Cards on the Table Chapter Summary & Analysis | Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Summary

The book Cards on the Table by Agatha Christie was written in 1936 and features her famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in Christie's most famous locked room mystery. Poirot has a chance meeting with Mr. Shaitana, a man proud of his unusual collection and who invites Poirot to a party to view his collection. Poirot is reluctant to attend, for Mr. Shaitana's collection is a group of people who have committed murder and gotten away with it.

Hercule Poirot meets Mr. Shaitana at a snuff box exhibition at Wessex House in London. Mr. Shaitana is a foreigner to Britain as is Poirot, yet Mr. Shaitana is referred to in a derogatory manner as a "dago." However, because he is rich he is accepted in most social situations. To refuse one of Mr. Shaitana's invitations is considered a dangerous act by most people; this fear feeds Mr. Shaitana's superior manner....
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