Smith and her husband Sidney Smith, an Assyriologist: Editions include: 1942, Dodd Mead and Company (New York), July 1942, Hardcover, 229 pp 1943, Collins Crime Club (London), June 1943, Hardcover, 160 pp 1948, Avon Books, Paperback, 158 pp (Avon number 164) 1948, Pan Books, Paperback, 190 pp (Pan number 55) 1953, Penguin Books, Paperback, 189 pp (Penguin number 930) 1961, Fontana Books (Imprint of HarperCollins), Paperback, 160 pp 1964, Dell Books, Paperback, 189 pp 1968, Greenway edition of collected works (William Collins), Hardcover, 255 pp 1968, Greenway edition of collected works (Dodd Mead), Hardcover, 255 pp 1970, Ulverscroft Large-print Edition, Hardcover, 331 pp; 2005, Marple Facsimile edition (Facsimile of 1943 UK first edition), 12 September 2005, Hardcover; The novel's first true publication was the US serialisation in Collier's Weekly in eight instalments from 28 March (Volume 109, Number 13) to 16 May 1942 (Volume 109, Number 20) with illustrations by Mario Cooper. The UK serialisation was as an abridged version in six parts in Woman's Pictorial from 17 October (Volume 44, Number 1136) to 21 November 1942 (Volume 44, Number 1141) under the slightly shorter title of Moving Finger. All six instalments were illustrated by Alfred Sindall. This novel is one of two to differ significantly in American editions (the other being Three Act Tragedy), both hardcover and paperback. Most American editions of The Moving Finger have been abridged by about 9000 words to remove sections of chapters, and strongly resemble the Collier's serialisation which, mindful of the need to bring the magazine reader into the story quickly, begins without the leisurely introduction to the narrator's back-story that is present in the British edition, and lacks much of the characterisation throughout. Christie admitted that this book was one of her favourites, stating, "I find that another [book] I am really pleased with is The Moving Finger. It is a great test to re-read what one has written some seventeen or eighteen years before. One's view changes. Some do not stand the test of time, others do." References External links The Moving Finger at the official Agatha Christie website 1942 British novels Miss Marple novels Novels first published in serial form Works originally published in Collier's Dodd, Mead & Co. books British novels adapted into television shows Works set in country houses