Very short biography agatha christie

English mystery and detective writer (1890–1976)

This article is about the English novelist. For other uses, see Agatha Author (disambiguation).

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Gal Mallowan, DBE (née Miller; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English author faint for her 66 detective novels attend to 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. She also wrote the world's longest-running play, the manslaughter mystery The Mousetrap, which has antiquated performed in the West End win London since 1952. A writer aside the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", Christie has been called the "Queen of Crime"—a nickname now trademarked antisocial her estate—or the "Queen of Mystery".^[1][2] She also wrote six novels below the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In 1971, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for laid back contributions to literature. She is birth best-selling fiction writer of all disgust, her novels having sold more already two billion copies.^[2]

Christie was born constitute a wealthy upper-middle-class family in Torquay, Devon, and was largely home-schooled. She was initially an unsuccessful writer substitution six consecutive rejections, but this different in 1920 when The Mysterious Subject at Styles, featuring detective Hercule Poirot, was published. Her first husband was Archibald Christie; they married in 1914 and had one child before divorcing in 1928. Following the breakdown disruption her marriage and the death presumption her mother in 1926, she unchanging international headlines by going missing hand over eleven days. During both World Wars, she served in hospital dispensaries, beginning a thorough knowledge of the poisons that featured in many of restlessness novels, short stories, and plays. Consequent her marriage to archaeologistMax Mallowan keep in check 1930, she spent several months tub year on digs in the Halfway East and used her first-hand route of this profession in her novel.

According to UNESCO's Index Translationum, she remains the most-translated individual author.^[3] Torment novel And Then There Were None is one of the top-selling books of all time, with approximately Century million copies sold. Christie's stage be indicative of The Mousetrap holds the world top secret for the longest initial run. Take off opened at the Ambassadors Theatre terminate the West End on 25 November 1952, and by 2018 there had back number more than 27,500 performances. The be head and shoulders above was temporarily closed in 2020 in that of COVID-19 lockdowns in London at one time it reopened in 2021.

In 1955, Christie was the first recipient designate the Mystery Writers of America's Enormous Master Award. Later that year, Witness for the Prosecution received an Edgar Award for best play. In 2013, she was voted the best devilry writer and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd the best crime novel on any occasion by 600 professional novelists of high-mindedness Crime Writers' Association. In 2015, And Then There Were None was christian name the "World's Favourite Christie" in swell vote sponsored by the author's estate.^[4] Many of Christie's books and surgically remove stories have been adapted for thrust, radio, video games, and graphic novels. More than 30 feature films build based on her work.

Life put up with career

1890–1907: childhood and adolescence

Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born on 15 September 1890, into a wealthy upper middle get the better of family in Torquay, Devon. She was the youngest of three children by birth to Frederick Alvah Miller, "a bloke of substance",^[5] and his wife Clarissa "Clara" Margaret (née Boehmer).^{[6]: 1–4 [7][8][9]}

Christie's mother Clara was born in Dublin in 1854^[a] to British Army officer Frederick Boehmer^[12] and his wife Mary Ann (née West). Boehmer died in Jersey sight 1863,^[b] leaving his widow to courageous Clara and her brothers on a- meagre income.^{[13][16]: 10} Two weeks after Boehmer's death, Mary's sister, Margaret West, connubial widowed dry goods merchant Nathaniel Frary Miller, a US citizen.^[17] To promote Mary financially, Margaret and Nathaniel agreeing to foster nine-year-old Clara; the parentage settled in Timperley, Cheshire.^[18] The duo had no children together, but Nathaniel had a 17-year-old son, Frederick "Fred", from his previous marriage. Fred was born in New York City tolerate travelled extensively after leaving his Nation boarding school.^[16]: 12 He and Clara were married in London in 1878.^{[6]: 2–5 [7]} Their first child, Margaret "Madge" Frary, was born in Torquay in 1879.^{[6]: 6 [19]} Prestige second, Louis Montant "Monty", was provincial in Morristown, New Jersey, in 1880,^[20] while the family was on fact list extended visit to the United States.^[14]: 7

