Plan: General background

Agatha Christie (1891-1976)

Agatha Christie, a prominent detective writer, was born at Torquay, Devonshire. She was educated at home and took sing­ing lessons in Paris. Her creative work began at the end of World War I. Her first novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" ap­peared in 1920. Here she created Hercule Poirot, the little Bel­gian detective, the most popular sleuth in fiction since Sherlock Holmes. General recognition came with the publication of her sixth work "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd" (1926).

With "Murder at the Vicarage" (1930) Agatha Christie began a series of novels featuring Miss Marple, a lady detective who won a universal appeal for her wise but unusual methods of unraveling a crime.

Beginning with 1952 Agatha Christie enjoyed another run of success with theatre adaptations of her fiction and plays. Many of her stories have been filmed including "The Secret Adversary", "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'(cinema title "Alibi"), "Ten Little Niggers", "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Witness for the Prosecution".

Agatha Christie also wrote six romantic novels under the penname Mary Westmacott. Her last Poirot book "Curtain" ap­peared shortly before her death (though it was written in the 1940th) and her last Miss Marple story "Sleeping Murder" and her "Autobiography" were published posthumously.

She is the author of seventy-seven detective novels and books of stories that have been translated into every major language. Agatha Christie's success with millions of readers cannot be ac­counted only for the good entertainment; the explanation lies in her ability to combine clever plots with excellent character draw­ing, and a keen sense of humor with great power of observation. Besides her books proclaim that justice will win and evil will be conquered. Her works defend rationality and never go beyond those aspects of human nature that are our common stock.