Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, was an English author renowned for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, especially those featuring fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her play, The Mousetrap, holds the world record for the longest initial run, having been performed in the West End of London since 1952.

A prominent figure during the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction," Christie earned the nickname "Queen of Crime." She also wrote six novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. In recognition of her contributions to literature, she was made a Dame (DBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971. Christie's works have sold over two billion copies, making her the best-selling fiction writer of all time.

Born into a wealthy family in Torquay, Devon, Christie was home-schooled and initially faced six consecutive rejections as a writer. However, her fortunes changed in 1920 with the publication of The Mysterious Affair at Styles, introducing Hercule Poirot. Christie's life was marked by notable events, including her mysterious disappearance for eleven days in 1926, following personal upheavals.

Her second marriage in 1930 to archaeologist Max Mallowan led her to spend several months each year on archaeological digs in the Middle East, influencing her fiction. Christie's international acclaim is reflected in her status as the most-translated individual author, according to UNESCO's Index Translationum. Her novel And Then There Were None ranks among the top-selling books of all time, with approximately 100 million copies sold.

Agatha Christie's legacy endures through numerous adaptations of her works for television, radio, video games, and films. Her profound impact on the crime genre was further acknowledged in 1955 when she became the first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master Award.