The Hindu : New Delhi News : The good old days of literature are here again

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 09, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

The good old days of literature are here again

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

British Council remembers greats

NEW DELHI: Celebrating the literary genius of authors Agatha Christie and Roald Dahl, the British Council here will play host to a series of events including book displays, panel discussions, film screenings, workshops and quizzes this month. While Agatha Christie's 126th birth anniversary falls on September 15, Roald Dahl turns 90 on September 13.

Agatha Christie is listed as the world's best selling fiction author, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. The Guinness Book of Records has estimated that two billion copies of her works have been sold so far.

`Hercule Poirot' and `Miss Jane Marple' were her most popular detectives who featured in 30 and 12 novels, respectively. Many of Christie's novels, including the star-studded 1974 film `Murder on the Orient Express' were released as movies.

For her contribution to British literature and culture, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971.

Roald Dahl, a former fighter pilot who took to writing after being severely injured in World War II, has been hailed by The Times, London, as "one of the most widely read and influential writers of our generation''.

He received the Edgar Allen Poe Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1954, 1959 and 1980 for being a "master of the macabre and the surprise denouement''. Though he started by writing children's books, many of his short stories were translated into several languages and have interested adults worldwide. His "wildly exaggerated'' world of eccentric insects and secret powers is irresistible to children while its intrinsic sarcasm and humour appeals to the adults.

Scheduled celebrations to watch out for at the British Council Library include a `Library Display' from September 9 to 16 in which visitors will be able to catch a special display of Agatha Christie's works including novels, collections of short stories, plays, plays adapted into novels and movies based on her novels all through the day.

There will also be a panel discussion on September 15 on the relevance of Agatha Christie's writings in the 21st Century. The topic of discussion would be "Does Agatha Christie still stand up against the best contemporary crime writers such as Ian Rankin and Val Macdermid?''

A session of storytelling, riddles and other fun-filled activities for young members of the British Council library will be conducted by Sonia Duggal on September 13.

To celebrate Dahl's birthday the same day, the British Council will hold a story-telling session devoted to Roald Dahl's most entertaining writings.

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