Cat Among The Pigeons
''Cat Among the Pigeons'' is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club on 2 November 1959, and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in March 1960 with a copyright date of 1959. The UK edition retailed at twelve shillings and sixpence (12/6), and the US edition at $2.95. It features Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, who makes a very late appearance in the final third of the novel. The emphasis on espionage in the early part of the story relates it to Christie's international adventures (such as '' They Came to Baghdad'') and to the Tommy and Tuppence stories. Plot summary A revolution takes place within Ramat, a fictional kingdom in the Middle East. Knowing that he is unlikely to survive the violence, Prince Ali Yusuf entrusts his best friend and pilot, Bob Rawlinson, to smuggle a fortune in jewels out of the country. Rawlinson conceals the gems within the hollow of the handle of a tennis racquet belonging to ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English people, English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the murder mystery ''The Mousetrap'', which has been performed in the West End theatre, West End of London since 1952. A writer during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime"—a nickname now trademarked by her estate—or the "Queen of Mystery". She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to literature. She is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies. Christie was born into a wealthy upper-middle-class family in Torquay, Devon, and was ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Robert Barnard
Robert Barnard (23 November 1936 – 19 September 2013) was an English crime writer, critic and lecturer. In addition to over 40 books published under his own name, he also published four books under the pseudonym Bernard Bastable. Life and work Robert Barnard was born on 23 November 1936 at Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. He was educated at the Colchester Royal Grammar School and at Balliol College, Oxford. He spent five years (1961-1965) as an academic in the English Department at the University of New England, at Armidale, New South Wales, in Australia. His first crime novel, ''Death of an Old Goat'', was published in 1974. The novel was written while he was a lecturer at the University of Tromsø in Norway. He went on to write more than 40 other books and numerous short stories. As "Bernard Bastable", he published two standalone novels and two alternate history books, featuring Wolfgang Mozart – who had here survived to old age – as a detective. Barnard was inducted into ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the world's countries participated, with many nations mobilising all resources in pursuit of total war. Tanks in World War II, Tanks and Air warfare of World War II, aircraft played major roles, enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, first and only nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II is the List of wars by death toll, deadliest conflict in history, causing World War II casualties, the death of 70 to 85 million people, more than half of whom were civilians. Millions died in genocides, including the Holocaust, and by massacres, starvation, and disease. After the Allied victory, Allied-occupied Germany, Germany, Allied-occupied Austria, Austria, Occupation of Japan, Japan, a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Adam Croasdell
Adam Croasdell (born July 10) is a Zimbabwean-born British actor. He played the role of Dr. Al Jenkins (EastEnders), Al Jenkins on the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and has appeared on shows such as ''Blood of Zeus'', ''Castlevania (TV series), Castlevania'', ''Monarch (American TV series), Monarch'', ''NCIS (TV series), NCIS'' and ''Preacher (TV series), Preacher''. He has also voiced characters such as Torvin in ''Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor'', Ignis Scientia in ''Final Fantasy XV'' and Alfred Pennyworth and Nightwing in ''Batman Ninja''. Early life Croasdell was born in Zimbabwe. Career In 2009, Croasdell confirmed that he would be the body double for Daniel Craig in a 2010 released James Bond 007: Blood Stone, video game, in which he plays the role of James Bond (literary character), James Bond. Croasdell guest starred in the American show ''Supernatural (U.S. TV series), Supernatural'', portraying the Norse god Baldur in the Supernatural (season 5), 19th episode of Sea ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Raji James
Rajesh Kumar Jhanji (born 24 February 1970), known professionally as Raji James, is a British actor, known for his roles as Ash Ferreira in ''EastEnders'', DS Vik Singh in ''The Bill'' and Ali Shahzad in ''Hollyoaks''. He also played Abdul Khan in the 1999 film '' East Is East''.Raji James - TV From 2007 to 2008, he starred in ''The Ray Peacock Podcast''. Career James has featured as regular characters in ITV's '''' (as DS Vik Singh, 2000–2002) and the 's ''[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Elizabeth Berrington
Elizabeth Berrington (born 3 August 1970) is an English actress and graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art; she is best known for her roles as Ruby Fry in '' Waterloo Road'', Paula Kosh in '' Stella'', Mel Debrou in '' Moving Wallpaper'', and Dawn Stevenson in '' The Syndicate''. She has also featured in British television series such as ''The Bill'', ''Doctor Who'', '' The Office'', '' Casualty'', '' The Lakes'', '' The Grimleys'', and '' Rose and Maloney''. Career From 1997 to 1999, Berrington appeared alongside Emma Wray and Tony Robinson in the ITV comedy-drama '' My Wonderful Life''. In 1999, she played Marie Antoinette in '' Let Them Eat Cake'', starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. In cinema Berrington has featured in many films, such as '' The Little Vampire'' and, more recently, '' Nanny McPhee'' with Emma Thompson and '' In Bruges'' alongside Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. In 2008 and 2009, she played Mel in '' Moving ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Miranda Raison
