“T JZXAU LEPKQJ….. (Please refer to your newspaper for complete puzzle.)
TODAY’S CLUE: O = R
ANSWER: “I FOUND MYSELF MAKING UP STORIES AND ACTING THE DIFFERENT PARTS, AND THERE’S NOTHING LIKE BOREDOM TO MAKE YOU WRITE.” — AGATHA CHRISTIE
Agatha Christie
September 15, 1890 – January 12, 1976 • aged 85 • English Author & Playwright
Overview
Agatha Christie was an English author best known for her detective novels and short stories. She created two of mystery fiction’s most famous detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, and wrote enduring works including Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and And Then There Were None.
Early Life
Christie was born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller in Torquay, Devon, England. She was largely educated at home and developed an interest in storytelling while young. During World War I, she worked in hospital settings and gained knowledge of medicines and poisons that later found their way into many of her mysteries.
Hercule Poirot
Christie’s first published novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, appeared in 1920 and introduced Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. He became one of her most recognizable characters and later appeared in celebrated mysteries including The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, and Death on the Nile.
Miss Marple
Christie created another famous detective with Miss Jane Marple, an observant amateur sleuth from the fictional English village of St. Mary Mead. Miss Marple made her novel debut in The Murder at the Vicarage in 1930 and became the central character in numerous later mysteries.
The Mousetrap
Christie’s talents extended beyond novels to the stage. Her murder mystery The Mousetrap opened in London’s West End in 1952 and became famous for its extraordinarily long run. She also wrote successful plays including Witness for the Prosecution.
Queen of Crime
Christie wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, along with six novels under the name Mary Westmacott. Her books have sold more than two billion copies, and in 1971 she was made a Dame for her contribution to literature. Her mysteries continue to be adapted for stage, television, and film.
Sources