First appeared
In 1930 in the first Miss Marple novel.
Inspired by
Christie said the character was inspired by the shrewish sister of a doctor in her book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. But she also admitted it was based in part on her own unpleasant grandmother who went through life “expecting the worst from everyone and everything”.
Appearance
Like Poirot, she doesn’t change too much. Marple is grey-haired, a little frail and appears to be indecisive. She also knits and allows her glasses to slip down her nose.
How does she catch killers?
She listens and frequently neither acts nor reacts. You won’t find her jumping on to the bonnet of a horseless carriage and speeding after villains.
The stories
They vary but generally take place in beautiful villages and small towns. Here is the synopsis to the classic Murder at the Vicarage… When the vicar in Miss Marple's home village declares in exasperation that anyone who murdered Colonel Prothero would be doing the world a service, he does not realise his words will come back to haunt him. The Colonel's death at the vicarage throws up a long list of potential murderers, as the unpopular local resident made many enemies. Miss Marple, temporarily incapacitated after an accident, is perfectly placed to investigate.
Miss Jane Marple has also been played by
Geraldine McEwan (pictured), Angela Lansbury, Margaret Rutherford, Helen Hayes and Joan Hickson for the BBC.
How popular is she?
In February 2006 Sleeping Murder was broadcast by ITV1. It drew more viewers than all the other main terrestrial channels combined, averaging 8.4 million viewers. The series has been sold to 130 territories and is surprisingly popular in Italy.
Trivia
Joan Hickson was 86 years old when she made her last TV appearance as Marple.
