 |
Ross ThomasWriter
Date of Birth: 19.02.1926
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Ross Thomas
Ross Thomas was an American writer known for his popular and bestselling novels. He was a two-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award and wrote over 20 works. His spy series revolves around two main characters: professional spy Padillo and his friend, the owner of prestigious bars, MacCorkle. The complexity of the tasks they undertake, often under pressure from intelligence agencies, the choice of the objects that almost all intelligence agencies in the world are interested in, and the intrigue that never diminishes even until the end, set Thomas' novels apart from the typical spy thriller.
Thomas' other works include action novels, with the most famous being "The Singapore Winkler," which holds the record for reprints. Readers were first introduced to this author by his pseudonym. In 1965, the first book by Ross Thomas was published in Russia, titled "Prokein's Diaries," but it was signed by Oliver Blick. It is unclear why the popular author used his real name for one novel and a pseudonym for another, perhaps to differentiate his main characters, the MacCorkle-Padillo "odd couple," from the intermediary character, Saint-Ive. It is worth noting that Ross Thomas was the first to introduce the figure of the intermediary between the criminal and the victim in the detective genre. Prior to him, such a character did not exist. Saint-Ive became the main protagonist of a whole series.
After completing his secondary education, Ross Thomas began working for the local newspaper, "Daily Oklahoman." He showed promise as a reporter and likely would have become a successful journalist if it weren't for the war. Thomas was drafted into the Navy and sent to defend the Philippines from Japanese aggression.
Thomas' novels provide a geographical record of his travels, as he visited many countries that influenced his writing. The Philippines, however, received less attention in his works, even though he could have written extensively about the war in the Pacific. Nevertheless, his novels reflect his firsthand experiences and knowledge of how people die, making his portrayals of death truly realistic.
Upon returning from the war, Ross Thomas easily integrated into peaceful American life. He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and successfully obtained a bachelor's degree in arts. Unable to find work in his field, Thomas tried his hand at various professions and moved from one city to another. His passion for change led him to switch cities and countries without hesitation, even with a sense of adventure. In the United States, he eventually landed the prestigious position of press secretary for the National Farmers Union. He then became a specialist in organizing election campaigns. Later, he even attracted attention in Africa and received an invitation to Nigeria to serve as an advisor to a tribal chief.
However, it seems that African life quickly became tiresome for the restless adventurer, and he returned to the United States. Nevertheless, his journey to the African continent and the incidents and adventures associated with it continued to be reflected in his books. The settings of Thomas' novels often mirror the countries he visited, with many scenes being based on his own observations or journalistic folklore. The novels "Exchange of Times," "Eighth Dwarf," and "Elections" accurately depict Bonn, West and East Berlin in the 1960s, while "Elections" portrays the situation in a fictional country called Albertia, which any reader familiar with Nigeria can easily recognize.
Ross Thomas published over twenty novels, two of which received the highest award for writers in the genre, the Edgar Allan Poe Award.
Ross Thomas believed that the prohibition against politics in literary works, as warned by Stendhal, did not apply to thriller novels. However, he was careful not to violate the principles of creating thrillers formulated by Van Dine. His characters were bold, energetic, often heavy drinkers who did not hesitate to break the law. They unreservedly loved beautiful women and took on the roles of both detective and judge. They arrived at solutions to mysteries through unconventional means, rather than through systematic investigation. Thomas' characters did not conform to the traditional division of "good" and "bad," as both heroes and antagonists possessed human flaws.
Ross Thomas' works reflect a certain authorial stance towards the modern world, presenting life as a tangle of contradictions and conflicts. However, he refrained from offering straightforward judgments on the actions and attitudes of his characters.
Ross Thomas was born in Oklahoma City on February 19, 1926. His novels were highly popular in Russia, and a collection of his works was even published. Some of his most notable novels include "The Fools in Town Are on Our Side," "Chinaman's Chance," "No Questions Asked," "The Cold War Swap," and "The Porkchoppers."
