The Elements of a Mystery: Chemistry, Agatha Christie and WWI

During her wartime service as a nurse and pharmacist, author Agatha Christie encountered several substances and situations that would inspire the plotlines of her literature. Spiral down into the science behind the mysteries with former-chemist-turned-writer Kathryn Harkup as she delves into the Queen of Crime’s extensive knowledge of drugs, medicines – and poisons. 

Free with RSVP | Zoom

RSVP

Hosted in partnership with Linda Hall Library.

Kathryn Harkup is a former-chemist-turned-writer and science communicator. Her interests are in anything gothic, gory and geeky, and preferably all three. She has written several books on the crossover between science, literature and pop culture including “The Secret Lives of the Elements,” “The Secret Lives of Molecules,” “A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie,” “Making the Monster: The Science of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” “Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts,” “Superspy Science: Science, Death and Tech in the World of James Bond” and “Vampirology: The Science of Horror’s Most Famous Fiend.” Her latest book is “V is for Venom: Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death.”