Complete, Annotated Mysterious Affair at Styles

Thanks to the extensive footnotes and background information I was able to not only enjoy Agatha Christie’s first novel, but also to become immersed in a period piece that takes place after WWI. The background information certainly enhanced my enjoyment of this novel.

Great book, the annotations makes understanding the times and the different culture easier to understand. Christie is a master of her craft but we are getting further away from her time, I hope we get more of her work annotated.

I chose an "annotated" version because it was advertised as providing explanation for arcane language (since it was originally published so long ago). Not just a waste, but really annoying - because in the beginning I kept checking the footnotes thinking that if they were footnoting it, the word must have had a different meaning when the book was written; not the case. The book is simply loaded with definitions of words that anyone over 8th grade should know. If you're Forrest Gump or introducing your 8th grader to Agatha Christie, this version of the book might be helpful, otherwise steer clear.The story itself - well c'mon...its an Agatha Christie. Very enjoyable!

This book is out of copyright in the US so Mr. Peschel is capitalizing on that, but his annotations are not very academic. There are no citations, and the essays at the end are pretty pedestrian (maybe final papers for undergrad modern lit classes at a community college?), though interesting. Reflects very little original research, so just keep in mind that you are paying this guy to soft-pagerize sources he doesn't identify (like the OED or AC's Autobiography).

The notes were very helpful in this edition. Poirot’s first case is an interesting one!