Agatha Christie was a renowned British author, best known for her detective novels and short stories. Born on September 15, 1890, in Torquay, England, she created iconic characters such as Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her works have sold over two billion copies worldwide, making her one of the best-selling authors in history. Christie's writing career began in the early 20th century, with her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, published in 1920. She wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, along with plays like The Mousetrap, which holds the record for the longest-running play in London’s West End.