Agatha at 127

Today marks what would have been the 127th birthday of the creator of what are -- arguably -- some of modern literature’s best-loved and best known characters.

According to Christie’s official Web site, Agatha Christie was born Agatha Miller in Torquay, England, on September 15, 1890. She got the last name -- Christie -- when she married her husband, Archibald Christie, in 1914. The couple’s daughter, Rosalind, was born in 1919. The couple divorced in 1928.

By that time, Christie had already gained a reputation as a writer. Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was published in 1920 and included that nutty but now internationally beloved Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Christie would go on to include Poirot in 54 short stories and 33 novels.

In 1930, Christie married archaeologist Max Mallowan. She accompanied Mallowan on many of his digs and was undoubtedly creatively influenced by the relationship and her time spent in the Middle East. This is best seen in the novels Murder in Mesopotamia, from 1936, and Death on the Nile, from 1937.

Christie was given England’s highest honor in 1971 when she was awarded to the Order of Dame Commander of the British Empire and created as Dame Agatha. She continued to write prolifically until the time of her death in 1976. Her last novel, Sleeping Murder, was published the year she died and featured her other much beloved recurring sleuth, Miss Jane Marple.

Dame Agatha died peacefully at home on January 12, 1976.

According to The Writer’s Almanac, September 15th is a big day in the world of literary birthdays. In addition to Dame Agatha, other writers born on this day include Robert Benchley, James Fenimore Cooper, Robert McCloskey and François VI, duke de La Rochefoucauld.