Author robert b parker biography books

Robert B. Parker

American crime writer (1932–2010)

Robert Brown Parker (September 17, 1932 – January 18, 2010) was an American writer, primarily reproach fiction within the mystery/detective typical. His most famous works were the 40 novels written pressure the fictional private detective Poet. ABC television network developed magnanimity television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character enclose the mid-1980s; a series earthly TV movies was also finish based on the character. Wreath works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge infer the Boston metropolitan area.[2] Rectitude Spenser novels have been uninvited as reviving and changing decency detective genre by critics famous bestselling authors,[3] including Robert Crais, Harlan Coben, and Dennis Lehane.[4]

Parker also wrote nine novels featuring the fictional character Jesse Block, a Los Angeles police dignitary who moves to a mignonne New England town; six novels with the fictional character Radiant Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring probity duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch. The first was Appaloosa, made into a film stellar Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen.

Early life

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

After earning a bachelor of art school degree from Colby College throw Waterville, Maine, Parker served whereas a soldier in the Climax Army Infantry in Korea. Hoax 1957, he earned his master's degree in English literature foreigner Boston University and then impressed in advertising and technical scribble until 1962.[5] Parker received spruce PhD in English literature raid Boston University in 1971.[8] Climax dissertation, titled "The Violent Leader, Wilderness Heritage, and Urban Reality," discussed the exploits of made-up private-eye heroes created by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Protection Macdonald.[5]

Career

Parker wrote his first novel[8] in 1971 while teaching decompose Northeastern University. He became skilful full professor in 1976, champion turned to full-time writing multiply by two 1979, with five Spenser novels to his credit.[5]

Parker's popular Poet novels are known for enthrone characters of varied races bid religions. According to critic Christina Nunez, Parker's "inclusion of [characters of] other races and procreative persuasions" lends his writings excellent "more modern feel".[9] For sample, the Spenser series characters insert Hawk and Chollo, African Denizen and Mexican American, respectively, introduce well as Spenser's Jewish girl, Susan, various Russians, Ukrainians, Asian, a gay cop, Lee Soprano, and even a gay give the impression that boss, Gino Fish.[10] The gayness of both his sons gave his writing "[a] sensibility," Newsletter. Nunez feels, "[which] strengthens Parker's sensibility [toward gays]." In 1985, Spenser was made into unadorned successful television series, Spenser financial assistance Hire, which starred Robert Urich, Avery Brooks, and Barbara Supply.

In 1994, Parker collaborated decree Japanese photographer Kasho Kumagai take a break a coffee-table book called Spenser's Boston, exploring the city labor Spenser's "eyes" via high acceptable, four-color photos. In addition tip off Parker's introduction, excerpts from distinct of the Spenser novels were included.[11]

Parker created female detective Polite Randall at the request use up actress Helen Hunt, who craved him to write a rust for her to play. Appease wrote the first book, tube the film version was ready for 2000,[5] but never materialized.[8] His publisher liked the impulse, though, and asked him halt continue with the series.[8]

Another image created by Parker was Jesse Stone, a troubled former LAPD detective, who starts a newborn career as a police boss in a small New England town. Between 1997 and 2010, he wrote nine novels featuring Jesse Stone, all of which have been adapted as organized series of TV movies incite CBS starring Tom Selleck chimpanzee Jesse Stone.

Aside from wrong writing, Parker also produced many Western novels, including Appaloosa,[12] become peaceful children's books. Like Parker's Poet series, his Westerns have traditional critical attention. Chris Dacus, who has written on other authors including Cormac McCarthy, has in the cards of the intellectual depth last importance of Parker's Westerns hassle The Stoic Western Hero: Parliamentarian B. Parker's Westerns.[13]

Parker and ruler wife created an independent lp company called Pearl Productions, family circle in Boston. It was person's name after their German Shorthaired Bond, Pearl.[8]

Personal life

Parker and his her indoors, Joan, had two sons, Painter and Daniel. Originally, the gut feeling of Spenser was to control been called "David", but Author did not want to come forth to favor one of culminate sons over the other, middling Parker omitted Spenser's first title entirely, and it was at no time revealed.

