Ten Little Niggers

Ten little nigger boys went out to dine; One chocked his little self and then there

were Nine.

Nine little nigger boys sat up very late; One overslept himself, and then there

were Eight.

Eight little nigger boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there

were Seven.

Seven little nigger boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there

were Six.

Six little nigger boys playing with a hive; A bumble bee stung one and then there

were Five.

Five little nigger boys going in for law; One got into Chancery and then there

were Four.

Four little nigger boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there

were Three.

Three little nigger boys walking in the Zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there

were Two.

Two little nigger boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzed up and then there

was One.

One little nigger boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there

were None.

The order of deaths depends on the degree of guilt. Those whose guilt is the lightest should pass away first. This is the plot of the book. The action is set against the background of the Nigger Island called so because of its resemblance to a man's head with negroid lips. There is something magical about this island. You lose touch with the world, the island is a world of its own, a world from which you might never return. All the murders are committed there. Moreover, each murder is accompanied by a horrible

nursery rhyme about ten little nigger boys disapr.

ing one after another during the series of crimes, ш

"One little nigger boy left all alone... and hanj

himself..."

The leitmotiv of the book is the following: Be Sure Thy Sin Will Find Thee Out.

Agatha Christie also wrote six romantic novels unl der the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. She wrote non-fiction as well — four books including an autobiography and an entertaining account of the many archeological expeditions she shared with her second husband, Sir Max Mallowan. In 1971, she achieved her country's highest honour when she received the Order of Dame Commander of the British Empire. Agatha Christie died on January 12, 1976.

Agatha Christie has conquered the world, her appeal' is that of a puzzle of many of her mysteries. A career of forty-five years is remarkable in the "light genre" in the 20th century English literature.

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