British author Agatha Christie has over 2 billion copies of her books in print. But did you know her own action-packed life could rival the best of her fiction?
Click start to play today’s Crossword, where you can spot Christie in one of the clues.
From Murder on the Orient Express to The ABC Murders to Death on the Nile, Christie’s prolific writing and gripping plot lines have endeared her to millions of people around the world. She wrote at least 71 books in her lifetime, and one of her plays, The Mousetrap, which opened in 1952, is still running in London, UK, today. So beloved are her books that Christie is considered to be the third bestselling novelist of all time, outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare, according to her website.
Here are a few facts about the famed author’s life that will help you get to know her better:
1. Her mother was against Christie learning to read
Christie’s mother was said to be against her daughter learning how to read until age eight, and even refused to let her pursue any formal education until the age of 15, when she was sent to a Paris finishing school. So, Christie taught herself to read, devouring any reading material she could get her hands on.
2. Her first novel was written on a dare
In her adolescence, Christie spent most of her time reading books and writing stories. One day, her sister Madge dared her to pursue a novel-length project. Christie accepted, and came up with The Mysterious Affair at Styles – a mystery novel about a soldier on sick leave who finds himself in the middle of a murder at a friend’s estate. The novel featured her iconic protagonist, Hercule Poirot, but was rejected by six publishers before being printed in 1920.
3. She once disappeared
In 1926, Christie was quite well known and had a growing, loyal fan base. But abruptly one day, she walked out of her home and disappeared without a trace. For 10 days, no one knew where she was, and suspicions abounded, especially surrounding her husband, who had recently disclosed he was having an affair and wanted a divorce. A police manhunt ensued. Eventually, Christie resurfaced – she had driven out of town to a spa, possibly to get her mind off her stressful family life. Some believe it was a publicity stunt, while her family claimed she had experienced a sort of amnesic event.
4. She was part of a detection club
The London Detection Club, founded in 1928, was a social gathering of notable crime writers in England. Members pledged to never hide vital clues from their readers and to never use entirely fictional potions as a plot crutch. Christie was an active member and even became honorary president of the club in 1956, with one condition: she never wanted to give any speeches.
5. She loved surfing
Christie often seems matronly in photographs taken of her going about her day, but the mystery author could have once be found riding waves around the world. With her husband, she went on a travelling spree in 1922, from South Africa all the way to Honolulu, Hawaii. In every city, the couple became progressively better at surfing. Some historians think the pair could have been among the first British surfers to learn how to ride standing up!
What do you think of Christie’s colourful life? Play today’s Crossword and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
