly struck with an idea. ‘Why not start a Crime club at school?’ I had just finished reading my first book written by you. Since then I have bought 28 books by you and this is how I have managed it. I charged the boys 3d per book to read at school, and 6d if they wished to take them home.
“With the money I obtained by carrying out this scheme I bought more ‘AC’ books. […] Now my scheme is bringing in so much money, I can afford to buy one of your books a week.”
Christie’s response was also kept: “I was very interested in your letter. You seem to have had a very good idea and I congratulate you.”
Bristol-wed Christie married in Clifton at Emmanuel Church in 1914. The church is now flats for the elderly with only the tower still standing, overlooking Clifton College.
Other fan letters included missives from PG Wodehouse, and also a woman from a forced labour camp who had swapped a piece of candle for a Polish translation of The Man in a Brown Suit. For seven months, Christie’s novel was her only link to the real world.
The 125 Stories campaign allows people to share their story at www.125stories.com or via social media channels using the hashtag #125stories.
125 of the strongest stories submitted will be exhibited alongside the letters from the archive during the International Agatha Christie Festival at Torre Abbey in Devon from September 11-19.
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