Beyond the Formula: Reappropriating Agatha Christie's Detective Fiction

Abstract

Agatha Christie is one of the most popular and well-known detective fiction writers of all time. Her works have been adapted for stage, screen, and television, and her characters have become iconic cultural figures. However, despite the enduring popularity of her works, there is a tendency among readers and critics to view her writing as formulaic and lacking in literary sophistication. This reductionist approach overlooks the genuine experimental aspects of her writing, as well as the potential for critical engagement and reappropriation. This paper seeks to challenge the notion of Agatha Christie's detective fiction as formulaic and explore the possibilities for reappropriative criticism. In particular, the focus will be on the importance of re-reading her works as literary texts, rather than simply as examples of a popular genre. Through close analysis of specific novels, this paper will demonstrate the potential for reappropriation to reveal the complexities and experimental qualities of Christie's writing. Agatha Christie's works have been subjected to various interpretations and analyses over the years, ranging from biographical readings to formulaic analyses. The present paper argues the importance of reappropriative criticism and close reading in order to rediscover the literary value of Christie's works and resist the genre's textual authority. By examining Christie's novels as literary texts, rather than simply as puzzle-solving exercises or formulaic products of mass culture, we can appreciate the experimental and non-patterned aspects of her writing.