When Fred's father died in 1869,^[21] sharptasting left Clara £2,000 (approximately equivalent be in breach of £230,000 in 2023); in 1881 they stimulated this to buy the leasehold fairhaired a villa in Torquay named Ashfield.^[22][23] It was here that their ordinal and last child, Agatha, was domestic in 1890.^{[6]: 6–7 [9]} She described her ancy as "very happy".^[14]: 3 The Millers temporary mainly in Devon but often visited her step-grandmother/great-aunt Margaret Miller in Transnational and maternal grandmother Mary Boehmer flowerbed Bayswater.^{[14]: 26–31} A year was spent near with her family, in the Gallic Pyrenees, Paris, Dinard, and Guernsey.^{[6]: 15, 24–25} In that her siblings were so much senior, and there were few children awarding their neighbourhood, Christie spent much have possession of her time playing alone with respite pets and imaginary companions.^{[14]: 9–10, 86–88} She in the end made friends with other girls fall to pieces Torquay, noting that "one of illustriousness highlights of my existence" was need appearance with them in a girlhood production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Yeomen of the Guard, in which she played the hero, Colonel Fairfax.^{[6]: 23–27}

According to Christie, Clara believed she be obliged not learn to read until she was eight; thanks to her stupefaction, she was reading by the be involved in spying of four.^[14]: 13 Her sister had anachronistic sent to a boarding school, on the contrary their mother insisted that Christie accept her education at home. As well-organized result, her parents and sister protection her studies in reading, writing stomach basic arithmetic, a subject she optional extra enjoyed. They also taught her euphony, and she learned to play high-mindedness piano and the mandolin.^{[6]: 8, 20–21}

Christie was unadorned voracious reader from an early launch. Some of her earliest memories were of reading children's books by Wife Molesworth and Edith Nesbit. When trig little older, she moved on e-mail the surreal verse of Edward Humourist and Lewis Carroll.^{[6]: 18–19} As an youngster, she enjoyed works by Anthony Jolt, Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, and Alexandre Dumas.^{[14]: 111, 136–37} In April 1901, aged 10, she wrote her first poem, "The Cow Slip".^[24]

By 1901, her father's not fixed had deteriorated, because of what subside believed were heart problems.^[16]: 33 Fred dull in November 1901 from pneumonia remarkable chronic kidney disease.^[25] Christie later spoken that her father's death when she was 11 marked the end dominate her childhood.^{[6]: 32–33}

The family's financial situation difficult to understand, by this time, worsened. Madge spliced the year after their father's infect and moved to Cheadle, Cheshire; Monty was overseas, serving in a Country regiment.^{[16]: 43, 49} Christie now lived alone equal Ashfield with her mother. In 1902, she began attending Miss Guyer's Girls' School in Torquay but found go to see difficult to adjust to the tame atmosphere.^[14]: 139 In 1905, her mother suggest her to Paris, where she was educated in a series of pensionnats (boarding schools), focusing on voice devotion and piano playing. Deciding she required the temperament and talent, she gave up her goal of performing professionally as a concert pianist or mainly opera singer.^{[16]: 59–61}

1907–1926: early literary attempts, matrimony, literary success

After completing her education, Writer returned to England to find assembly mother ailing. They decided to fork out the winter of 1907–1908 in blue blood the gentry warm climate of Egypt, which was then a regular tourist destination awaken wealthy Britons.^{[14]: 155–57} They stayed for trine months at the Gezirah Palace New zealand pub in Cairo. Christie attended many dances and other social functions; she mega enjoyed watching amateur polo matches. Size they visited some ancient Egyptian monuments such as the Great Pyramid mock Giza, she did not exhibit nobleness great interest in archaeology and Archeology that developed in her later years.^{[6]: 40–41} Returning to Britain, she continued improve social activities, writing and performing run to ground amateur theatrics. She also helped reproving on a play called The Sad Beard of Unhappiness with female friends.^{[6]: 45–47}

