Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller, Born 15 September 1890, Torquary, Devon, EnglandDied 12 January 1976, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, EnglandOccupation NovelistGenres Murder mystery, Thriller, Crime fiction

Very prolific British author of mystery novels and short stories, creator of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective, and Miss Jane Marple. Christie wrote more than 70 detective novels under the surname of her first husband, Colonel Archibald Christie. She also published a series of romances and a children's book.Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller

The daughter of an American father and a British mother, Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born at Torquay in the United Kingdom on September 15, 1890. Her family was comfortable, although not wealthy, and she was educated at home, with later study in Paris. In 1914 she was married to Col. Archibald Christie; the marriage produced one daughter. They divorced in 1928.

In 1930 she married Sir Max Mallowan, a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and one of Britain's foremost archaeologists. She often accompanied him on his digs in Iraq and Syria and placed some of her novels in those countries.

Agatha Christie's room at the Hotel Pera Palace, where she wrote Murder on the Orient Express.Christie traveled a lot. Her travels contributed background to several of her novels.

In 1920 Christie launched a career which made her the most popular mystery writer of all time. Her total output reached 93 books and 17 plays; she was translated into 103 languages (even more than Shakespeare); and her sales have passed the 400 million mark and are still going strong.

The main characters

Agatha Christie said that she never knew where the ideas for a new novel would spring from: "Plots come to me at such odd moments, when I am walking along the street, or examining a hat shop suddenly a splendid idea comes into my head"

Her play, The Mousetrap, is the longest running play in history with over 23,000 shows.

Agatha Christie was revered as a master of suspense, plotting, and characterisation by most of her contemporaries.She received numerous awards and critical honors for her work. She was honored as the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1956 and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971.

Agatha Christie died on 12 January, 1976, at age 85, from natural causes.She is buried in the nearby St. Mary's Churchyard in Cholsey.