Arthur Hailey American writer Date of Birth: 05.04.1920 Country: USA

Biography of Arthur Hailey

Arthur Hailey, a world-renowned British-American writer, was born on April 5, 1920, in Luton, England. He was considered an American writer as all his major works were written based on American material and first published in the United States. Hailey was known for his meticulous attention to detail, multi-layered storytelling, intricate plots, and the exploration of social issues.

Hailey's mother, an ambitious woman, wanted her son to achieve a significant position in life. However, at the age of 14, Hailey had to drop out of school due to financial constraints. Despite this setback, he was able to complete courses in typewriting and stenography. These skills proved useful to him later on.

At the age of 19, Hailey enlisted in the Royal Air Force with the goal of becoming a pilot. However, his lack of education prevented him from fulfilling his dream. After obtaining an officer's rank, he was sent to Canada for training and finally became a pilot. During the last two years of World War II, he served in London as a staff officer at the British Ministry of Civil Aviation.

After the war, Hailey left the military and relocated to Canada, a country he had grown fond of during his flight training. While working for a magazine, he met Sheila, an English stenographer who had recently emigrated to Canada. Their acquaintance turned into love, and Hailey spent over 50 years with Sheila.

In addition to his main occupation as a journalist, Hailey began writing scripts for television and plays. One day, while aboard a flight from Vancouver to Toronto, he pondered the scenario of both pilots falling ill simultaneously. By the end of the flight, he had developed a play titled "Flight into Danger." CBS adapted it for television, and the teleplay, renamed "Runway Zero-Eight," became a tremendous success. This success propelled Hailey's career as a playwright, and his productions became hits.

"Flight into Danger" was later adapted into a feature film titled "Zero Hour!" and Hailey transformed the play into a novel. After this television success, Hailey decided to try his hand at writing suspenseful novels. His first book, "The Final Diagnosis," was published in 1959.

From the very beginning of his career as a novelist, Hailey found the elements of his success. These included meticulous attention to detail, multi-layered storytelling, intricate plots, and the exploration of social issues. His novels delved into the shortcomings of the American healthcare system, as seen in "The Final Diagnosis," and the dark side of technological progress, as depicted in "Airport" and "Overload."

However, it was not just the social issues that attracted readers to Hailey's books. It was his profound knowledge of the subject matter he wrote about. From the mid-1960s, there was a significant interest in the United States in documentary-style literature. Hailey's books stood out as he skillfully blended gripping stories with technical guidance.

Critics praised his novels, acknowledging that any lack of literary elegance was offset by his impeccable and exhaustive knowledge of the subject matter. For his book "Wheels," Hailey obtained permission from two major automobile manufacturers to study their operations extensively, including attending board of directors meetings.

For his novel "The Evening News," Hailey, then 66 years old, underwent special counter-terrorism training in England. He acted as a hostage, ate snakes during survival lessons, participated in enemy disarmament exercises, and learned room combat techniques. He spent nearly a year planning the book, developing character profiles, and structuring the material. It took another year to write the text.

Hailey's passion for researching technical details set him apart from other American writers of his time. His only real competitor was Robin Moore, a writer and journalist known for his books "The Green Berets" and "The French Connection." Moore had unique access to classified military training and law enforcement activities, which he incorporated into his books. However, Moore's works were often met with resistance due to the uncomfortable questions they raised.

Hailey, on the other hand, avoided direct confrontation by assuming the role of an impartial observer. By carefully crafting the composition of each novel and skillfully manipulating the plot, Hailey showcased his prowess, balancing between captivating storytelling and technical guidance.

Hailey's characters were everyday people facing extraordinary circumstances. He drew inspiration from real-life situations, and readers easily connected with his characters. He took pride in stating that he "never invented" his characters but rather borrowed them from real life.

Hailey's extensive knowledge of the subjects he wrote about and his ability to present complex mechanisms in an engaging manner allowed him to carve out a unique niche. He can be considered the father of the "industrial" novel, which he elevated to great heights.

Since the early 1990s, Hailey had been relatively quiet, with no new books published. It was not until 1997 that his fans received a gift in the form of the novel "Detective." After its release, Hailey refused all interview requests, stating that he had said and written everything he could and considered his literary career more of a hobby.

Hailey's influence on contemporary literature cannot be overstated. He inspired numerous imitators and was regarded as a progressive American author in the Soviet Union, where his books were widely published and celebrated. His novels were translated into 38 languages and sold 170 million copies worldwide.

Although Hailey passed away on November 24 at the age of 84 in his home in the Bahamas, his books will continue to be cherished by lovers of quality literature. His 11 novels will forever remain beloved works for those who appreciate engaging storytelling and skillful writing. Hailey's legacy serves as an example for writers, showing how one can make seemingly mundane topics fascinating through the power of storytelling.