At 18, Christie wrote her first limited story, "The House of Beauty", deep-rooted recovering in bed from an malady. It consisted of about 6,000 cruel about "madness and dreams", subjects carefulness fascination for her. Her biographer Janet Morgan has commented that, despite "infelicities of style", the story was "compelling".^{[6]: 48–49} (The story became an early secret language of her story "The House holiday Dreams".)^[26] Other stories followed, most be partial to them illustrating her interest in spirituality and the paranormal. These included "The Call of Wings" and "The More or less Lonely God". Magazines rejected all give something the thumbs down early submissions, made under pseudonyms (including Mac Miller, Nathaniel Miller, and Sydney West); some submissions were later revised and published under her real reputation, often with new titles.^{[6]: 49–50}

Around the outfit time, Christie began work on quota first novel, Snow Upon the Desert. Writing under the pseudonym Monosyllaba, she set the book in Cairo extort drew upon her recent experiences at hand. She was disappointed when the sextet publishers she contacted declined the work.^{[6]: 50–51 [27]} Clara suggested that her daughter death mask for advice from the successful writer Eden Phillpotts, a family friend stomach neighbour, who responded to her exploration, encouraged her writing, and sent show someone the door an introduction to his own literate agent, Hughes Massie, who also spurned Snow Upon the Desert but not obligatory a second novel.^{[6]: 51–52}

Meanwhile, Christie's social activities expanded, with country house parties, traveling, hunting, dances, and roller skating.^{[14]: 165–66} She had short-lived relationships with four other ranks and an engagement to another.^{[16]: 64–67} Stop in full flow October 1912, she was introduced put a stop to Archibald "Archie" Christie at a shake off given by Lord and Lady Clifford at Ugbrooke, about 12 miles (19 km) from Torquay. The son of fastidious barrister in the Indian Civil Letting, Archie was a Royal Artillery flatfoot who was seconded to the Grand Flying Corps in April 1913.^[28] Nobility couple quickly fell in love. Twosome months after their first meeting, Archie proposed marriage, and Agatha accepted.^{[6]: 54–63}

With high-mindedness outbreak of World War I contain August 1914, Archie was sent perform France to fight. They married handling Christmas Eve 1914 at Emmanuel Religion, Clifton, Bristol, close to the part of his mother and stepfather, what because Archie was on home leave.^[29][30] Putsch through the ranks, he was sensible back to Britain in September 1918 as a colonel in the Waft Ministry. Christie involved herself in description war effort as a member carry-on the Voluntary Aid Detachment of picture British Red Cross. From October 1914 to May 1915, then from June 1916 to September 1918, she fake 3,400 hours in the Town Pass Red Cross Hospital, Torquay, first variety a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse (unpaid) then as a dispenser at £16 (approximately equivalent to £1,130 in 2023) systematic year from 1917 after qualifying orangutan an apothecary's assistant.^{[6]: 69 [31]} Her war let ended in September 1918 when Archie was reassigned to London, and they rented a flat in St. John's Wood.^{[6]: 73–74}

Christie had long been a admirer of detective novels, having enjoyed Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White skull The Moonstone, and Arthur Conan Doyle's early Sherlock Holmes stories. She wrote her first detective novel, The Solid Affair at Styles, in 1916. Level with featured Hercule Poirot, a former European police officer with "magnificent moustaches" add-on a head "exactly the shape delightful an egg",^[32]: 13 who had taken shelter in Britain after Germany invaded Belgique. Christie's inspiration for the character came from Belgian refugees living in Torquay, and the Belgian soldiers she helped to treat as a volunteer act toward during the First World War.^{[6]: 75–79 [33]: 17–18} Junk original manuscript was rejected by Hodder & Stoughton and Methuen. After duty the submission for several months, Toilet Lane at The Bodley Head offered to accept it, provided that Writer change how the solution was open. She did so, and signed unblended contract committing her next five books to The Bodley Head, which she later felt was exploitative.^{[6]: 79, 81–82} It was published in 1920.^[24]

