George Higgins American writer Date of Birth: 13.11.1939 Country: USA

1. Childhood and Education
2. Literary Influences
3. Stanford University and Journalism
4. Legal Career and Jurisprudence
5. Literary Breakthrough and Crime Fiction
6. Political Fiction and Nonfiction
7. Personal Life and Legacy
8. Later Career and Death

Childhood and Education

George Vincent Higgins was born on November 13, 1939, in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Irish-American parents, John Thompson Higgins and Doris Montgomery Higgins. His father, a high school principal, and mother, a teacher, encouraged his intellectual development from an early age.

Higgins grew up in a working-class neighborhood next to a bank owned by his grandfather. His early literary interests were nurtured by his parents, who provided him with books and encouraged his writing. Despite being denied access to Ernest Hemingway's work by the library due to its perceived maturity, Higgins's mother insisted that he be given any book he desired.

Higgins attended a private high school, where he played baseball and served as editor of the school newspaper. He displayed a strong talent for writing but pursued a medical degree at Harvard University at his father's urging. However, finding medicine uninspiring, he switched to English literature at Boston College.

Literary Influences

Higgins's literary interests were varied, ranging from the classics of English literature (Graham Greene, Mark Twain, Henry James, Gustave Flaubert) to religious authors (Thomas Aquinas, John of the Cross, Teilhard de Chardin). His early influences also included Irish writers like James Joyce and Frank O'Connor.

Stanford University and Journalism

After graduating from Boston College, Higgins enrolled in the Stanford University writing program. He was mentored by Wallace Stegner but found himself uneasy in the liberal climate of California. The campus unrest and drug culture of the time disturbed him, and he returned home with a bleeding ulcer after a year.

Higgins then pursued a journalism career, working for the Providence Journal and the Associated Press. It was during this time that he interviewed John Forbes Thompson, a corrupt politician who later became a recurring character in his novels.

Legal Career and Jurisprudence

Higgins returned to Boston College and enrolled in law school. Throughout his legal career, he exhibited a confrontational style and a deep understanding of courtroom procedure. His experiences as an assistant attorney general and private criminal defense attorney provided him with extensive knowledge of the criminal justice system and the motivations of those involved.

Higgins's academic performance was lackluster, but his passion for the law propelled him forward. He met Elizabeth Mulkerin, a fellow Catholic Irish-American law student, whom he married in 1965.

Literary Breakthrough and Crime Fiction

In 1972, Higgins published his first novel, "The Friends of Eddie Coyle," which became an instant critical and commercial success. The novel, set in the Boston underworld, depicts the gritty world of organized crime with relentless realism and stark prose.

Over the next few years, Higgins published several more crime novels, including "The Digger's Game" and "Cogan's Trade," which further cemented his reputation as a master of the genre. His novels are praised for their authenticity, their depiction of flawed characters, and their exploration of ethical dilemmas.

Political Fiction and Nonfiction

Higgins also wrote a number of political novels and works of nonfiction. His book "The Friends of Richard Nixon" (1975) analyzed the Watergate scandal, while "A City on a Hill" (1975) satirized the American political system. His political fiction delved into themes of corruption, power, and the erosion of moral values.

Personal Life and Legacy

Higgins's marriage to Betty Mulkerin was strained, and they separated in 1973. Their bitter divorce battle lasted for six years, with Higgins eventually gaining custody of their two children. Despite his Catholic beliefs, he did not remarry.

In 1980, Higgins married Loretta Cabberly, a longtime friend who had supported him during his divorce and legal battles. They remained together until his death.

Later Career and Death

Higgins continued to write prolifically, publishing multiple novels and numerous articles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He was appointed a Distinguished Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1987 but declined a teaching position based on his experience at Stanford.

Higgins spent his final years in Milton, Massachusetts, near Boston University, the institution he had always held in high esteem. He passed away on November 6, 1999. His final novel, "At End of Day," was published posthumously in 2000.

George V. Higgins is considered one of the most significant American crime writers of the 20th century. His novels are praised for their authenticity, realism, and insightful exploration of human nature. Higgins's work has been translated into multiple languages and adapted into several films and television series.