Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller,
better known as Agatha Christie, was an English writer specializing in the
police and romantic genres, whose work received international recognition.
Began to write her first stories from an early age and during World War II, she served as a nurse in a hospital, a profession which she defined as "one of the most rewarding jobs anyone can have". She also worked on a nearest clinic belonging to the Red Cross, which had some influence on her works and that many of the reported murders were carried out with poison.
Most of her novels and stories have been made into a film, some on more than one occasion, such as Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile. One exception was a film entitled “Agatha” in 1979 by the British Michael Apted, where was taken the figure of the writer: her mysterious disappearance for several days in 1920. Poirot, Miss Marple and other detectives also appeared in numerous films, radio programs and theater performances.
From 1971 to 1974, the writer's health began to deteriorate significantly, but continued to work. In January 1976 she suffered a severe flu-like and continue weakening her physical condition, granted copyrights to her grandson, “The Mousetrap”. She died of natural causes on January 12, at 85 years old at her residence Winterbrook House in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, although some studies by Canadian researchers expressed the view that Christie may have suffered Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia in her last years.
Until her death, she received numerous awards and honors including an Edgar Award, the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers Association, several honorary doctorates and the appointment as Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
