Trevanian

Rodney William Whitaker ( born June 12, 1931 in Granville, New York, † December 14, 2005 in West Country, UK ) was an American writer who is best known by his pen name Trevanian. Since his books span some very different genres, you went initially assume that Trevanian was a group of writers.

Life

Rodney William Whitaker was born on June 12, 1931 in Granville, New York.

He studied at the University of Washington, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degree. At the time he wrote a play entitled " Eve of the Bursting ". After receiving a doctorate in communications and film at Northwestern University, he taught for a time at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska. He later won a scholarship that allowed him further study in England.

He married Diane Brandon, with whom he had four children: two sons, Lance and Christian, and two daughters, Alexandra and Tomasin. They lived together for seven years in the Basque Country, a land that Trevanian has often been the scene of his novels.

Rodney Whitaker died on December 14, 2005 from the effects of lung disease in the English West Country.

Work

Whitaker wrote under many pseudonyms, including Nicholas Seare, Beñat LeCagot, Edoard Moran, but he was known primarily as Trevanian. He said that his wife had chosen the name after they have read a book by the historian GM Trevelyan. His first two novels, " The Eiger Sanction " (1972) and "The Loo Sanction " (1973), were both thrillers that parodied the spy genre. " The Eiger Sanction " was filmed in 1975 with Clint Eastwood in the lead role.

A year later he published "The Main". This was followed by " Shibumi " (1979) and "The Summer of Katya " (1983 ), a psychological thriller. It was not until fifteen years later appeared "Incident at Twenty - Mile " (1998). In 2005 he published his last novel, " The Crazy Ladies of Pearl Street " (2005). However, mentions Whitakers Agent Michael V. Carlisle, that publication of works is planned, where Whitaker had worked 1983-1998. They are to be released under the name Trevanian.

Under his real name, he published " The Language of Film" ( 1970). As Nicholas Seare he wrote " 1339 ... or So: Being an Apology for a Peddler " ( 1975) and the medieval history " Rude Tales and Glorious: The Account of Diverse Feats of Brawn and Bawd Performed by King Arthur and His Knights of the Table Round " (1983).

His ten books that have been translated into fourteen languages ​​, sold more than seven million copies and have been international bestsellers.