# Agatha Christie readers: any ideas about the reason for Hastings' OBE? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710 "2007-02-03T23:31:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/1 "2007-02-03T23:31:05Z")
I’ve been re-reading some Christies recently and yesterday it was the turn of _The ABC Murders_. For the first time I noticed that the foreword is attributed to Captain Arthur Hastings, **OBE**. He’s always seemed too dim to me to do anything deserving of such an honour. Any ideas as to why Christie felt able to make him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire? The Hastings’ cattle ranch was in Argentina. Perhaps for his contribution in improving UK/Argentina relations? ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/2 "2007-02-04T01:04:12Z")
[Arthur Hastings](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Arthur_Hastings#Career) was a Captain in the British Army during WW1. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/3 "2007-02-04T21:19:41Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] [Arthur Hastings](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Arthur_Hastings#Career) was a Captain in the British Army during WW1. [/QUOTE] It must have been more than that. OBEs weren’t handed out automatically to Army Captains in WWI. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/4 "2007-02-04T21:28:57Z")
[QUOTE=Cunctator] It must have been more than that. OBEs weren’t handed out automatically to Army Captains in WWI. [/QUOTE] My grandfather got an OBE for long service in the Navy - not a single incident, but for a distinguished record. Also, some honours get handed out for political and “good example” reasons. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/5 "2007-02-04T22:17:36Z")
Anne Hart, in _The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot_ notes that Hastings was wounded in WWI, early in 1916, from _Mysterious Affair at Styles_. Hastings doesn’t give us much information about himself. Hart says > [@](#): > > Hastings had indeed displayed much courage in _The Big Four_ and was suitably rewarded by a grateful England, for the next time we see his name officially listed it is as Captain Arthur Hastings, OBE in the play _Black Coffee_, his only adventure with Poirot that he himself did not narrate. Since _The Big Four_ was published in 1927, and _Black Coffee_ in 1934, we can only assume that the title was awarded sometime in between. Hart’s assumption that it was in recognition of his services in _The Big Four_ seems as reasonable as any. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/6 "2007-02-05T00:37:40Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven] Anne Hart, in _The Life and Times of Hercule Poirot_ notes that Hastings was wounded in WWI, early in 1916, from _Mysterious Affair at Styles_. Hastings doesn’t give us much information about himself. Hart says Since _The Big Four_ was published in 1927, and _Black Coffee_ in 1934, we can only assume that the title was awarded sometime in between. Hart’s assumption that it was in recognition of his services in _The Big Four_ seems as reasonable as any. [/QUOTE] Thanks, that’s very interesting. I thought that the first reference to Hastings’ OBE was the one in _The ABC Murders_. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/7 "2007-02-05T15:19:03Z")
Not surprisinglyh, **Cunctator.** _Black Coffee_ only appeared in play form. It was novelized by Charles Osborn in 1997 – he had actually played one the characters in a 1956 repertory company staging of the play. Hastings appears in the play; he appears in the novel but does not narrate it. Incidentally, I’ve there’s some date confsuion. **Black Coffee** was written in 1929 and first performed in 1930, but the publication date is 1934. I do not know whether the OBE appears in the play as performed, or is just in the published version (in cast of characters, for instance.) Also, Hastings narrates and appears in _Peril at End House_ (published 1932), but as far as I can see, no mention is made of the OBE. I haven’t scoured it thoroughly; I assume Hart did. _ABC Murders_ is 1936. PS - I have a 25c paperback of _ABC Murders_, I’m afraid it will fall apart if I open it! ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agatha-christie-readers-any-ideas-about-the-reason-for-hastings-obe/390710/8 "2007-02-05T21:11:08Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven] Also, Hastings narrates and appears in _Peril at End House_ (published 1932), but as far as I can see, no mention is made of the OBE. I haven’t scoured it thoroughly; I assume Hart did. _ABC Murders_ is 1936. [/quote] I went back and checked \*Peril at End House \* before I wrote the OP. I couldn’t see any reference to Hastings’ OBE. > [@CK Dexter Haven](#): > > PS - I have a 25c paperback of _ABC Murders_, I’m afraid it will fall apart if I open it! Mine is similarly ancient and has fallen apart.