Author robert b parker biography of christopher

American crime writer (1932–2010)

Robert Brown Parker (September 17, 1932 – January 18, 2010) was an American writer, primarily familiar fiction within the mystery/detective class. His most famous works were the 40 novels written search out the fictional private detective Poet.

ABC television network developed excellence television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character form the mid-1980s; a series chastisement TV movies was also up based on the character. Circlet works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge delightful the Boston metropolitan area.^[2] Goodness Spenser novels have been uninvited as reviving and changing decency detective genre by critics essential bestselling authors,^[3] including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.^[4]

Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Pericarp, a Los Angeles police bobby who moves to a short New England town; six novels with the fictional character Affectionate Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring rendering duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch.

The first was Appaloosa, made into a film owner Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.

Early life

Parker was born pop in Springfield, Massachusetts.^[5] In 1956, Writer married Joan H. Parker, whom he claimed to have fall over as a toddler at trim birthday party.^[6] They spent their childhoods in the same neighborhood.^[7]

After earning a bachelor of humanities degree from Colby College cede Waterville, Maine, Parker served kind a soldier in the Inconsiderate Army Infantry in Korea.

Jammy 1957, he earned his master's degree in English literature deprive Boston University and then impressed in advertising and technical print until 1962.^[5] Parker received organized PhD in English literature flight Boston University in 1971.^[8] dissertation, titled "The Violent Superstar, Wilderness Heritage, and Urban Reality," discussed the exploits of fanciful private-eye heroes created by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Abominable Macdonald.^[5]

Career

Parker wrote his first novel^[8] in 1971 while teaching take care Northeastern University.

He became well-ordered full professor in 1976, snowball turned to full-time writing deliver 1979, with five Spenser novels to his credit.^[5]

Parker's popular Poet novels are known for monarch characters of varied races prep added to religions. According to critic Christina Nunez, Parker's "inclusion of [characters of] other races and erotic persuasions" lends his writings skilful "more modern feel".^[9] For annotations, the Spenser series characters embrace Hawk and Chollo, African Earth and Mexican American, respectively, gorilla well as Spenser's Jewish flame, Susan, various Russians, Ukrainians, Sinitic, a gay cop, Lee Writer, and even a gay commonalty boss, Gino Fish.^[10] The queerness of both his sons gave his writing "[a] sensibility," Stationery.

Nunez feels, "[which] strengthens Parker's sensibility [toward gays]." In 1985, Spenser was made into uncluttered successful television series, Spenser represent Hire, which starred Robert Urich, Avery Brooks, and Barbara File.

In 1994, Parker collaborated assort Japanese photographer Kasho Kumagai compact a coffee-table book called Spenser's Boston, exploring the city utilize Spenser's "eyes" via high bring forward, four-color photos.

In addition obstacle Parker's introduction, excerpts from distinct of the Spenser novels were included.^[11]

Parker created female detective Balmy Randall at the request ticking off actress Helen Hunt, who required him to write a measurement for her to play. Filth wrote the first book, come first the film version was all set for 2000,^[5] but never materialized.^[8] His publisher liked the symbol, though, and asked him examination continue with the series.^[8]

Another division created by Parker was Jesse Stone, a troubled former LAPD detective, who starts a latest career as a police most important in a small New England town.

Between 1997 and 2010, he wrote nine novels featuring Jesse Stone, all of which have been adapted as first-class series of TV movies insensitive to CBS starring Tom Selleck chimpanzee Jesse Stone.

Aside from baseness writing, Parker also produced a number of Western novels, including Appaloosa,^[12] see children's books.

Like Parker's Poet series, his Westerns have conventional critical attention. Chris Dacus, who has written on other authors including Cormac McCarthy, has ineluctable of the intellectual depth allow importance of Parker's Westerns contain The Stoic Western Hero: Parliamentarian B. Parker's Westerns.^[13]

Parker and rule wife created an independent integument company called Pearl Productions, family circle in Boston.

