Rosalind Hicks

Rosalind Hicks
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Born	5 August 1919
Birthplace	Ashfield, Torquay, Devon, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Literary custodian
Known for	Only child of Agatha Christie; guardian of her literary estate
Website	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalind_Hicks

Rosalind Margaret Clarissa Hicks (née Christie; 5 August 1919 – 28 October 2004) was the only child of acclaimed novelist Agatha Christie and her first husband, Colonel Archibald Christie. She became the guardian of Christie’s literary legacy and played a pivotal role in shaping how her mother’s work has been managed and presented posthumously.

Early life

Rosalind was born at her grandmother’s residence in Torquay. She spent her early years in Sunningdale before returning to Ashfield following the death of her grandmother. Her parents' marriage ended after her father’s affair, and her mother remarried archaeologist Max Mallowan in 1930 who became a guiding figure in Rosalind’s upbringing. Rosalind's formal education included Benenden School and finishing studies in Switzerland and France. She was also the dedicatee of the novel The Murder at the Vicarage at age eleven.

Marriages and family

During World War II, Rosalind married Major Hubert de Burr Prichard, with whom she had a son, Mathew, in 1943. Tragically, Hubert was killed in action a year later. In 1949 she married Anthony Arthur Hicks, an Oriental scholar and lawyer. The couple settled at Greenway Estate in Devon, the family home gifted to her by Christie in 1959.

Custodian of Agatha Christie’s legacy

Following Agatha Christie's death in 1976, Rosalind inherited a significant portion of her estate, including 36% of the shares in Agatha Christie Limited and the copyrights to several works. She became known for her vigilant oversight of adaptations and authorized publications, often rejecting projects she felt misrepresented her mother's vision. As president of the Agatha Christie Society from 1993, she appointed David Suchet and Joan Hickson as vice presidents, praising their portrayals of Poirot and Miss Marple.

Defense of the original works

Rosalind consistently opposed modernizations or sensational adaptations. In one notable case, she intervened when a planned adaptation of *Towards Zero* included an incest subplot, insisting on changes that led to the film being retitled *Innocent Lies*. She rarely authorized biographies, commissioning only one official life of her mother in 1984.

Personal character and activities

Regarded as private and resolute, Rosalind valued discretion and dedication. She immersed herself in maintaining Greenway’s gardens and homespun way of life, growing her own produce and upholding a peaceful sanctuary for the Christie legacy. She was also passionate about tennis, swimming, and simple country living.

Later years and legacy

Rosalind lived at Greenway until her death in 2004 at the age of 85. Upon her passing, the estate and her share in Agatha Christie Limited passed to her son Mathew, who later transferred Greenway to the National Trust. Rosalind’s stewardship ensured the preservation and integrity of Christie’s oeuvre, and her protective policies shaped how Christie has been remembered and adapted in media.

Notable roles

- Trustee and protector of Agatha Christie’s literary estate - President of the Agatha Christie Society - Defender of authorized adaptations and publications