Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was an English writer of detective fiction who is regarded as one of the best-selling novelists of all time. She created the characters of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple and wrote more than sixty detective novels.

Early Life

Christie was born in 1890 in Torquay, Devon, to a wealthy American father and an English mother. She was educated at home and was an avid reader.

She worked as a nurse during the First World War and learned about poisons. The knowledge was useful in her detective fiction.

She wrote her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, during the war. The book introduced Hercule Poirot and was published in 1920.

The Detective Novels

Christie wrote more than sixty detective novels and many short stories. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Murder on the Orient Express are among her most famous works.

She created the characters of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, and Miss Marple, the elderly spinster. The characters appeared in many of her novels.

The novels are characterised by their plotting and by their puzzles. The identity of the culprit is often concealed until the final chapter.

The Plays and the West End

Christie wrote a number of plays, including The Mousetrap. The play opened in London in 1952 and is the longest-running play in the world.

She adapted some of her novels for the stage. The plays were commercially successful and were performed throughout the world.

She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott. The novels were a departure from her detective fiction.

The Disappearance and the Marriage

Christie disappeared for eleven days in 1926 after the breakdown of her marriage. The disappearance caused a public sensation.

She was found at a hotel in Harrogate, where she had registered under a different name. The reasons for the disappearance remain unclear.

She married the archaeologist Max Mallowan in 1930. She accompanied him on excavations in the Middle East and used the settings in her fiction.

The Championships and the Legacy

Christie was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1956 and a Dame in 1971. She died in 1976 at her home in Wallingford.

Her novels have sold more than two billion copies. She is the best-selling novelist of all time.

The Agatha Christie estate continues to manage her work. The novels have been adapted for film, television, and the stage.

The Early Novels

Christie wrote her first novel during the First World War. The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920.

The book introduced Hercule Poirot and was followed by a series of novels. She became a successful and prolific writer.

She created a number of other detectives, including Miss Marple, Parker Pyne, and Tommy and Tuppence. The characters appeared in a range of stories.

The Plays

Christie wrote a number of plays, including The Mousetrap. The play opened in London in 1952 and is the longest-running play in the world.

She adapted some of her novels for the stage. The plays were commercially successful and were performed throughout the world.

She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott. The novels were a departure from her detective fiction.

The Disappearance

Christie disappeared for eleven days in 1926 after the breakdown of her marriage. The disappearance caused a public sensation.

She was found at a hotel in Harrogate, where she had registered under a different name. The reasons for the disappearance remain unclear.

The episode has been the subject of much speculation. It has been the subject of books and of films.

The Archaeology

Christie married the archaeologist Max Mallowan in 1930. She accompanied him on excavations in the Middle East.

She used the settings in her fiction and wrote about the region. The novels Murder in Mesopotamia and Death on the Nile are set in the area.

She supported her husband's work and helped to clean the finds. She was involved in the excavation of sites in Iraq and in Syria.

The Legacy

Christie was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1956 and a Dame in 1971. She died in 1976.

Her novels have sold more than two billion copies. She is the best-selling novelist of all time.

The Agatha Christie estate continues to manage her work. The novels have been adapted for film, television, and the stage.

She is remembered for her plotting and for her puzzles. Her work continues to be read and to be performed.

The Sales and the Translations

Christie's novels have been translated into more than a hundred languages. She is the most translated author in the world.

Her works have been adapted for film, television, and radio. The film Murder on the Orient Express and the television series Poirot are among the best known.

The Guinness World Records lists her as the best-selling novelist of all time. Her estate manages the rights to her work.

See also

• Detective fiction
• Hercule Poirot