The Lernean Hydra

Buy
  • Hercule Poirot
  • Short Story
  • 1939

One of Poirot's twelve labours - the Lernean Hydra appears in the form of ill-intentioned gossip, aimed at a physician accused of poisoning his wife. From The Labours of Hercules.

More about this story

The hydra is a many-headed creature, in this case for Poirot it manifests itself as the many-headed monster of gossip and rumour which is ruining the life of Dr Charles Oldfield, rumoured to have poisoned his wife.

The story was first published in 1939 in Strand Magazine (UK) and in This Week (US), under the revised title Invisible Enemy. It forms one of The Labours of Hercules. The collection The Labours of Hercules was adapted in 2013 as part of the final series of Agatha Christie's Poirot, starring David Suchet.

Buy The Lernean Hydra

* We earn a small commission on purchases made through any Amazon affiliate links on this page.

Other stories you might enjoy

Three Act Tragedy
Hercule Poirot
The Wasp's Nest - Play
Hercule Poirot
After the Funeral
Hercule Poirot

Download the Hercule Poirot reading list

Download PDF

Sign up to the newsletter to receive The World of Agatha Christie magazine

*required