Agatha Christie: The Woman and Her Mysteries

Since the publication of "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" in 1917, Agatha Christie has become one of the most widely read authors ever. Yet despite her international reputation as a mystery writer, little is known of Christie's private life and motivations - she remains, in fact, her own greatest unsolved mystery. Through a critical reading of her work, this book presents a portrait of Agatha Christie as a brilliant and passionate woman and professional for whom the rigid conventions of the detective genre provided a protective cover while enabling her to express her most inner self. Chistie's unconventional cast of characters - young men as sex objects, young women as breadwinners, women over 60 as mates of younger men - defy stereotypes of gender and age and confound established scenarios. Her lasting popularity is a testament to a unique and determined woman whose fictional creations sparked the fantasies of her millions of readers while reaffirming her personal values and happiness.