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John BallAmerican writer, author of detective stories
Date of Birth: 08.07.1911
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life and Education
John Ball was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Carroll College.
Military Service and Career
During World War II, Ball served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Post-war, he held various jobs, including radio commentator, assistant curator of a planetarium, and music editor for the Brooklyn Eagle radio station.
Aviation and Writing
Ball continued his career as a pilot for many years and penned over 10 novels. His debut novel, "In the Heat of the Night" (1965), catapulted him to fame and garnered him the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. This anti-racist masterpiece featuring detective Virgil Tibbs was later adapted into a celebrated film.
Literary Success
Ball's subsequent works include "Operation Bootstrap," "Operation Skyhook," "Cosmomas 1," "First Team," "Van," and others. While predominantly known for detective novels, his political thriller "First Team" marked a departure from the genre, exploring the aftermath of a hypothetical American surrender to a unnamed Soviet Union.
Legacy
Ball's novel "In the Heat of the Night" was ranked among the "100 Best Crime Novels of the 20th Century" by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association. His writing has left an enduring mark on the crime fiction genre, highlighting issues of race and justice in society.
