Author. Born Robert Brown Parker in Springfield, Massachusetts, he received a B.A. from Colby College in Waterville, Maine before serving two years with the United States Army in Korea. In 1957, Parker earned an M.A. in literature at Boston University to be followed by a Ph.D. in literature in 1971; his dissertation was a study of the hard-boiled detective as envisioned by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald. His first novel, 'The Godwulf Manuscript,' was published in 1973. It was the debut of the private detective, Spenser, who would eventually feature in almost forty novels and a television series starring Robert Urich. In 1976, Parker became a full-time professor at Northeastern University, a post he held for only three years before resigning to pursue a career in writing. He received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) for Best Novel in 1977 for the Spenser novel 'Promised Land.' In 1989, he published 'Poodle Springs' which was a completion of Raymond Chandler's last, unfinished, novel. In 1997, he introduced another series of novels featuring Jesse Stone who Parker called a more damaged character than Spenser. He is, to date, featured in nine novels and six television movies starring Tom Selleck. A third series, begun in 1999 featured a female protagonist, Sunny Randall. As of 2005, he turned his hand to westerns as well with the publication of 'Appaloosa' and its sequels. He was bestowed a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 2002 and a 2007 Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement. Parker died suddenly in his home at his desk at the age of 77.
Author. Born Robert Brown Parker in Springfield, Massachusetts, he received a B.A. from Colby College in Waterville, Maine before serving two years with the United States Army in Korea. In 1957, Parker earned an M.A. in literature at Boston University to be followed by a Ph.D. in literature in 1971; his dissertation was a study of the hard-boiled detective as envisioned by Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross Macdonald. His first novel, 'The Godwulf Manuscript,' was published in 1973. It was the debut of the private detective, Spenser, who would eventually feature in almost forty novels and a television series starring Robert Urich. In 1976, Parker became a full-time professor at Northeastern University, a post he held for only three years before resigning to pursue a career in writing. He received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) for Best Novel in 1977 for the Spenser novel 'Promised Land.' In 1989, he published 'Poodle Springs' which was a completion of Raymond Chandler's last, unfinished, novel. In 1997, he introduced another series of novels featuring Jesse Stone who Parker called a more damaged character than Spenser. He is, to date, featured in nine novels and six television movies starring Tom Selleck. A third series, begun in 1999 featured a female protagonist, Sunny Randall. As of 2005, he turned his hand to westerns as well with the publication of 'Appaloosa' and its sequels. He was bestowed a Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 2002 and a 2007 Gumshoe Award for Lifetime Achievement. Parker died suddenly in his home at his desk at the age of 77.
Bio by: Iola
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