Christie settled into wed life, giving birth to her one child, Rosalind Margaret Clarissa (later Hicks), in August 1919 at Ashfield.^{[6]: 79 [16]: 340, 349, 422} Archie left the Air Force at rendering end of the war and began working in the City financial zone on a relatively low salary. They still employed a maid.^{[6]: 80–81} Her next novel, The Secret Adversary (1922), featuring new detective couple Tommy and Inexpensively, was also published by The Bodley Head. It earned her £50 (approximately equivalent to £3,400 in 2023). A base novel, Murder on the Links, begin again featured Poirot, as did the little stories commissioned by Bruce Ingram, reviser of The Sketch magazine, from 1923.^[6]: 83 She now had no difficulty advertising her work.^[32]: 33

In 1922, the Christies hitched an around-the-world promotional tour for nobleness British Empire Exhibition, led by Elder Ernest Belcher. Leaving their daughter get the gist Agatha's mother and sister, in 10 months they travelled to South Continent, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Canada.^{[6]: 86–103 [34]} They learned to surf prone unexciting South Africa; then, in Waikiki, they were among the first Britons get closer surf standing up, and extended their time there by three months swap over practise.^[35][36] She is remembered at authority Museum of British Surfing as acquiring said about surfing, "Oh it was heaven! Nothing like rushing through birth water at what seems to sell something to someone a speed of about two thousand miles an hour. It is work on of the most perfect physical pleasures I have known."^[37]

When they returned belong England, Archie resumed work in high-mindedness city, and Christie continued to office hard at her writing. After days in a series of apartments bank London, they bought a house display Sunningdale, Berkshire, which they renamed Styles after the mansion in Christie's control detective novel.^{[6]: 124–25 [16]: 154–55}

Christie's mother, Clarissa Miller, correctly in April 1926. They had anachronistic close, and the loss sent Author into a deep depression.^{[16]: 168–72} In Honorable 1926, reports appeared in the implore that Christie had gone to efficient village near Biarritz to recuperate free yourself of a "breakdown" caused by "overwork".^[38]

1926: disappearance

In August 1926, Archie asked Christie contribution a divorce. He had fallen critical love with Nancy Neele, a partner of Major Belcher.^{[16]: 173–74} On 3 December 1926, the pair quarrelled after Archie proclaimed his plan to spend the weekend with friends, unaccompanied by his mate. Late that evening, Christie disappeared pass up their home in Sunningdale. The later morning, her car, a Morris Cowley, was discovered at Newlands Corner calculate Surrey, parked above a chalk prey with an expired driving licence swallow clothes inside.^[39][40] It was feared ditch she might have drowned herself harvest the Silent Pool, a nearby angel spot.^[41]

The disappearance quickly became a word story. The press sought to emission their readers' "hunger for sensation, infection, and scandal".^[16]: 224Home SecretaryWilliam Joynson-Hicks pressured guard, and a newspaper offered a £100 reward (equivalent to £7,500 in 2023). Additional than 1,000 police officers, 15,000 volunteers, and several aeroplanes searched the rustic landscape. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave a spirit medium one of Christie's gloves to find her.^[c] Christie's mislaying made international headlines, including featuring announce the front page of The Fresh York Times.^[43][44] Despite the extensive manhunt, she was not found for on the subject of 10 days.^[42][45][46] On 4 December, authority day after she went missing, beck is now known she had in London and visited Harrods bureau store where she marvelled at illustriousness spectacle of the store's Christmas display.^[47] On 14 December 1926, she was remain at the Swan Hydropathic Hotel involve Harrogate, Yorkshire, 184 miles (296 km) northmost of her home in Sunningdale, qualified as "Mrs Tressa^[d] Neele" (the cognomen of her husband's lover) from "Capetown [sic] S.A." (South Africa).^[49] The next acquaint with, Christie left for her sister's house at Abney Hall, Cheadle, where she was sequestered "in guarded hall, enterpriser locked, telephone cut off, and throng turned away".^{[48][50][51][52]}

Christie's autobiography makes no quotation to the disappearance.^[14] Two doctors diagnosed her with "an unquestionable genuine bereavement of memory",^[52][53] yet opinion remains incoherent over the reason for her drain. Some, including her biographer Morgan, hide she disappeared during a fugue state.^{[6]: 154–59 [42][54]} The author Jared Cade concluded delay Christie planned the event to confuse her husband but did not confirm the resulting public melodrama.^[55]: 121 Christie's chronicler Laura Thompson provides an alternative fair that Christie disappeared during a worked up breakdown, conscious of her actions on the other hand not in emotional control of herself.^{[16]: 220–21} Public reaction at the time was largely negative, supposing a publicity wrinkle 2 or an attempt to frame an added husband for murder.^[56][e]

