Agatha Christie: biography

Agatha Christie - Arguably the greatest crime writer of all time. She has created some of the most recognisable and memorable characters to ever hit our shelves and screens. We all know about her characters and mysteries; but what do you know about Agatha Christie the mother and wife?

Early Life

Born Agatha Miller on the 15th September 1890 in Torquay, Agatha had a difficult childhood being the youngest of three. During WWI she worked as a nurse - an experience she treasured very much. On Christmas eve 1914 she married Archibald Christie. Her first novel was published in 1920 and from here her career took off and she was living her dream. However in 1926 her life was to change dramatically.

What defines Agatha Christie as a person?

In December 1926 Archie told Agatha he was in love with another woman. Later they argued and Archie left the house. That same evening Agatha was to go missing. There was a massive worry amongst the public who had taken to Agatha and despite a nationwide manhunt; Agatha remained missing for 11 days. Despite doctors saying she was suffering from a Fugue state and others believing it to be a publicity stunt or a breakdown from the great author, this still remains a greater mystery in her life than any Marple or Poirot novel. The pair divorced in 1928 - having one child together. In 1930 Agatha began a happy and fulfilling marriage to Max Mallowan, with whom she would see the rest of her life with.

A life that shaped her works?

Agatha worked as a pharamacist at various points of her life and developed an extensive knowledge of poisons - a method used to kill many of her victims in her mysteries. Agatha was very effective at creating characters the public would fall in love with even if she found it hard to herself. She wrote in her diaries how she was becoming tired of Poirot and felt he was an ego-maniac. This shows how Agatha felt her characters were more than creations of herself and rather took their own paths. Agatha claims Marple was based partly on her Grandmother but one cannot hazard to believe that Maple was somewhat a hero of Agatha's and was partly living her wildest dreams through her lovable character of Miss Marple. Marple was the one character throughout her whole life Agatha never became tired of and perhaps could be seen to value her reputation and legacy above that of hers as Agatha put the conclusion of her Marple books in a secret vault so it would not be destroyed by the Blitz. She did this knowing she would probably not be alive to witness its reception.