Page "Miss Marple" Paragraph 6

Miss Marple has never worked for her living and is of independent means, although she benefits in her old age from the financial support of Raymond West, her nephew ( A Caribbean Mystery, 1964 ).

She demonstrates a remarkably thorough education, including some art courses that involved study of human anatomy through the study of human cadavers.

In They Do It with Mirrors ( 1952 ), it is revealed that, in her distant youth, Miss Marple spent time in Europe at a finishing school.

She is not herself from the aristocracy or landed gentry, but is quite at home among them ; Miss Marple would probably have been happy to describe herself as a gentlewoman.

In They Do It With Mirrors ( 1952 ), it is mentioned that Miss Marple grew up in a cathedral close, and that she studied at an Italian finishing school with Americans Ruth Van Rydock and Caroline " Carrie " Louise Serrocold.

( Ruth, prevailing on Miss Marple's long affection for them, arranges for Miss Marple to investigate Ruth's belief that Carrie Louise is in danger of her life.

) Miss Marple may thus be considered a female version of that staple of British detective fiction, the gentleman detective.

This education, history, and background are hinted at in the Margaret Rutherford films ( see below ), in which Miss Marple mentions her awards at marksmanship, fencing and equestrianism ( although these hints are played for comedic value ).