Giant’s Bread

Vernon Deyre lives with his parents, Nurse, and a selection of imaginary friends including the enigmatic Mr. Green, at the Deyre’s ancestral home of Abbots Puissants. As he grows, his nebulous fears crystallize into more specific forms, most notably in the Beast: a terrifying piano that symbolizes the way music makes him feel. His early inability to engage with music stems from the lack of his hearing the right kind of music, as a later experience at a concert makes very clear. This Titanic Concert triggers an epiphany and sets Vernon on a new life path that will sweep his friends along with him, regardless of their own needs. Agatha Christie, already famous for her Poirot crime stories among others, had determined that a pen name would give her the freedom to pursue other types of literature. Giant’s Bread, originally published in 1930 under the name of Mary Westmacott, was the first of six of these non-crime novels. The press, while stymied over which author had adopted the pen name, were enthusiastic, praising in particular the characterizations.