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Come, Tell Me How You Live

An Archaeological Memoir

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Come, Tell Me How You Live

By: Agatha Christie
Narrated by: Judith Boyd
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About this listen

Agatha Christie’s personal memoirs about her travels to Syria and Iraq in the 1930s with her archaeologist husband Max Mallowan, where she worked on the digs and wrote some of her most evocative novels.

Think you know Agatha Christie? Think again!

To the world she was Agatha Christie, legendary author of bestselling whodunits. But in the 1930s she wore a different hat, travelling with her husband, renowned archaeologist Max Mallowan, as he investigated the buried ruins and ancient wonders of Syria and Iraq. When friends asked what this strange ‘other life’ was like, she decided to answer their questions by writing down her adventures in this eye-opening book.

Described by the author as a ‘meandering chronicle of life on an archaeological dig’, Come, Tell Me How You Live is Agatha Christie's very personal memoir of her time spent in this breathtaking corner of the globe, living among the working men in tents in the desert where recorded human history began. Acclaimed as ‘a pure pleasure to read’, it is an altogether remarkable and increasingly poignant narrative, a fascinating, vibrant and vivid portrait of everyday life in a world now long since vanished.

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Critic reviews

‘Perfectly delightful… colourful, lively and occasionally touching and thought-provoking’
Charles Osborne, Books & Bookmen

‘Good and enjoyable… she has a delightfully light touch’
Marghanita Laski, Country Life
All stars
Most relevant
This book transported me to a Syria that is a tad more attractive to the one displayed on the news.

I have never quite got on with Agatha Christies fiction as the plots usually annoy me. Consequently I was happy to discover she has a brilliant sense of humour. The way she captures the essence of the people she encounters on this adventure is brilliant. It has a flavour of Casablanca and Indian Jones but fun.

I have ordered her autobiography and am considering giving her fiction another go.

A wonderful surprise

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I savoured & enjoyed this wonderful audiobook, it is funny & interesting & I totally lost myself in it.
I realise what a clever writer Agatha Christie was, in her 'whodunnits' I always follow the plot & don't pay too much attention to the writing-probably a mark of an accomplished writer.

Highly recommend-lovely story

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With the tagline, "an archaeological memoir", this book doesn't seem promising, but having seen so many favourable reviews, I decided to give it a try, and was pleasantly surprised. It's a fascinating glimpse into a different world. Read very well by the narrator, and written with humour and vivid descriptions.

Unexpectedly Brilliant!

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After having listened to Agatha's autobiography and loving it, I was delighted to discover that Judith Boyd had also read this book, based in the Middle East. To one who's interest in the Middle East is limited, this book may not have quite the same appeal as the autobiography, although the author's compelling ability to shine light and humour on any situation never ceases to amaze me.

I however, having just previously struggled through A line in the Sand, enjoyed the context of Syria the Levant at the time and found it incredibly interesting that the Mallowans seemed to have few issues (although they were in Syria around the time when there were significant events happening nearby.

Regardless, I enjoyed the book thoroughly and the characters are described beautifully so as to make you feel as though you know them.

A great read, one not to be missed (although I recommend Agatha's autobiography first) 🥰

Another fantastic book from Christe Mallowan

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Loved the description of the country, the digs, the people and how the world once was. I would recommend this book.

Really enjoyable read

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