And Then There Were None
Critique • Quotes • At the movies
First US edition, 1940Also known as
Ten Little Indians
First publication
1939
Literature form
Novel
Genres
Crime, mystery
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Approx. 53,500 words
Notable lines
In the corner of a first-class smoking carriage, Mr. Justice Wargrave, lately retired from the bench, puffed at a cigar and ran an interested eye through the political news in the Times.
— First lines
"Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine....
"One little Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself and then there were none."
If this had been an old house, with creaking wood, and dark shadows, and heavily panelled walls, there might have been an eerie feeling. But this house was the essence of modernity. There were no dark corners—no possible sliding panels—it was flooded with electric light—everything was new and bright and shining. There was nothing hidden in this house, nothing concealed. It had no atmosphere about it. Somehow, that was the most frightening thing of all.
"Many homicidal lunatics are very quiet, unassuming people. Delightful fellows."
When the sea goes down, there will come from the mainland boats and men. And they will find ten dead bodies and an unsolved problem on Indian Island.
— Last lines
Critique • Quotes • At the movies