Miranda Caroline Raison is a British actress who is best known for playing Jo Portman in five seasons of '' Spooks'' (MI5) and Nellie Davenport in HBO's ''Warrior''. She originated the title role in Howard Brenton's ''Anne Boleyn'' at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and played Hermione in Kenneth Branagh's production of ''The Winter's Tale''. She is also a voice artist. Early life and education Miranda Caroline Raison was born in Burnham Thorpe. Her mother is former Anglia News reader Caroline Raison (''née'' Harvey). Her father, Nick Raison, is a jazz pianist who accompanied the BBC National Orchestra of Wales when Raison played a showgirl in the ''Doctor Who'' episodes " Daleks in Manhattan" and " Evolution of the Daleks". Raison's parents divorced when she was five years old. From a young age she attended five boarding schools, including Gresham's School, Felixstowe College and Stowe School; her education was paid for by her grandfather. It was at Felixstowe College wher ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Susan Wooldridge
Susan Wooldridge (born 31 July 1950) is a British actress. She won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for '' Hope and Glory'' (1987). Her television credits include '' Jewel in the Crown'', (1984), '' All Quiet on the Preston Front'' (1994–95), and '' Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky'' (2005). Early life Wooldridge was born in London, England, and educated at convent schools, the Central School of Speech and Drama, and L'Ecole Jacques Lecoq, Paris. She is the daughter of actress Margaretta Scott and composer John Wooldridge. Her brother is Hugh Wooldridge. Career Acting Wooldridge has been acting since 1971. Her big break came in 1984 with '' The Jewel in the Crown'', in which she played the pivotal character of Daphne Manners whose affection for the handsome Hari Kumar doomed him. For this role she received a BAFTA nomination and the ALVA Award for Best Actress. Wooldridge won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her portrayal o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Claire Skinner
Claire Skinner (born 1965) is an English actress, known in the United Kingdom for her television career, particularly playing Sue Brockman from the BBC television series '' Outnumbered''. She is also known for her collaboration with director Mike Leigh on two of his films, '' Life is Sweet'' (1990) and ''Naked'' (1993). Early life Claire Skinner was born and brought up in Hemel Hempstead, the youngest daughter of a shopkeeper and an Irish-born secretary, and was shy as a child. Her dream was to be an actress and she immersed herself in her ambition. She acted, neglecting school work at Cavendish School, and "barely scraped through erA-levels". She went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and then joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. Career Her first role was in ''Hanky Park'', by Walter Greenwood at the Oldham Repertory Theatre, which she describes as a "really traditional start". She is best known as Clare on the British television comedy '' Life B ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Natasha Little
Natasha Emma Little (born 2 October 1969) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Edith Thompson in the film '' Another Life'', Lady Caroline Langbourne in the BBC miniseries '' The Night Manager'', and Christina Moxam in the BBC miniseries ''Thirteen''. Other credits include ''Wolf Hall'' (2015), the ''Black Mirror'' episode " Shut Up and Dance" (2016), '' Absentia'' (2018-2019), and '' War of the Worlds'' (2019–2021). Early life Little was born in Liverpool, on 2 October 1969. Her mother was an English language teacher, and her father an NHS manager. For the first decade of her life, she lived in the Middle East, where her father set up immunisation clinics for the WHO. By the time she was ten, she had lived in eleven different countries. Her family then moved back to England, and settled in Loughton, Essex. She attended Loughton County High School for Girls, and joined a Saturday drama group called the Epping Youth Theatre. She originally planned on a car ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Harriet Walter
Dame Harriet Mary Walter is an English actress. She has received an Olivier Award and nominations for a Tony Award, five Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2011, Walter was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to drama. Walter began her career performing on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company in productions of ''Twelfth Night'' (1987–88) and '' Three Sisters'' (1988), for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress. She received Olivier Award nominations for '' Life x 3'' (2001), and '' Mary Stuart'' (2006). Her other notable work for the RSC includes leading roles in ''Macbeth'' (1999) and ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (2006). She made her Broadway debut in the 1983 revival of the William Shakespeare play ''All's Well That Ends Well'' (1983). She returned to Broadway in '' Mary Stuart'' for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She reprised her roles of Brutus in ''Julius ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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David Suchet
Sir David Courtney Suchet ( ; born 2 May 1946) is an English actor. He is known for his work on stage and in television. He portrayed Edward Teller in the television serial '' Oppenheimer'' (1980) and received the RTS and BPG awards for his performance as Augustus Melmotte in the British serial '' The Way We Live Now'' (2001). International acclaim and recognition followed his performance as Agatha Christie's detective Hercule Poirot in ''Agatha Christie's Poirot'' (1989–2013), for which he received a 1991 British Academy Television Award for Best Actor nomination."The Actor Behind Popular 'Poirot" '''', 25 March 1992. [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |