Book Review of Agatha's "No One Survived"

(No spoilers)

I have read Agatha’s suspense mystery masterpiece "No One Survived". After reading it, my first feeling is that it is "a classic among classics", and it is worthy of the title. She is "universally recognized as the queen of detective novels". "The famous American magazine "The New Yorker" pointed out that the sales volume of Christie's works is second only to Shakespeare's works and the Bible in the history of book publishing."

This book tells the story of ten people who do not know each other and are invited by the wealthy Mr. Irving to a private villa on Indian Island. After dinner, a mysterious voice reveals the terrible secrets hidden in people's hearts. That night, the first person died mysteriously. The ancient nursery rhyme enveloped everyone like a curse. It seemed that a pair of mysterious glasses were always peeping at this death game. The visitors were like little Indian porcelain figures who disappeared. Going towards death one after another... (from Douban introduction)

This book reminds me of the discussion in the reading group about why the photographic work Rhine II sold for $4,338,500 and became the most expensive photograph in the world. In a Zhihu post called "How to evaluate these ten most expensive photos in the world," the respondent told me, "Great works of art are often accompanied by huge influence and effects, and not only the influence in the field of artistic creation, but also often radiate to In daily life and other fields, thereby changing the face of the entire world." I deeply agree (the respondent gave several examples of art affecting the world, you may want to check it out).

Agatha's works have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide in 1961. The more than 80 short stories she wrote throughout her life have had a great influence on the literary creation of later generations. Some people will think that Agatha is nothing more than that. Nowadays, many works have more plot, intelligence and taste than her books. But many of Agatha's plots are the originators of this field and the first to use this voice to interpret the world. "All attempts to identify the value of the original based on copies are hooligans." As for this book, it is obvious that it is the originator of many island murder cases and murder games in the world, such as the famous "Blizzard Villa Murder" in Conan.

In addition, this book is full of ridicule and indictment of the loss of moral principles from beginning to end, and the writing is limited. Here I quote Doubaner "Master Baggins" from "The Moral Penalty of All Things Depression" The last paragraph says, "Civilization is deserted on the island, and everything in the moral exile is in a state of depression, with no survivors. The novel becomes profound at this time. When later generations of readers repeatedly lamented Christie's "dazzling" writing skills, It seems that the lamentation expressed in her writing should not be ignored."

Finally, here is the British nursery rhyme "Ten Little Soldiers":

Ten little soldiers went out to eat;

One was choked to death, and there was still one left. Nine people.

Nine soldiers stayed up late;

One overslept, leaving eight people.

Eight small soldiers set off for Germany;

One wants to stay, and there are seven left.

Seven soldiers went to chop wood together;

One of them chopped himself, and there were six left.

Six little soldiers were bored playing with beehives;

One was stung to death, and there were five left.

Five little soldiers like to study law;

One is a judge, and there are four others.

Four little soldiers went to the sea to show their talents;

One was buried in the belly of the fish, and there were three left.

Three little soldiers entered the zoo;

One was attacked by a bear, and two were left.

Two little soldiers went out to bask in the sun;

One was scorched, and the other was left.

This little soldier was lonely and alone;

He was hanged in a bamboo basket, and no one was left.