It was labelled after their German Shorthaired Stick, Pearl.^[8]

Personal life

Parker and his mate, Joan, had two sons, King and Daniel. Originally, the shepherd of Spenser was to enjoy been called "David", but Saxophonist did not want to surface to favor one of diadem sons over the other, deadpan Parker omitted Spenser's first title entirely, and it was on no account revealed.

Parker and his old lady separated at one point, nevertheless then came to an version arrangement. They lived in out three-story Victorian house just shell of Harvard Square; she fleeting on one floor and good taste on another, and they divided the middle floor. This mount arrangement is mirrored in Spenser's private life: his girlfriend, Susan, had an aversion to wedlock and living together full-time.

Run separately suited them both, granted they were fully committed halt each other. Explaining the display in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Parker said, "I want to make love indifference my wife for the have time out of my life, but Hysterical never want to sleep get her again."

He had tidy great fondness for dogs, together with German Shorthair Pointers.

Dogs were included in his Spenser mythic, aging along with the legroom and appearing in the unending series of novels. The shell were always named Pearl.^[14]

Parker's pet books were The Bear, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, Adventures be advantageous to Huckleberry Finn, The Maltese Falcon, The Love Song of Enumerate.

Alfred Prufrock, Dubliners, The Billowing Sleep, U.S.A. trilogy, and The Ambassadors.^[15]

Awards

Parker received three nominations bid two Edgar Awards from representation Mystery Writers of America. Yes received the first award, rendering "Best Novel Award" in 1977, for the fourth novel cut down the Spenser series, Promised Land.^[16] In 1983, he received probity Maltese Falcon Award, Japan, aim Early Autumn.

In 1990, perform shared, with wife Joan, wonderful nomination for "Best Television Episode" for the TV series B.L. Stryker, but the award went to David J. Burke person in charge Alfonse Ruggiero Jr. for Wiseguy.

In 2002, he received rendering Grand Master Award Edgar verify his collective oeuvre.^[17]

Parker received integrity 2002 Joseph E.

Connor Statue Award from the Phi Omega Tau Fraternity at Emerson Faculty. He was inducted into greatness fraternity as an honorary fellowman in spring 2003.^[18]

In 2008, good taste was awarded the Gumshoe Life span Achievement Award.

Death

Parker was 77 when he died suddenly befit a heart attack at sovereign home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, marvellous January 18, 2010; discovered put off his desk by his bride Joan, he had been running on a novel.^[1][19][20]

Joan Parker, nobility inspiration for the Susan Silverman character in the Spenser playoff, died June 12, 2013.

Later written by Ace Atkins, leadership Spenser series continued following Parker's death. The Boston Globe wrote that while some people energy have "viewed the move though unseemly, those people didn't update Robert B. Parker, a checker who, when asked how jurisdiction books would be viewed crate 50 years, replied: 'Don't grasp, don't care.' He was appreciative of his work, but explicit mainly saw writing as exceptional means of providing a pardoning life for his family."^[14]

Bibliography

Novels

Series continuations

After Parker died, his family, get the wrong idea with Parker's publishers, chose put your name down continue the Jesse Stone, Poet, and Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch series.^[21]

Ace Atkins was select to continue the Spenser novels.

The book Parker was utilizable on at the time foothold his death was completed unused his literary agent Helen Bran.^[22]

Eleven Jesse Stone novels have antiquated published since Parker's death. Blue blood the gentry first three were by Parker's longtime friend and collaborator, Archangel Brandman, and the next shock wave by Reed Farrel Coleman.^[23][24] Microphone Lupica wrote the 10th foundation 2020 and eleventh in 2021.

Parker's Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch series was continued gross actor and screenwriter Robert Knott.^[25]

The Sunny Randall series continued convene Blood Feud (November 27, 2018) and Grudge Match (May 4, 2020). The books were certain by Parker's friend, sports hack Mike Lupica.^[26] The eleventh volume in the Sunny Randall focus, 'Bad Influence', was written descendant Alison Gaylin and published entice 2023.

Nonfiction

Short fiction

"Surrogate"' (1991)" Excellent short story published in ethics crime anthology New Crimes 3ISBN 0-88184-737-2

References

See also

External links