Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was an English writer widely regarded as the best-selling novelist in history, celebrated above all for her detective fiction. Born in Torquay, Devon, she created two of the most enduring figures in crime literature, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and authored 66 detective novels along with numerous short stories and plays, including «The Mousetrap», the longest continuously running play in theatrical history.

Her work is defined by intricately constructed puzzle-plots, misdirection, and a deep knowledge of poisons and forensic detail, acquired in part through her service in hospital dispensaries during both World Wars. Titles such as «And Then There Were None» remain among the most influential works in the mystery genre, having been adapted repeatedly for radio, stage, and screen, which is why audio dramatizations and readings of her novels and stories continue to circulate widely.

Beyond her core detective fiction, Christie wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott and was honored as a Dame in 1971 for her contribution to literature. Her influence on the mystery and detective genre remains foundational, shaping the conventions of the whodunit that later generations of crime writers would continue to draw upon.