Absent in the Spring and Other Novels: Absent in the Spring -- Giant's Bread -- The Rose and the Yew Tree (Mary Westmacott Omnibus) [Paperback]

Agatha Christie (Author), Mary Westmacott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2001 | Series: Mary Westmacott Omnibus (Book 1)

First published between 1930 and 1956, the six novels written by Agatha Christie under the name Mary Westmacott, regarded by some as the writer's finest work, show a very different side of her talent. What they share with her other fiction is Christie's gift for sharp observations about people, the ambitions that drive them, their relationships, and the conflicts that erupt between them. This omnibus edition brings together three of Westmacott novels:

Absent in the Spring: Stranded between trains, Joan Scudamore finds herself reflecting upon her life, her family, and finally coming to grips with the uncomfortable truths about her life.

Giant's Bread: The story of Vernon Deyre, a composer and pianist whose obsession with art wreaks havoc with the two very different women in his life.

The Rose and the Yew Tree: In one of the finest explorations of the human heart, the compelling story of a deep and abiding love, the conflicts it encompasses, and the price that must be paid.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For those truly unable to get enough of the perennial queen of mystery, St. Martin's has reissued Absent in the Spring, a collection of three novels by Agatha Christie writing under the pen name Mary Westmacott. The clipped prose and careful plotting are familiar, but daggers and blunt objects are replaced in this trio of psychological dramas by sofa cushions and tea sets. The title novel tells of a middle-class man haunted by a past liaison; Giant's Bread of a composer and pianist obsessed with art; and The Rose and the Yew Tree of a young woman tormented by love.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all time. She wrote eighty crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and several other books. Her books have sold roughly four billion copies and have been translated into 45 languages. She is the creator of the two most enduring figures in crime literature—Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple—and author of The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theatre. Christie was born in Torquay, Devon in 1890. She died in 1976 in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (September 22, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312273223
• ISBN-13: 978-0312273224
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another perspective from Agatha Christie., March 6, 2003

By 

PMcD "PMcD" (Leawood, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absent in the Spring and Other Novels: Absent in the Spring -- Giant's Bread -- The Rose and the Yew Tree (Mary Westmacott Omnibus) (Paperback)

Fans of Agatha Christie's mystery novels will not be disappointed in these more standard novels, which she published under the name Mary Westmacott. "Absent in the Spring" is a magnificent novel, the story of a woman unexpectedly stranded in a desert outpost with no distractions, who is forced for the first time to see herself and others objectively. A simple concept, but difficult to write. Christie handles the matter superbly, and in her autobiography, lists this as one of her favorite novels. "Absent in the Spring" is even more interesting when you consider she wrote the book in 3 days during the London Blitz!

Most of the novels Christie wrote as Mary Westmacott are semi-autobiographical, or reveal conflicts or persons present in her own life. Christie fans will want to include this collection of novels for insight into the author's life, thought processes, and internal emotional struggles. The other novels in this collection, especially "Giant's Bread", are also excellent novels, but the collection would be worth reading just for "Absent in the Spring."

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agatha's Best Work!, October 7, 2002

By 

Reader "angie42" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absent in the Spring and Other Novels: Absent in the Spring -- Giant's Bread -- The Rose and the Yew Tree (Mary Westmacott Omnibus) (Paperback)

These novels are wonderful! In my opinion, "Giant's Bread" is her masterpiece!

3.0 out of 5 stars timeless women's fiction, November 7, 2010

By 

Curtiss A. Matlock (Mobile, Alabama) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Absent in the Spring and Other Novels: Absent in the Spring -- Giant's Bread -- The Rose and the Yew Tree (Mary Westmacott Omnibus) (Paperback)

If you enjoyed The Shell Seekers, you might enjoy Agatha Christie writing as Mary Westmacott. I admire the crafting and timelessness of 'Absent in the Spring', but I found the sense of futility too sad to want to read again.