Agatha Christie was born in Torquay, Devon, England, on September 15, 1890, and died on January 12, 1976, at the age of 85.
Christie's first novel, "The Mysterious Affair at Styles," featuring the detective Hercule Poirot, was published in 1920 and became an instant success.
Christie wrote over 70 novels, including some of the most popular and enduring mysteries of all time, such as "Murder on the Orient Express," "Death on the Nile," and "And Then There Were None."
Christie's books have sold more than 2 billion copies worldwide, making her the best-selling novelist of all time, after William Shakespeare and the Bible.
Christie was also a prolific playwright, with her play "The Mousetrap" holding the record for the longest continuous run of any play in history, with over 28,000 performances since its first production in 1952.
Christie's personal life was just as mysterious and fascinating as her fiction. She disappeared for 11 days in 1926, which sparked a massive manhunt and became one of the biggest mysteries of the 20th century.
Christie was married twice, first to Archie Christie in 1914, and then to Max Mallowan in 1930. She had one daughter, Rosalind Hicks, with Archie.
Christie was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1971, in recognition of her contributions to literature.
Christie was a talented pianist and enjoyed playing the piano for friends and family.
Christie's favorite drink was gin and tonic, which she often enjoyed while writing.
Christie was an avid traveler, visiting countries all over the world and drawing inspiration from her experiences for her writing.
Christie's net worth at the time of her death was estimated to be around £5 million, equivalent to roughly £23 million today.