Exhibition of rarely seen photographs to provide clues about the mysterious life of Agatha Christie

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

Exhibition of rarely seen photographs promises new insights into the life of Agatha Christie at Bankside Gallery, London

Presenting never-before-seen photographs from the author’s private collection, Agatha Christie: Unfinished Portrait promises to provide a compelling portrait of the mysterious crime writer.

With a portrait of Agatha Christie by noted expressionist artist Oscar Kokoschka as its centrepiece, the exhibition at London's Bankside Gallery this August will explore the stories behind the photographs of the most widely published author of all time.

The exhibition, which will include quotes from the author drawn from unpublished personal correspondence, has also met with approval from the Christie family.

“It is very moving to see …these wonderful photographs presented so beautifully for everyone to enjoy,” says Mathew Prichard, Christie’s grandson and Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd. “I  cannot think of a more fitting way to celebrate my grandmother’s life in this 125th anniversary year.”

Following their London debut, the photographs will tour, first appearing at Torre Abbey in Torquay as part of the International Agatha Christie Festival from September 11-20.

A timeline marking key milestones in Christie's life will run alongside the pictures, recording such events as the first performance of The Mousetrap, the world’s longest running play, and the publication of her definitive works.

The billion-selling author of more than 86 novels and short story collections and19 plays, Christie wrote her first detective novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles featuring Hercule Poirot during the First World War. 

The character is thought to have been inspired by Belgian refugees living in Christie’s hometown of Torquay where she was working as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse.

In 1926, experiencing marital difficulties Christie disappeared in mysterious circumstances - provoking a storm of publicity.

Over a thousand police officers and 15,000 volunteers were involved in the search, while Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tried to locate her using a medium.

She was finally found in Harrogate, Yorkshire after 10 days but the events surrounding her disappearance are still debated.

The exhibition runs from August 26 to September 6 2015.

• For more information visit www.banksidegallery.com and www.agathachristiefestival.com.

More from Culture24's Literary History section: 

Family of Agatha Christie reveal fan letters author replied to in author's 125th birthday year

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/literary-history/art529110-new-photography-exhibition-to-provide-clues-about-the-mysterious-life-of-agatha-christie