Born in 1890 in Torquay, this individual developed an early (1) for reading and storytelling that would eventually make them one of the best selling fiction writers in history.
Their first novel, published in 1920, introduced a (2) Belgian detective with an extraordinary moustache and an even more extraordinary mind. It was not an immediate success, but they persisted, and over the next five decades produced more than seventy novels, fourteen short story collections and several plays, making them one of the most (3) crime writers in history.
Their plots were (4), their settings varied and their knowledge of poisons surprisingly precise, a result of working in a hospital (5) during the First World War. Readers never quite knew where the clues were hidden, and the solutions were almost always genuinely (6). One play they wrote in 1952 became the longest (7) in theatre history and is still being performed today.
Their personal life was not without drama. In 1926, following a family (8), they disappeared for eleven days, sparking a nationwide search. They were eventually found in a hotel in Yorkshire, apparently suffering from (9). They never spoke publicly about what had happened, and the truth was never established.
They died in 1976. Between the Bible and Shakespeare, they remain the best selling fiction (10) of all time.
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Born in 1890 in Torquay, this individual developed an early (1) passion for reading and storytelling that would eventually make them one of the best selling fiction writers in history.
Their first novel, published in 1920, introduced a (2) fastidious Belgian detective with an extraordinary moustache and an even more extraordinary mind. It was not an immediate success, but they persisted, and over the next five decades produced more than seventy novels, fourteen short story collections and several plays, making them one of the most (3) prolific crime writers in history.
Their plots were (4) intricate, their settings varied and their knowledge of poisons surprisingly precise, a result of working in a hospital (5) dispensary during the First World War. Readers never quite knew where the clues were hidden, and the solutions were almost always genuinely (6) surprising. One play they wrote in 1952 became the longest (7) running in theatre history and is still being performed today.
Their personal life was not without drama. In 1926, following a family (8) crisis, they disappeared for eleven days, sparking a nationwide search. They were eventually found in a hotel in Yorkshire, apparently suffering from (9) amnesia. They never spoke publicly about what had happened, and the truth was never established.
They died in 1976. Between the Bible and Shakespeare, they remain the best selling fiction (10) writer of all time.
▶ Click to show questions for discussion.
This individual is one of the best selling fiction writers of all time, yet their first novel was not an immediate success. Do you think persistence is more important than talent in becoming a successful writer?
Their knowledge of poisons came from working in a hospital dispensary during the First World War. Do you think life experience is an important ingredient in good fiction writing?
In 1926 they disappeared for eleven days and were found apparently suffering from amnesia. Do you think the public has a right to know the private details of a famous person's life?
One of their plays has been running continuously in London since 1952. Have you ever seen a long running stage production? What do you think makes a piece of theatre endure for so long?
They are ranked alongside the Bible and Shakespeare as the best selling writer of all time. Do you think crime fiction deserves to be taken as seriously as literary fiction?
