William Garner (novelist)
William Garner (born 1920, in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England - 2005) was an English thriller writer.[1]
Life and work
[edit]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] [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
[edit]Michael Jagger novels
[edit]- Overkill (1966)
- The Deep, Deep Freeze (1968)
- The Us or Them War (1969)
- A Big Enough Wreath (1974)
John Morpurgo trilogy
[edit]- Think Big, Think Dirty (1983)
- Rats' Alley (1984)
- Zones of Silence (1986)
Novels
[edit]- The Puppet-Masters (1969) published in the U.S. as "The Manipulators"
- The Andra Fiasco (1971) published in the U.S. as "Strip Jack Naked"
- Ditto, Brother Rat (1972)
- The Mobius Trip (1978)
- Paper Chase (1988)
- Sleeping Dogs (1990)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Garner, Leslie. Life Lessons: Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier. Hay House, 2009.
- ^ a b c Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2001.
- ^ Review of Rats' Alley, quoted on 1985 Methuen paperback edition.
- ^ Review of Paper Chase, quoted on 1987 Methuen paperback edition.
- ^ Sobin, Roger. The Essential Mystery Lists: For Readers, Collectors, and Librarians. Poisoned Pen Press: 2007.
Further reading
[edit]- The Cold War File. By Andy East. Published by Scarecrow Press, 1983. pp. 122–127.
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- 1920 births
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- Military personnel from Lincolnshire
- Royal Air Force officers
- Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
- Alumni of the University of Birmingham
- English spy fiction writers
- English thriller writers
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- English male novelists
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- 20th-century English male writers
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