When I'm Sixty Four (Hoo!): N or M? | 1941

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"'Tuppence and I, you see, aren't on those terms. We go into things -- together!' In his mind was that phrase, uttered years ago, at the close of an earlier war. A joint venture... That was what his life with Tuppence had been and would always be -- a Joint Venture..." 

- N or M?, p. 50

The Sum of It:

Agatha goes FULL ON WWII in this book, which reunites us with our favorite secret agent couple, Tommy and Tuppence. The war is well under way, and their grown twins are off doing their bit - Derek in the air and Deborah in the code breaking corps. Tommy and Tuppence want to get involved with the war effort too, but their advanced (we presume middle age) years have rendered them apparently useless to the entire war effort. Tuppence is knitting balaclavas and Tommy is begging for work in war offices. They're both pretty mopey about it, UNTIL Mr. Grant, who works in the Ministry of Requirements (v. Harry Potter) shows up and bluffs about an office job for Tommy. Once Tuppence is out of the room, he tells Tommy it's really a secret mission, like the old days, to try and root out the Fifth Column, aka Britishers who are working against England from inside! The only catch is, Tuppence isn't invited. Tuppence, sensing something afoot, figures out what is what and boy, does Tommy get a surprise when she turns up at his assigned location, a seaside guest house referenced by a dying agent, a place called Sans Souci. 

The dying agent also referenced two key operatives that Intelligence has been trying to catch, male and female agents known by the code names N and M. Tommy (along with Tuppence, once she invites herself) is assigned to try to track them down at Sans Souci, and so they both go about the business of befriending the odd assortment of guests in the hotel, as well as folks in the neighboring mansions. Everyone seems SO unassuming (well, maybe except for the German war refugee Carl von Deinim, but that just feels too obvious to T & T...) yet some among them must be evil secret agents, trying to destroy Great Britain and advance Herr Hitler's work! Both operating in disguise, they sneak and spy and suspect almost everyone before they finally get down to the real culprits. There are some great T & T capers that will keep you on the edge of your seat, and while you might guess one or the other of the culprits, you're sure to be surprised at the end!

The YOA Treatment:

So, we love a good Tommy and Tuppence caper (Emily especially) because there's a lot of excitement and "ack what's gonna happen next??" in these tales #pageturners. These are great spy stories, full of secret agents and hidden identities and double-blind fake outs. This book brings us a slightly older T & T, but their adorable personalities are still there, ready to take risks and get into scrapes for the sake of adventure. 

"You know," said the young man with enthusiasm, "I think you're splendid, simply splendid."

"Cut out the compliments," said Tuppence. "I'm admiring myself a good deal, so there's no need for you to chime in. What exactly is the big idea?"

Tony indicated the mass of crumpled material with a gesture. "That," he said, "is the remains of a parachute." 

"Aha," said Tuppence. Her eyes sparkled.

[P.s. the Tony referenced here is named Antony Marsdon. That name may sound familiar to those of you who've read And Then There Were None, as there was a character in that tale called Antony Marston! They do not seem to be the same person at all, so we have here a case of Agatha recycling a character name, #SorkinStyle!]

Agatha does an interesting job of writing about WWII also, as the second world war that the two characters have been through (as well as the second one she herself has seen), and allowing her characters' age and experience to provide a slightly different view of the war. At one point in discussing how fun their spy work was in the past and how it feels different this time around, the two have the following exchange: 

"It's only that -- this time -- it won't be fun. It's the same in other ways. This is the second War we've been in  -- and we feel quite different about this one." 

"I know -- we see the pity of it and the waste -- and the horror. All the things we were too young to think about before." 

Even though the book was written in 1941, Agatha seemed to have a lot of concern and insight into what was at stake for the Allies when faced with Hitler's Germany. She even gives us a pretty chilling glimpse into some of the pro-Hitler opinions that were drifting around England throughout the war through a couple different characters. One of the main villains even offers this creepy propaganda speech: 

"Our Leader does not intend to conquer this country in the sense that you all think. He aims at creating a new Britain -- a Britain strong in its own power -- ruled over, not by Germans, but by Englishmen. And the best type of Englishmen -- Englishmen with brains and breeding and courage. A brave new world, as Shakespeare puts it...We want to do away with muddle and inefficiency, with bribery and corruption. With self-seeking and money-grubbing...You would be surprised if you knew how many there are in this country, as in others, who have sympathy with and belief in our aims. Among us all we will create a new Europe -- a Europe of peace and progress."

Agatha's own perspective on her second war is likely reflected by Tuppence, now a mother, as she comforts the German refugee staying with them at Sans Souci, after his frustrations at everyone being so awfully angry at him for simply being born in Germany: 

"Naturally we've got to call the other side names. They're doing just the same in Germany. Hundreds of Major Bletchleys -- foaming at the mouth. I hate the Germans myself. 'The Germans,' I say, and feel waves of loathing. But when I think of individual Germans, mothers sitting anxiously waiting for news of their sons, and boys leaving home to fight, and peasants getting in the harvests, and little shopkeepers and some of the nice kindly German people I know, I feel quite different. I know then they are just human beings and that we're all feeling alike. That's the real thing. The other is just the War mask that you put on. It's part of War -- probably a necessary part -- but it's ephemeral." 

It's really interesting to read these words so many years later, and in light of the ongoing tumult, so much of which is based on an ephemeral concept of 'other', all across the world and even here within the United States. Though as with many Tommy and Tuppence stories this is overall a cheery read, it also provides a little food for thought as well. 

- A. & E.