Colonel Race

This page details the other fictional characters created by Agatha Christie in her stories about the Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.

Hastings first meets Poirot during his years as a private detective in Europe. Almost immediately after they both arrive in England, he becomes Poirot's partner, and appears in many of the novels and stories. Poirot's view of Hastings was of a man with plenty of imagination but not a great deal of brains.

Hastings was capable of great bravery when the going got tough, facing death unflinchingly when confronted by the "Big Four" and showing unwavering loyalty towards Poirot. When forced to choose between Poirot and his wife in that novel, he chose Poirot.

The two were an airtight team until Hastings met and married Dulcie Duveen, a beautiful music hall performer half his age, which was not objectionable in the late Victorian and Edwardian world. They later emigrated to Argentina, leaving Poirot behind a "very unhappy old man".

A mystery writer who is loosely based on Agatha Christie herself.

Poirot's secretary, Miss Lemon, has few human weaknesses. The only two mistakes she is ever recorded making are a typing error in Hickory Dickory Dock and the mismailing of an electric bill. Poirot described her as "Unbelievably ugly and incredibly efficient. Anything that she mentioned as worth consideration usually was worth consideration." She is an expert on nearly everything and plans to create the perfect filing system. Interestingly, she once worked for the government agent-turned-philanthropist, Parker Pyne. Whether this was during one of Poirot's numerous retirements or before she entered his employ is unknown.

Japp is an Inspector at Scotland Yard and appears in many of the stories, trying to solve the cases Poirot is working on. Japp is an outward-looking, loud and sometimes inconsiderate man, and his relationship with the bourgeois Belgian is one of the stranger aspects of Poirot's world. He first met Poirot in Belgium in 1904 during the Abercrombie Forgery, and later that year joined forces again to hunt down a criminal known as Baron Altara. They also meet in England, where Poirot often helps Japp solve cases and lets him take the credit in return for special favours. These favours usually entail being supplied with cases that would interest him.

George is the faithful valet of Hercule Poirot.

In addition to these regular characters, it is noteworthy that all the gentlemen in the novels have servants; Poirot's is the most incurable snob he could find. George is a classic English valet. He first entered Poirot's employ in 1923, and did not leave his side until the 1970s, shortly before Poirot's death. A competent, matter-of-fact man, with an extensive knowledge of the English aristocracy and absolutely no imagination, George provides a steady contrast to Hastings.

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