British writer of crime and detective fiction, Dame Agatha Christie (1891 – 1976). (Photo by Walter Bird/Getty Images)
Known as the ‘Queen of Crime’ she is the best selling novelist of all time. To date she is only outsold by the Bible and Shakespeare
Born 15 September 1890 in Torquay, Devon. She was home schooled
Agatha only wrote her first novel because her sister challenged her to
Among the many characters she created over the years her most famous are Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot
In 1922 at 22 years old she travelled around the world
Her first book was rejected by 6 publishers over 5 years
She wrote under the pseudonym of Mary Wescott for almost 20 years before she was discovered by an American journalist
By the time she passed away, 12 January 1976 she had written 66 detective novels, 150 short stories and 19 plays
The day she died the West End theatres in London dimmed their lights for an hour as a tribute
See more at: www.agathachristie.com
