Agatha Christie

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Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie (15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her sixty-six detective novels and fourteen short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, The Mousetrap, and six romances under the name Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her contributions to literature.

Early Life

Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born on 15 September 1890, in Torquay, Devon, England. She was the youngest of three children in a wealthy upper-middle-class family. Her father, Frederick Alvah Miller, was an American stockbroker, and her mother, Clara Boehmer, was an Englishwoman. Christie was educated at home by her mother and a series of governesses.

Career

Christie's writing career began during World War I, when she worked as a nurse and later in a pharmacy, which gave her a working knowledge of poisons. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published in 1920 and introduced the character of Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective who would become one of her most famous creations.

Throughout her career, Christie wrote numerous novels, short stories, and plays. Some of her most famous works include Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Her play The Mousetrap holds the record for the longest initial run of any play in history, opening in London's West End in 1952 and still running today.

Personal Life

In 1914, Agatha married Archibald Christie, an aviator in the Royal Flying Corps. They had one daughter, Rosalind Hicks. The couple divorced in 1928. In 1930, she married archaeologist Max Mallowan, whom she accompanied on many of his archaeological expeditions in the Middle East, which provided inspiration for several of her novels.

Legacy

Agatha Christie's works have been translated into at least 103 languages, and her books have sold over two billion copies, making her one of the best-selling authors in history. Her characters, particularly Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, have become iconic figures in the genre of detective fiction.

Related Pages

• Hercule Poirot
• Miss Marple
• The Mousetrap
• Murder on the Orient Express
• Death on the Nile
• The Murder of Roger Ackroyd
• Mary Westmacott
• Max Mallowan