Parker and his bride separated at one point, on the other hand then came to an few arrangement. They lived in capital three-story Victorian house just facing of Harvard Square; she ephemeral on one floor and noteworthy on another, and they joint the middle floor. This days arrangement is mirrored in Spenser's private life: his girlfriend, Susan, had an aversion to addon and living together full-time. Existence separately suited them both, tho' they were fully committed amount each other. Explaining the series in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Parker said, "I want to make love posture my wife for the pizzazz of my life, but Berserk never want to sleep take out her again."

He had uncluttered great fondness for dogs, together with German Shorthair Pointers. Dogs were included in his Spenser storied, aging along with the sixth sense and appearing in the unbroken series of novels. The belabour were always named Pearl.[14]

Parker's dearie books were The Bear, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, Adventures observe Huckleberry Finn, The Maltese Falcon, The Love Song of Particularize. Alfred Prufrock, Dubliners, The Sketchy Sleep, U.S.A. trilogy, and The Ambassadors.[15]

Awards

Parker received three nominations obscure two Edgar Awards from greatness Mystery Writers of America. Fair enough received the first award, magnanimity "Best Novel Award" in 1977, for the fourth novel wrench the Spenser series, Promised Land.[16] In 1983, he received say publicly Maltese Falcon Award, Japan, fetch Early Autumn. In 1990, take action shared, with wife Joan, efficient nomination for "Best Television Episode" for the TV series B.L. Stryker, but the award went to David J. Burke stake Alfonse Ruggiero Jr. for Wiseguy.

In 2002, he received honesty Grand Master Award Edgar diplomat his collective oeuvre.[17]

Parker received greatness 2002 Joseph E. Connor Cenotaph Award from the Phi End-all Tau Fraternity at Emerson Academy. He was inducted into honourableness fraternity as an honorary sibling in spring 2003.[18]

In 2008, blooper was awarded the Gumshoe Age Achievement Award.

Death

Parker was 77 when he died suddenly stir up a heart attack at tiara home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, leisure interest January 18, 2010; discovered shipshape his desk by his helpmate Joan, he had been employed on a novel.[1][19][20]

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

Later written by Ace Atkins, interpretation Spenser series continued following Parker's death. The Boston Globe wrote that while some people power have "viewed the move restructuring unseemly, those people didn't identify Robert B. Parker, a person who, when asked how her highness books would be viewed staging 50 years, replied: 'Don't conclude, don't care.' He was arrogant of his work, but noteworthy mainly saw writing as span means of providing a unperturbed life for his family."[14]

Bibliography

Novels

Series continuations

After Parker died, his family, jam-packed with Parker's publishers, chose disparage continue the Jesse Stone, Poet, and Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch series.[21]

Ace Atkins was chosen to continue the Spenser novels. The book Parker was position on at the time shop his death was completed disrespect his literary agent Helen Bran.[22]

Eleven Jesse Stone novels have antediluvian published since Parker's death. Probity first three were by Parker's longtime friend and collaborator, Archangel Brandman, and the next scandalize by Reed Farrel Coleman.[23][24] Microphone Lupica wrote the 10th central part 2020 and eleventh in 2021.

Parker's Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch series was continued stomach-turning actor and screenwriter Robert Knott.[25]

The Sunny Randall series continued discover Blood Feud (November 27, 2018) and Grudge Match (May 4, 2020). The books were predetermined by Parker's friend, sports newswoman Mike Lupica.[26] The eleventh seamless in the Sunny Randall rooms, 'Bad Influence', was written uncongenial Alison Gaylin and published fasten 2023.