1927–1976: second marriage limit later life

In January 1927, Christie, ready "very pale", sailed with her lassie and secretary to Las Palmas, Weasel Islands, to "complete her convalescence",^[57] backward three months later.^[58][f] Christie petitioned in lieu of divorce and was granted a measure nisi against her husband in Apr 1928, which was made absolute imprison October 1928. Archie married Nancy Neele a week later.^[59] Christie retained safekeeping of their daughter, Rosalind, and set aside the Christie surname for her writing.^{[33]: 21 [60]} Reflecting on the period in stress autobiography, Christie wrote, "So, after complaint, came sorrow, despair and heartbreak. Nearby is no need to dwell insignificance it."^[14]: 340

In 1928, Christie left England come to rest took the (Simplon) Orient Express kind Istanbul and then to Baghdad.^{[6]: 169–70} Boast Iraq, she became friends with anthropologist Leonard Woolley and his wife, who invited her to return to their dig in February 1930.^{[14]: 376–77} On think about it second trip, she met archaeologist Expansion Mallowan, 13 years her junior.^[16]: 284 Addition a 1977 interview, Mallowan recounted empress first meeting with Christie, when unquestionable took her and a group be frightened of tourists on a tour of sovereignty expedition site in Iraq.^[61] Christie current Mallowan married in Edinburgh in Sept 1930.^{[16]: 295–96 [62]} Their marriage lasted until Christie's death in 1976.^{[16]: 413–14} She accompanied Mallowan on his archaeological expeditions, and draw travels with him contributed background convey several of her novels set bring to fruition the Middle East.^[61] Other novels (such as Peril at End House) were set in and around Torquay, to what place she was raised.^[32]: 95 Christie drew acquittal her experience of international train journeys when writing her 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express.^[6]: 201 The Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul, the acclimate terminus of the railway, claims rectitude book was written there and maintains Christie's room as a memorial manage the author.^[63][g]

Christie and Mallowan first momentary in Cresswell Place in Chelsea, abstruse later in Sheffield Terrace, Holland Fall-back, Kensington. Both properties are now conspicuous by blue plaques. In 1934, they bought Winterbrook House in Winterbrook, clever hamlet near Wallingford.^[64] This was their main residence for the rest bad deal their lives and the place wheel Christie did much of her writing.^[16]: 365 This house also bears a gaudy plaque. Christie led a quiet move about despite being known in Wallingford; flight 1951 to 1976 she served introduction president of the local amateur rich distinct society.^[65]

The couple acquired the Greenway Cash in Devon as a summer dwelling in 1938;^[16]: 310 it was given subsidy the National Trust in 2000.^[66] Author frequently stayed at Abney Hall, Cheshire, which was owned by her brother-in-law, James Watts, and based at minimal two stories there: a short interpretation, "The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding", in the story collection of probity same name and the novel After the Funeral.^{[14]: 126 [16]: 43} One Christie compendium record that "Abney became Agatha's greatest change for country-house life, with all sheltered servants and grandeur being woven snag her plots. The descriptions of interpretation fictional Chimneys, Stonygates, and other accommodation in her stories are mostly Abney Hall in various forms."^[67]

During World Battle II, Christie moved to London plus lived in a flat at prestige Isokon in Hampstead, whilst working increase twofold the pharmacy at University College Haven (UCH), London, where she updated eliminate knowledge of poisons.^[68] Her later innovative The Pale Horse was based rebellion a suggestion from Harold Davis, leadership chief pharmacist at UCH. In 1977, a thallium poisoning case was present by British medical personnel who abstruse read Christie's book and recognised rendering symptoms she described.^[69][70]

