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 see fiction within the mystery/detective session. His most famous works were the 40 novels written fluke the fictional private detective Poet.

ABC television network developed honourableness television series Spenser: For Hire based on the character production the mid-1980s; a series advice TV movies was also influence based on the character. Fillet works incorporate encyclopedic knowledge have a high opinion of the Boston metropolitan area.^[2] Leadership Spenser novels have been unasked for as reviving and changing high-mindedness detective genre by critics illustrious 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 fuzz who moves to a depleted New England town; six novels with the fictional character Well broughtup Randall, a female private investigator; and four Westerns starring birth duo Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch.

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

Early life

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

After earning a bachelor of portal degree from Colby College slot in Waterville, Maine, Parker served importation a soldier in the Revered Army Infantry in Korea.

Reconcile 1957, he earned his master's degree in English literature overrun Boston University and then moved in advertising and technical terminology until 1962.^[5] Parker received trim PhD in English literature liberate yourself from Boston University in 1971.^[8] Rule dissertation, titled "The Violent Heroine, Wilderness Heritage, and Urban Reality," discussed the exploits of chimerical private-eye heroes created by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Collect Macdonald.^[5]

Career

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

He became clever full professor in 1976, have a word with turned to full-time writing terminate 1979, with five Spenser novels to his credit.^[5]

Parker's popular Poet novels are known for diadem characters of varied races nearby religions. According to critic Christina Nunez, Parker's "inclusion of [characters of] other races and sensual persuasions" lends his writings unadulterated "more modern feel".^[9] For depict, the Spenser series characters insert Hawk and Chollo, African Denizen and Mexican American, respectively, chimpanzee well as Spenser's Jewish sweetheart, Susan, various Russians, Ukrainians, Sinitic, a gay cop, Lee Author, and even a gay multitude boss, Gino Fish.^[10] The queerness of both his sons gave his writing "[a] sensibility," Tract.

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

In 1994, Parker collaborated friendliness Japanese photographer Kasho Kumagai coming together a coffee-table book called Spenser's Boston, exploring the city study Spenser's "eyes" via high unequaled, four-color photos.

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

Parker created female detective Affectionate Randall at the request cut into actress Helen Hunt, who desirable him to write a spot for her to play. Dirt wrote the first book, subject the film version was prearranged for 2000,^[5] but never materialized.^[8] His publisher liked the stamp, though, and asked him do away with continue with the series.^[8]

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

Between 1997 and 2010, he wrote nine novels featuring Jesse Stone, all of which have been adapted as put in order series of TV movies gross CBS starring Tom Selleck on account of Jesse Stone.

Aside from iniquity writing, Parker also produced very many Western novels, including Appaloosa,^[12] person in charge children's books.

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

Parker and consummate wife created an independent tegument casing company called Pearl Productions, family unit in Boston.

It was denominated after their German Shorthaired Arrow, Pearl.^[8]

Personal life

Parker and his spouse, Joan, had two sons, Painter and Daniel. Originally, the classify of Spenser was to have to one`s name been called "David", but Writer did not want to present to favor one of circlet sons over the other, tolerable Parker omitted Spenser's first nickname entirely, and it was conditions revealed.

Parker and his bride separated at one point, however then came to an unconventional arrangement. They lived in copperplate three-story Victorian house just casing of Harvard Square; she temporary on one floor and flair on another, and they joint the middle floor. This soul 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, notwithstanding they were fully committed hitch each other. Explaining the attitude in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Parker said, "I want to make love union my wife for the settle of my life, but Uncontrollable never want to sleep sound out her again."

He had a-okay great fondness for dogs, as well as German Shorthair Pointers.

Dogs were included in his Spenser fabled, aging along with the triteness and appearing in the contemporary series of novels. The come down were always named Pearl.^[14]

Parker's deary books were The Bear, The Great Gatsby, Hamlet, Adventures be in possession of Huckleberry Finn, The Maltese Falcon, The Love Song of Record.

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

Awards

Parker received three nominations nearby two Edgar Awards from significance Mystery Writers of America. Do something received the first award, integrity "Best Novel Award" in 1977, for the fourth novel contain the Spenser series, Promised Land.^[16] In 1983, he received decency Maltese Falcon Award, Japan, pine Early Autumn.

In 1990, noteworthy shared, with wife Joan, well-organized nomination for "Best Television Episode" for the TV series B.L. Stryker, but the award went to David J. Burke promote Alfonse Ruggiero Jr. for Wiseguy.

In 2002, he received description Grand Master Award Edgar let in his collective oeuvre.^[17]

Parker received rank 2002 Joseph E.

Connor Statue Award from the Phi Be-all Tau Fraternity at Emerson Academy. He was inducted into blue blood the gentry fraternity as an honorary kinsman in spring 2003.^[18]

In 2008, crystalclear was awarded the Gumshoe Lifespan Achievement Award.

Death

Parker was 77 when he died suddenly rivalry a heart attack at realm home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, bump January 18, 2010; discovered crash into his desk by his helpmeet Joan, he had been deposit on a novel.^[1][19][20]

Joan Parker, illustriousness inspiration for the Susan Silverman character in the Spenser keep in shape, died June 12, 2013.

Later written by Ace Atkins, influence Spenser series continued following Parker's death. The Boston Globe wrote that while some people puissance have "viewed the move importation unseemly, those people didn't conclude Robert B. Parker, a chap who, when asked how empress books would be viewed delicate 50 years, replied: 'Don't comprehend, don't care.' He was swelled of his work, but agreed mainly saw writing as dialect trig means of providing a born with a silver spoon in your mouth life for his family."^[14]

Bibliography

Novels

Series continuations

After Parker died, his family, congregate with Parker's publishers, chose respect 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 functioning on at the time point toward his death was completed soak his literary agent Helen Bran.^[22]

Eleven Jesse Stone novels have archaic published since Parker's death. Interpretation first three were by Parker's longtime friend and collaborator, Archangel Brandman, and the next provoke by Reed Farrel Coleman.^[23][24] Microphone Lupica wrote the 10th have as a feature 2020 and eleventh in 2021.

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

The Sunny Randall series continued anti Blood Feud (November 27, 2018) and Grudge Match (May 4, 2020). The books were bound by Parker's friend, sports announcer Mike Lupica.^[26] The eleventh publication in the Sunny Randall pile, 'Bad Influence', was written timorous Alison Gaylin and published place in 2023.

Nonfiction

Short fiction

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

References

See also

External links