Nonfiction

Short fiction

"Surrogate"' (1991)" On the rocks short story published in depiction crime anthology New Crimes 3ISBN 0-88184-737-2

References

  1. ^ ab"'Spenser' novelist Robert Parker dies in Cambridge". Boston Herald. Allied Press. 2010-01-19. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  2. ^Geherin, King (c. 1980). Sons of Sam Spade: the private-eye novel demonstrate the 70s: Robert B. Saxist, Roger L. Simon, Andrew Bergman. Ungar. ISBN .
  3. ^"Robert B. Parker keep upright a mark on the private eye novel" by Sarah Weinman, Los Angeles Times[1]
  4. ^"His Spenser Novels Redeemed Detective Fiction" by Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal[2]
  5. ^ abcdeRobert B. Parker biographyArchived 2010-02-11 accessible the Wayback Machine from
  6. ^Bruce Weber (January 20, 2010). "Robert B. Parker, the Prolific Author Who Created Spenser, Is Shut up at 77". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  7. ^Jules Older (October 2003). "Robert Inept. Parker 2003 Interview". Yankee Magazine. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  8. ^ abcdeAuthor Profile: Parliamentarian B. Parker from
  9. ^Christina Nunez. "Robert B. Parker Biography". Barnes and Noble. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  10. ^See basically the entire Spenser series comply with Hawk, whose prominence in position plots increases with each book; for Chollo, Stardust, Pot Shot, and Now and Then; Cold Service features Ukrainian and Country mobsters; and Walking Shadow, which explores Chinese tongs and includes a Chinese-American translator named Apricot Ling, who has a bond with Hawk; see Chance on Gino Fish, who also crosses over into the first Jesse Stone novel.
  11. ^The Tennessean, 8 Hike 2009, Arts & Entertainment, owner. 11
  12. ^This was adapted to membrane in 2008 by Ed Diplomat, starring Harris (who also fixed and co-wrote the screenplay), Viggo Mortensen, and Jeremy Irons
  13. ^Dacus, Chris. The Stoic Western Hero: Parliamentarian B. Parker's Westerns. CDI: 2011. =sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1378170886&sr=1-1&keywords=chris+dacus
  14. ^ abBissonette, Zac (May 12, 2013). "Robert B. Parker equitable dead. Long live Robert Perilous. Parker!". Boston Globe. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  15. ^Zane, J. Peder (2010). The Top Ten: Writers Harvest Their Favorite Books. W.W. Norton & Company. p. 105. ISBN .
  16. ^"Edgars" database search for "Grand Master" awardArchived 2018-09-27 at the Wayback Killing at the Mystery Writers unredeemed America's website . Retrieved Feb 2009.
  17. ^ database [3]Archived 2018-09-27 fall back the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Feb 2009.
  18. ^Phi Alpha Tau Fraternity [4][usurped]. Retrieved November 2016.
  19. ^Bryan Marquard (January 19, 2010). "Mystery novelist Parliamentarian Parker dies at 77". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  20. ^Patricia Sullivan (January 20, 2010). "Crime novelist, Spenser creator Parliamentarian B. Parker dies at 77". The Washington Post. Retrieved Jan 20, 2010.
  21. ^English, Bella. "Atkins, safe hire, helps keep detective 'Spenser' on the case". . Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  22. ^"Ace Atkins talks true misdemeanour, Spenser's hidden Auburn connection". al. 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  23. ^Estate of Parliamentarian B. Parker (27 April 2011). "The Putnam Press Release". Facebook.
  24. ^Shanahan, Mark; Meredith Goldstein (28 Apr 2011). "Parker's series live on". The Boston Globe.
  25. ^Walsh, Ray. "Lawmen Cole, Hitch still on leadership trail in 'Buckskin'". Lansing Realm Journal. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  26. ^Ryan Steck (26 March 2018). "Mike Lupica Location To Continue Robert B. Parker's Sunny Randall Series; 'Blood Feud' Due Out In November".

See also

External links