The Labours of Hercules (English: The labours of Hercules) is a collection of Agatha Christie’s novellas, written in 1947, devoted to 12 investigations by Hercule Poirot. The plot of each of the novellas is built as a parallel to one of the myths about Hercules’ labours; the labours are arranged in the same order in which, according to legend, they were performed by the chief hero of Hellas. A distinctive feature of the collection is its ironic approach to the main character. The very comparison of E. Poirot with Hercules gently mocks the image of the famous detective: unlike most of his major cases, the “labours” described here are insignificant in their composition and usually make the reader smile. Thus, in The Labours of Hercules A. Christie reveals the humorous facets of her talent, while staying true to the realism characteristic of her. Based on the book’s prologue, The Labours of Hercules were to become Poirot’s final cases; however, in reality, later Agatha Christie wrote at least nine more novels with his participation.
Contents:
• Preface
• The Nemean Lion
• The Lernaean Hydra
• The Ceryneian Hind
• The Erymanthian Boar
• The Augean Stables
• The Stymphalian Birds
• The Cretan Bull
• The Horses of Diomedes
• The Belt of Hippolyta
• The Herd of Geryon
• The Apples of the Hesperides
• The Capture of Cerberus