Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was an English detective novelist and playwright, widely regarded as the “Queen of Crime” or “Queen of Mysteries.” She is best known for creating Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and for writing *The Mousetrap*, the world’s longest-running play.

Agatha Christie was an English detective novelist and playwright, widely regarded as the “Queen of Crime.” She created Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and wrote *The Mousetrap*, the world’s longest-running play.

What it is

Agatha Christie (born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller on 15 September 1890 in Torquay, England) is one of the best-selling authors of all time. She wrote 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and several plays, including *The Mousetrap* and *Witness for the Prosecution*. Her work defines classic mystery fiction.

Why it matters

Christie’s books have sold over a billion copies in English and a billion in translation, making her the best-selling novelist in history. Her detectives—Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple—are cultural icons. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971, and her influence on crime fiction remains unmatched.

Key details

Christie’s first novel, *The Mysterious Affair at Styles* (1920), introduced Poirot. *Murder at the Vicarage* (1930) introduced Miss Marple. She also wrote under the pen name Mary Westmacott. She died on 12 January 1976 in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Her works remain widely read in Canada and globally.