Agatha Christie

Born in Torquay, England, Agatha Christie began writing detective stories during World War I, drawing on her work as a hospital dispenser to inform her use of poisons. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920), introduced Hercule Poirot, a Belgian detective who would appear in 33 novels. Christie’s most famous works include Murder on the Orient Express (1934), Death on the Nile (1937), and the enduring stage play The Mousetrap (1952). She also wrote under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. Her novels, noted for their clever misdirection and fair-play clues, have sold over two billion copies. Christie was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971. Her literary legacy endures as the queen of the classic whodunit, influencing countless mystery writers and adaptations.