Christie, Agatha: - Agatha Christie, born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, Devon, was a renowned British mystery writer. Raised in an upper-middle-class family, she was mostly home-schooled and developed a love for reading. Her debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introduced the iconic detective Hercule Poirot, launching her celebrated career.Christie wrote 66 detective novels, 14 short story collections, and the famous play The Mousetrap. Her characters, including Poirot and Miss Marple, remain some of the most beloved in literature. In 1971, she was honored as Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to literature.She married Archibald Christie in 1914 and later archaeologist Max Mallowan in 1930, traveling extensively with him. These travels inspired many of her works, bringing rich settings to her plots. Christie passed away on January 12, 1976, leaving a legacy as one of the world's best-selling authors, with over two billion books sold.