William Garner (novelist)

Last updated

William Garner (born 1920, in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England - 2005) was an English thriller writer. [1]

Contents

Life and work

Garner graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1941 with a BSc (with honors). He served with the Royal Air Force from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of flight lieutenant. [2]

He married Gwen Owen in 1944 while she was in the WAAF. [1] Their daughter Lesley Garner is the Daily Telegraph's self-help columnist. [1]

He was public relations director for Monsanto Company, London, from 1949 to 1964, and for Massey Ferguson Ltd. (London office) from 1964 to 1966. He became a full-time writer in 1967. [2]

His early novels feature British spy Michael Jagger, a high-living, self-hating, risk-loving ex-agent (in disgrace).

Marghanita Laski writing in The Listener, called Garner "Our cleverest thriller writer". [3] The Observer believed Garner was "A novelist of stature who leaves his own distinctive imprint on the le Carré scene." [4] The Crime Writers' Association short-listed Rat's Alley for their Gold Dagger award. [5]

When asked to describe himself, Garner replied "Strongly motivated. Views on almost everything that matters. Views on what matters might differ from those of many." [2]

He is also the author of the article "Spies and sex make a puzzling mix", first published in The Observer in 1987.

Arthritis increasingly crippled Garner's hands later in life, preventing him from writing. [1]

Bibliography

Michael Jagger novels

John Morpurgo trilogy

Novels

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. S. Forester</span> British novelist, "Hornblower" author (1899–1966)

Cecil Louis Troughton Smith, known by his pen name Cecil Scott "C. S." Forester, was an English novelist known for writing tales of naval warfare, such as the 12-book Horatio Hornblower series depicting a Royal Navy officer during the Napoleonic Wars.

Spy fiction is a genre of literature involving espionage as an important context or plot device. It emerged in the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intrigues between the major powers, and the establishment of modern intelligence agencies. It was given new impetus by the development of fascism and communism in the lead-up to World War II, continued to develop during the Cold War, and received a fresh impetus from the emergence of rogue states, international criminal organizations, global terrorist networks, maritime piracy and technological sabotage and espionage as potent threats to Western societies. As a genre, spy fiction is thematically related to the novel of adventure, the thriller and the politico-military thriller.

Leonard Cyril Deighton is a British author. His publications have included cookery books and works on history, but he is best known for his spy novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Spillane</span> American crime novelist

Frank Morrison Spillane, better known as Mickey Spillane, was an American crime novelist, called the "king of pulp fiction." His stories often feature his signature detective character, Mike Hammer. More than 225 million copies of his books have sold internationally. Spillane was also an occasional actor, once even playing Hammer himself in the 1965 film The Girl Hunters.

Donald Bengtsson Hamilton was an American writer of novels, short stories, and non-fiction about the outdoors. His novels consist mostly of paperback originals, principally spy fiction, but also crime fiction and westerns, such as The Big Country. He is best known for his long-running Matt Helm series (1960-1993), which chronicles the adventures of an undercover counter-agent/assassin working for a secret American government agency. The noted critic Anthony Boucher wrote: "Donald Hamilton has brought to the spy novel the authentic hard realism of Dashiell Hammett; and his stories are as compelling, and probably as close to the sordid truth of espionage, as any now being told."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Wager</span> American novelist

Walter Herman Wager was an American crime and espionage-thriller novelist and former editor-in-chief of Playbill magazine. The movie Telefon, starring Charles Bronson, was inspired by his novel of the same name. His book 58 Minutes was adapted into Die Hard 2, starring Bruce Willis.