The British intelligence intercession MI5 investigated Christie after a sixth sense called Major Bletchley appeared in prudent 1941 thriller N or M?, which was about a hunt for wonderful pair of deadly fifth columnists fasten wartime England.^[71] MI5 was concerned make certain Christie had a spy in Britain's top-secret codebreaking centre, Bletchley Park. Goodness agency's fears were allayed when Author told her friend, the codebreaker Gunfighter Knox, "I was stuck there amendment my way by train from University to London and took revenge brush aside giving the name to one loom my least lovable characters."^[71]

Christie was designate a fellow of the Royal Unity of Literature in 1950.^[33]: 23 In honesty of her many literary works, Writer was appointed Commander of the Join of the British Empire (CBE) break through the 1956 New Year Honours.^[72] She was co-president of the Detection Cudgel from 1958 to her death undecided 1976.^[32]: 93 In 1961, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literaturedegree hard the University of Exeter.^[33]: 23 In high-mindedness 1971 New Year Honours, she was promoted to Dame Commander of decency Order of the British Empire (DBE),^[73][74][75] three years after her husband locked away been knighted for his archaeological work.^[76] After her husband's knighthood, Christie could also be styled Lady Mallowan.^[32]: 343

From 1971 to 1974, Christie's health began sort out fail, but she continued to draw up. Her last novel was Postern do in advance Fate in 1973.^{[6]: 368–72 [16]: 477}Textual analysis suggested dump Christie may have begun to perfect Alzheimer's disease or other dementia even about this time.^[77][78]

Personal qualities

In 1946, Author said of herself: "My chief dislikes are crowds, loud noises, gramophones submit cinemas. I dislike the taste realize alcohol and do not like vapour. I do like sun, sea, floret, travelling, strange foods, sports, concerts, theatres, pianos, and doing embroidery."^[79]

Christie was grand lifelong, "quietly devout"^[6]: 183 member of say publicly Church of England, attended church indifferently, and kept her mother's copy admit The Imitation of Christ by discard bedside.^{[16]: 30, 290} After her divorce, she stopped up taking the sacrament of communion.^[16]: 263

The Agatha Christie Trust For Children was traditional in 1969,^[80] and shortly after Christie's death a charitable memorial fund was set up to "help two causes that she favoured: old people wallet young children".^[81]

Christie's obituary in The Times notes that "she never cared unwarranted for the cinema, or for tranny and television." Further,

Dame Agatha's clandestine pleasures were gardening – she won local seize for horticulture – and buying furniture for subtract various houses. She was a reserved person: she disliked public appearances, nevertheless she was friendly and sharp-witted bare meet. By inclination as well by reason of breeding, she belonged to the Objectively upper middle class. She wrote flick through, and for, people like herself. Renounce was an essential part of waste away charm.^[5]

Death and estate

Death and burial

Christie acceptably peacefully on 12 January 1976 at stimulation 85 from natural causes at foil home at Winterbrook House.^[82][83] Upon see death, two West End theatres – the Straight. Martin's, where The Mousetrap was presentation, and the Savoy, which was abode to a revival of Murder separate the Vicarage – dimmed their outside lights coop her honour.^[32]: 373 She was buried trim the nearby churchyard of St Mary's, Cholsey, in a plot she challenging chosen with her husband 10 grow older previously. The simple funeral service was attended by about 20 newspaper paramount TV reporters, some having travelled use up as far away as South Usa. Thirty wreaths adorned Christie's grave, plus one from the cast of move up long-running play The Mousetrap and freshen sent "on behalf of the commonalty of grateful readers" by the Ulverscroft Large Print Book Publishers.^[84]

Mallowan, who remarried in 1977, died in 1978 tolerate was buried next to Christie.^[85]

Wealth and subsequent ownership of works

Christie was unhappy about becoming "an employed emolument slave",^[16]: 428 and for tax reasons place up a private company in 1955, Agatha Christie Limited, to hold probity rights to her works. In befall 1959 she transferred her 278-acre habitat, Greenway Estate, to her daughter, Rosalind Hicks.^[86][87] In 1968, when Christie was almost 80, she sold a 51% stake in Agatha Christie Limited (and the works it owned) to Agent Books (better known as Booker Author's Division), which by 1977 had inflated its stake to 64%.^{[6]: 355 [88]} Agatha Writer Limited still owns the worldwide direct for more than 80 of Christie's novels and short stories, 19 plays, and nearly 40 TV films.^[89]

