and industry have so often to substitute for genius." On the subject of this collection, Mr. Mathers said that the book "has a certain appeal to all Agatha Christie fans, and to ourselves and to all lovers of the well-made magazine story." Robert Barnard: "A mediocre collection. Parker Pyne begins as a consultant Miss Lonelyhearts, ends up as a conventional detective." References to other works The Gate of Baghdad twice quotes the poem Gates of Damascus by James Elroy Flecker. As Pyne stands in Damascus he likens the Baghdad Gate that they will go through as the "Gate of Death" however whereas Flecker's poem talks of four gates in the city, in reality there are eight in the ancient walls and none of them is called the Baghdad gate. Christie also referenced the poem in naming her final written work, Postern of Fate (1973). Film, TV or theatrical adaptations Two of the stories in the collection, The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife and The Case of the Discontented Soldier, were adapted by Thames Television in 1982 as part of their series, The Agatha Christie Hour, which featured ten one-off plays from short stories by the writer. Maurice Denham played Parker Pyne and these episodes were numbers 1 and 5 in the series respectively (see The Hound of Death and The Listerdale Mystery for other episodes in the series). The Case of the Middle-Aged Wife (1982)Transmitted: 7 September 1982Adaptor: Freda Kelsall Director: Michael SimpsonCast:Maurice Denham played Mr. Parker Pyne Angela Easterling played Miss Lemon Nicholas Cook played Eric Malcolm Hebden played a Waiter Nick Curtis played a Crooner Linda Robson played Edna Monica Grey played a Beautician Brenda Cowling played Miss Draper Rupert Frazer played Claude Luttrell Gwen Watford played Maria Packington Peter Jones played George Packington Kate Dorning played Nancy Purvis The Case of the Discontented Soldier (1982)Transmitted: 5 October 1982Adaptor: T.R. Bowen Director: Michael SimpsonCast:'Maurice Denham played Mr. Parker PyneAngela Easterling played Miss LemonWilliam Gaunt played Major Wilbraham Lally Bowers played Ariadne OliverWalter Gaunt played WallyPeter Brayham played First ThugLewis Fiander played Mr. ReidBarbara New played Mrs. BensonPatricia Garwood played Freda CleggDerek Smee played Head WaiterKaren Mount played English RosePaul Dadson played NevilleJason Norman played CharlieVeronica Strong played Madeleine de SaraTerry Plummer played Second Thug Publication history 1934, William Collins & Sons (London), November 1934, Hardcover, 256 pp 1934, Dodd Mead and Company (New York), 1934, Hardcover, 244 pp