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AGATHA CHRISTIE

THE QUEEN OF CRIME (1890 -1976) was the most popular author of the 20th century. Her crime novels have been outsold worldwide by only the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare. Twists in the plot are a distinctive feature of her murder mysteries. AGATHA C THE QUEEN OF CRIME (1890 -1976)

In Agatha Christie’s crime novels, known in her personal life had a devastating as ‘whodunits’, possible suspects are effect resulting in her sudden gradually eliminated, either by the killer, disappearance. The author was found or clues, which are pieced together by eleven days later in Harrogate, Yorkshire, famous detective characters such as apparently suffering from loss of or . The memory. She found happiness when she reader is cleverly kept guessing until the met archaeologist Max Mallowan whom villain is revealed in the last chapter. she married in 1930. Born in Torquay, Agatha Miller In addition to detective stories, Agatha married Archibald Christie in 1914. The wrote six romantic novels using the pen couple had a daughter in 1919 and a year name Mary Westmacott and was also a later The Mysterious Affair at Styles successful playwright. Her famous work launched Agatha’s career in fiction, , first produced in 1952, which was to continue for over half a remains the longest running drama on the century. In 1926, shortly after the death stage. Made a Dame of the of her mother, Agatha discovered that British Empire in 1971, Agatha Christie is her husband had met someone else and still regarded by her world wide army of her marriage was over. These twin blows fans as ‘The Queen of Crime’. CHRISTIE GREENWAY HOUSE

Greenway House is a magnificent Agatha recalled the terror of German mansion overlooking the River Dart near fighter planes attacking targets along the the village of Galmpton. Sir Humphrey river. During one raid a school-mistress at Gilbert, a famous explorer in the reign the nearby village of Cornworthy was of Queen Elizabeth I, was born in an wounded whilst supervising children in earlier house on the estate in 1539. the playground. Later in the war, the Here, his half-brother, Sir Walter Mallowans had to move out of Greenway Raleigh, is said to have smoked his first which was required to accommodate pipe in England having brought tobacco American naval officers. One of them back from America. Legend has it that painted a mural on the wall of the library his servant, seeing the burning tobacco, threw a jug of ale in his master’s face to which included portraits of American put out the ‘fire’! President, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Agatha Christie and her second British Prime Minister, Winston husband, Sir Max Mallowan, bought Churchill. When Agatha returned to the Greenway in 1938; a year later World house she decided to keep the painting as War Two started. In her autobiography, a permanent ‘war memorial’. DID YOU KNOW? Agatha Miller was born on FURTHER INFORMATION 15 September 1890. Her birthsign was Virgo. Books about the life of Agatha Christie available from Torbay Library Services Her birthplace was Ashfield in Barton include: Road. The house was one of a number demolished in 1961 to build a new Agatha Christie - An Autobiography (1977) estate and an extension at South Devon Agatha Christie's Devon - College. Jane Langton (1990) At the age of sixteen Agatha trained Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery - with a music teacher in Paris but failed John Escott (1997) in her ambition to become an opera singer. For more about the history of Torbay - visit the Local History Collection at Torquay As a young lady she enjoyed roller- Central Library or view the Torbay Council skating on Princess Pier. website (www.torbay.gov.uk) for Agatha accepted a proposal of marriage information on the following subjects: from Archibald Christie while they History of Torbay/Torbay's Heritage/ People were attending a classical concert at the and Places/Famous People. The site also Pavilion in 1913. contains opening times, news of forthcoming events and general information During World War One (1914-18) about the following historic buildings and Agatha nursed wounded soldiers at an museums which are all well worth a visit: emergency hospital at Torquay Town Hall. Torre Abbey Historic House & Gallery, King's Drive, Torquay. Agatha completed her first book while Tel: 01803 293593 staying at the Moorland Hotel on Dartmoor, not far from Haytor Rock. Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay. Tel: 01803 293975 The Mousetrap was originally written as a radio play at the special request Oldway Mansion, Torquay Road, Paignton. of Queen Mary, the widow of King Tel: 01803 201201 George V. Brixham Heritage Museum, Bolton Cross, Her books have been translated into Brixham. 01803 856267 103 languages, which is 14 more than the works of William Shakespeare. Agatha’s favourite hobby was gardening and she won prizes at Brixham Horticultural Show. LIBRARY SERVICES