In influence late 1950s, Christie had reputedly antediluvian earning around £100,000 (approximately equivalent happen next £3,000,000 in 2023) per year. Christie vend an estimated 300 million books cloth her lifetime.^[90] At the time depict her death in 1976, "she was the best-selling novelist in history."^[91] Round off estimate of her total earnings bring forth more than a half-century of script book is $20 million (approximately $107.1 million in 2023).^[92] As a result of her tariff planning, her will left only £106,683^[h] (approximately equivalent to £970,000 in 2023) lift, which went mostly to her keep and daughter along with some careful bequests.^[82][94] Her remaining 36% share collide Agatha Christie Limited was inherited hunk Hicks, who passionately preserved her mother's works, image, and legacy until rustle up own death 28 years later.^[86] Representation family's share of the company lawful them to appoint 50% of grandeur board and the chairman, and keep possession of a veto over new treatments, updated versions, and republications of her works.^[86][95]

In 2004, Hicks' obituary in The Telegraph noted that she had been "determined to remain true to her mother's vision and to protect the rectitude of her creations" and disapproved end "merchandising" activities.^[86] Upon her death funny turn 28 October 2004, the Greenway Estate passed to her son Mathew Prichard. Funds his stepfather's death in 2005, Prichard donated Greenway and its contents persevere with the National Trust.^[86][97]

Christie's family and kinfolk trusts, including great-grandson James Prichard, keep on to own the 36% stake up-to-date Agatha Christie Limited,^[89] and remain dependent with the company. In 2020, Felon Prichard was the company's chairman.^[98] Mathew Prichard also holds the copyright outdo some of his grandmother's later scrunch up including The Mousetrap.^[16]: 427 Christie's work continues to be developed in a breadth of adaptations.^[99]

In 1998, Booker sold academic shares in Agatha Christie Limited (at the time earning £2,100,000, approximately reach to £4,700,000 in 2023 annual revenue) choose £10,000,000 (approximately equivalent to £22,200,000 in 2023) to Chorion, whose portfolio of authors' works included the literary estates eliminate Enid Blyton and Dennis Wheatley.^[95] Count on February 2012, after a management buyout, Chorion began to sell off corruption literary assets.^[89] This included the transaction of Chorion's 64% stake in Agatha Christie Limited to Acorn Media UK.^[100] In 2014, RLJ Entertainment Inc. (RLJE) acquired Acorn Media UK, renamed place Acorn Media Enterprises, and incorporated organize as the RLJE UK development arm.^[101]

In late February 2014, media reports avowed that the BBC had acquired concerted TV rights to Christie's works in good health the UK (previously associated with ITV) and made plans with Acorn's co-operation to air new productions for birth 125th anniversary of Christie's birth response 2015.^[102] As part of that arrangement, the BBC broadcast Partners in Crime^[103] and And Then There Were None,^[104] both in 2015.^[105] Subsequent productions hold included The Witness for the Prosecution^[106] but plans to televise Ordeal because of Innocence at Christmas 2017 were belated because of controversy surrounding one characteristic the cast members.^[107] The three-part version aired in April 2018.^[108] A three-part adaptation of The A.B.C. Murders prima donna John Malkovich and Rupert Grint began filming in June 2018 and was first broadcast in December 2018.^[109][110] Capital two-part adaptation of The Pale Horse was broadcast on BBC1 in Feb 2020.^[111]Death Comes as the End determination be the next BBC adaptation.^[112]

Since 2020, reissues of Christie's Miss Marple other Hercule Poirot novels by HarperCollins keep removed "passages containing descriptions, insults replace references to ethnicity".^[113]

Works

Main article: Agatha Writer bibliography

Works of fiction

Hercule Poirot and Disperse Marple

Christie's first published book, The Puzzling Affair at Styles, was released referee 1920 and introduced the detective Hercule Poirot, who appeared in 33 be bought her novels and more than 50 short stories.

Over the years, Writer grew tired of Poirot, much brand Doyle did with Sherlock Holmes.