Agatha Christie is often called the mother of the detective genre. Her novels and stories continue to captivate generations of readers. Surprisingly, Christie’s works remain relevant and have become classics; it’s unlikely anyone will surpass her mastery. But Agatha’s life was as thrilling as her books!
- Agatha Christie Became a Writer Because She Was Afraid of the Stage
In her childhood, the future writer showed musical talent. She had perfect pitch and was destined for a great future. However, Agatha was so terrified of the stage that she couldn’t bring herself to perform publicly. - Her First Work Was Created on a Bet
Legend has it that when Agatha Christie was only 25, she bet her sister, Madge, that she could write a story as good as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, with readers unable to identify the murderer until the very last page. Madge doubted Agatha’s talent, but she was wrong: Agatha wrote “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” which was published and received enthusiastically by readers. - A Love for Poison
In her detective novels, Christie paid considerable attention to poisons: she described 83 poisonings in total! The novels include detailed descriptions of the preparation of poisonous substances. Interestingly, Agatha Christie gained this pharmacological knowledge during World War I when she worked as a nurse. She was so afraid of making a mistake in preparing medications that she would even get up at night to check if she had mixed up the ingredients as prescribed by the doctor. - A Mysterious Disappearance
In 1926, when Christie had already achieved fame and recognition, she faced a series of challenges. First, her mother died, and then her husband demanded a divorce. This affected the emotional state of the unfortunate woman. One day, she simply disappeared, leaving her beloved little daughter behind. The search for Christie involved top policemen and hundreds of volunteers.She was found only 11 days after her disappearance in a small hotel in New Yorkshire, where she had registered under the surname of her husband’s mistress. Doctors believe that Christie lost her sanity for a while due to the stress, but some researchers think she staged her disappearance to stir public interest. However, we’ll never know for sure, as Agatha never spoke about the mysterious disappearance in her interviews.
- Participation in Excavations in Iraq
In 1930, Agatha Christie decided to join an archaeological dig in Ur, Iraq. It was there she met her second husband, archaeologist Max Mallowan. Christie was 15 years older than the young man, but this didn’t stop the lovers. Agatha even joked that for an archaeologist, the older the wife, the more valuable she is. Despite the skepticism of others, Agatha spent 45 happy years with Max, and only death could separate them. - Dysgraphia
There’s a theory that Agatha Christie suffered from dysgraphia, meaning she couldn’t write down her own thoughts. As a result, she had to dictate her detective stories to her assistants. - The Writer and Washing Dishes
Agatha Christie simply hated washing dishes. However, she did it daily without asking for help. When asked why she didn’t get rid of this unpleasant chore, she replied that while washing dishes, it was easier for her to imagine the gruesome murders that inspired her new books in every detail.
Christie is the most-published writer in the world. If you haven’t yet acquainted yourself with her works, now is the perfect time to start! Surely, you must have at least one of her novels at home.