Product Description

The life of Agatha Christie as told by herself. It covers her childhood, her first marriage, the birth of her daughter Rosalind, her second marriage to archaeologist Max Mallowan, and an account of her legendary career as a novelist and playwright.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7655 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 560 pages

Review
'Wonderfully easy to read and engrossing.' The Times 'The best thing she has ever written.' Woman's Own 'Agatha Christie's most absorbing mystery - the story of her own unusual life. She has put it all on record: her early romances; a broken (and a happy) marriage; strange events on the path to roaring success.' Daily Mail 'A wonderful book - written with a delight in the gradual unfolding of 75 years through the eyes of an exceptional old lady and writer.' Financial Times

The Queen of Crime in her own words - and what a great tale she has to tell. You don't have to be an Agatha Christie fan to love this account of her activities, with reflections on life at the end of the 19th century, her travels abroad, archaeological digs in the desert, the relationship between mistress and servant, and even the way food has changed in the last century. The book, originally published a year after Christie's death in 1976, naturally focuses greatly on the author's writing life and reveals how she put together the plots for some of her most famous whodunnits. The Christie eye for character and detail is in evidence throughout, so that her cast of real-life characters leaps off the page. The writing style is amiable and easy-flowing, and as an insight into a bygone age it can't be beaten. This is a book you won't be able to put down. (Kirkus UK)

About the Author
Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all time. She has sold over 2 billion novels worldwide and has been translated into more languages than any other single writer.

Born on 15 September 1890 in Devon, England, her career spanned six decades in which time she published 80 novels and short story collections and 19 plays. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles published in 1920, was written as a result of a challenge from her sister. In it she would introduce to the world Hercule Poirot, one of the most famous fictional characters of all time. Poirot would appear in over 80 novels and short stories. Nine years later Agatha created Miss Marple - a spinster sleuth who would become so popular she would rival Poirot in the nation's affections.

Her writing won her many fans including the royal family. When Queen Mary was approaching her 80th birthday, the BBC asked how she would want them to celebrate it. She requested a new Christie play! Three Blind Mice was duly written for the radio; it would later be adapted into The Mousetrap and become the longest continuously running play in history.

Although best known for her detective fiction, Christie also wrote a number of books that give us insight into her world. Her autobiography, published the year after her death provides a full, and often humorous, account of her life and Come, Tell Me How You Live chronicles her travels as the wife of a world famous archaeologist, on digs in the Middle East.

Agatha Christie had a truly remarkable life; she was a very private lady though her love of travel and archaeology shines through in her work. Her most famous novel Murder on the Orient Express celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2009 and was inspired by her own travels on the train, when she too became stranded due to weather.

After a hugely successful career and a very happy life Agatha died peacefully on 12 January 1976.

Customer Reviews

It's a fascinating read.
You do not have to be a fan of Agatha Christie's books to enjoy this book.Despite being called "An Autobiography" it is really more a book of the parts of her life which she wanted to remember. She tells in great detail about her childhood and early life, and remembers many humerous and inconsequential events. This is what makes the book such a joy to read. You do not get blow by blow narrative of events but muses on servants,food and interesting people.The book tells of a world that has dissapeared.the book is incredibly easy to read as it flows well and the events in it are most interesting, like a trip around the world and tales of archelogical digs in the desert. All in all a great read.

A fascinating insight into a bygone era
There are literaly thousands of autobiographical books on the market - so why should this one stand out? I found the beauty of this book to be the fact that it was actually written by the author - rather than ghostwritten as so many autobiographies are. As well as giving a fascinating insight into Victorian England, Agatha Christie explains how she formulated the plots to many of her most sucessful works - including The Mousetrap. In addition, as a very well travelled lady, the book gives detailed accounts of travel throughout the middle east and archealogical expeditions with her second husband Max in the years around the second world war.

a really nice book
An interesting and authentic insight in the life of the famous author Agatha Christie, including the story how she became an author. Born at end of the 19th century the changings in habits of life she shows us were amazing! She let us uderstand the life of the late Victorian age (represented by her grandmothers), give us a look how servents where treated and respected, let us understand a time which is so far away from our actual life that it's hardly to believe it was only yesterday. Have a look at bathing and swimming habits and the great transformations they've been to.
Easy to read, a book you'll love to put on your bedside table!