Robert Geoffrey Trease FRSL was a prolific British writer who published 113 books, mainly for children, between 1934 and 1997, starting with Bows Against the Barons and ending with Cloak for a Spy in 1997. His work has been translated into 20 languages. His grandfather was a historian, and was one of the main influences on his work. He is best known for the children's novel Cue for Treason (1940).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garson Kanin</span> American film and theatre director, playwright, screenwriter

Garson Kanin was an American writer and director of plays and films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elleston Trevor</span> British novelist and playwright

Elleston Trevor was a British novelist and playwright who wrote under several pseudonyms. Born Trevor Dudley-Smith, he eventually changed his name to Elleston Trevor. Trevor worked in many genres, but is principally remembered for his 1964 adventure story The Flight of the Phoenix, written as Elleston Trevor, and for a series of Cold War thrillers featuring the British secret agent Quiller, written under the pseudonym Adam Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmed Ali (writer)</span> Indian writer and diplomat (1910–1994)

Ahmed Ali was a Pakistani novelist, poet, critic, translator, diplomat and scholar. A pioneer of the modern Urdu short story, his works include the short story collections: Angarey (Embers), 1932; Hamari Gali, 1940; Qaid Khana, 1942; and Maut Se Pehle, 1945. His other writings include Twilight in Delhi (1940), his first novel in the English language.

<i>They Came to Baghdad</i> 1951 adventure novel by Agatha Christie

They Came to Baghdad is an adventure novel by Agatha Christie, first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 5 March 1951 and in the United States by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year. The UK edition retailed at eight shillings and sixpence (8/6) and the US edition at $2.50.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maureen Duffy</span> English poet and novelist, born 1933

Maureen Patricia Duffy is an English poet, playwright, novelist and non-fiction author. Long an activist covering such issues as gay rights and animal rights, she campaigns especially on behalf of authors. She has received the Benson Medal for her lifelong writings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Cleeve</span> English writer

Brian Brendon Talbot Cleeve was a writer, whose published works include twenty-one novels and over a hundred short stories. He was also an award-winning broadcaster on RTÉ television. Son of an Irish father and English mother, he was born and raised in England. He lived in South Africa during the early years of National Party rule and was expelled from the country because of his opposition to apartheid. In his early thirties he moved to Ireland where he lived for the remainder of his life. In late middle age he underwent a profound spiritual experience, which led him to embrace mysticism. He developed a model for the spiritual life based on the principle of obedience to the will of God.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo Semple Jr.</span> American writer (1923–2014)

Lorenzo Elliott Semple III, known professionally as Lorenzo Semple Jr., was an American writer. He is best known for his work on the television series Batman, as well as political thriller films The Parallax View (1974) and Three Days of the Condor (1975).

<i>The Rats</i> (novel) 1974 horror novel by James Herbert

The Rats (1974) is a horror novel by British writer James Herbert. This was Herbert's first novel and included graphic depictions of death and mutilation.

Tom Gries was an American TV and film director, writer, and film producer.

Alan Emlyn Williams was an ex-foreign correspondent, novelist and writer of thrillers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyril Ray</span> English writer and journalist

Cyril Ray was an English writer and journalist. After a spell as a war reporter, and then a foreign correspondent he became best known for writing about food and, especially, wine. He became a wine writer almost randomly, and had strong interests in other spheres such as military history and riding. His wife Elizabeth Ray also wrote about food. In addition to writing about food and wine, Ray wrote histories of major wine producers, including the champagne maker Bollinger and the claret houses Lafite and Mouton Rothschild. A strong socialist, he resigned from prominent positions when he felt his principles incompatible with those of the publication.

Horwitz Publications is an Australian publisher primarily known for its publication of popular and pulp fiction. Established in 1920 in Sydney, Australia by Israel and Ruth Horwitz, the company was a family-owned and -run business until the early 21st century. The company is most associated with their son Stanley Horwitz, who took over publishing operations in 1956. Stanley was eventually succeeded by his son Peter and daughter Susan, who was the company's director in the years 1987-2016.

Major Chetwynd John Drake "Jock" Haswell, who also wrote as George Foster, was a British military and intelligence author and former British intelligence officer. He was "Author for Service Intelligence" 1966–1984.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Garner, Leslie. Life Lessons: Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier. Hay House, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2001.
  3. Review of Rats' Alley, quoted on 1985 Methuen paperback edition.
  4. Review of Paper Chase, quoted on 1987 Methuen paperback edition.
  5. Sobin, Roger. The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors, and Librarians. Poisoned Pen Press: 2007.

Further reading