An exhibition of photographs, Agatha Christie: Unfinished Portrait: A Life in Photographs, offering a new insight into the life of world famous author will be at Torre Abbey  Opens in a new window between Saturday 12 September until Sunday 18 October.

Featuring never-before-seen photographs from the author’s private collection, the exhibition illustrates the life behind the works of the most widely published author of all time. Torre Abbey is the first venue outside of London to host this exhibition, complemented by a display of original letters and personal anecdotes from global fans collated as part of the #125Stories project.

Each image is accompanied by a quote in Christie’s own words, drawn from both published works and unpublished personal correspondence, beautifully capturing her thoughts and feelings from early childhood, through both marriages and her international adventures, to her years as a world famous author.

A timeline will sit alongside the pictures and mark the key milestones in Christie’s life, including the first performance of the world’s longest running play, The Mousetrap, and the publication of definitive works such as Murder on the Orient Express and And Then There Were None.

Executive Lead for Tourism, Culture and Harbours, Cllr Nicole Amil, said: “This a beautifully curated exhibition including many previously unseen photographs brought together for the 125th anniversary year by the Christie Archive Trust and Agatha Christie Ltd with support from the Colwinston Trust.

“Expressing the author’s humour, intelligence and adventurous nature, including tender moments with family and friends, and accompanied by quotes in Christie’s own words, these photographs offer a new understanding of the woman who became the Queen of Crime.”

Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie’s grandson and Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd, who looks after the Agatha Christie Archive, said: “These wonderful photographs form a key part of the Archive and it is very moving to see them presented so beautifully for everyone to enjoy. I cannot think of a more fitting way to celebrate my grandmother’s life in this 125th anniversary year.”

Agatha Christie: Unfinished Portrait is curated by Alice Graham on behalf of the Christie Archive Trust and Agatha Christie Ltd with support from the Colwinston Trust. The exhibition is coming from its London debut, where it was at Bankside Gallery this summer to mark the 125th anniversary of the Queen of Crime.

Notes to editors

  • Selected images from the exhibition are available from Four Colman Getty
  • Alice Graham, curator and Mathew Prichard, Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd are available for interview via Helen Barnes at Four Colman Getty 0203 697 4275 helen.barnes@fourcolmangetty.com
  • For further information about Agatha Christie visit www.agathachristie.com
  • Bankside Gallery is an educational charity and is home of the Royal Watercolour Society and the Royal Society of Painter - Printmakers.

About Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie is known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime. Her books have sold over a billion copies in English with another billion in foreign languages. She is the most widely published author of all time and is outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. She is the author of over 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels written under the name Mary Westmacott.

Agatha Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, was written towards the end of the First World War, in which she served the VAD. In it she created Hercule Poirot, the little Belgian detective who was destined to become the most popular detective in crime fiction since Sherlock Holmes. It was eventually published by Bodley Head in 1920.

In 1926, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was the first of her books to be published by Collins and marked the beginning of an author-publisher relationship that lasted for 50 years and well over 70 books. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was also the first of Agatha Christie’s books to be dramatized - under the name Alibi - and to have a successful run in London’s West End. The Mousetrap, her most successful play of all, opened in 1952 and is the longest-running play in history. Agatha Christie was made a dame in 1971. She died in 1976.

Agatha Christie Ltd is chaired by Agatha Christie’s grandson Mathew Prichard and managed by CEO Hilary Strong. The company has been managing the literary and media rights to Agatha Christie's works around the world since 1955, working with the best talents in film, television, publishing, stage and on digital platforms. Most recently this has included the global publication of the new Poirot novel The Monogram Murders by bestselling crime writer Sophie Hannah, and the forthcoming BBC One adaptations of Partners in Crime starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine, and And Then There Were None.

News archive

2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014