Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Manfred Bennington Babb and Frederick Dannay were the real names of this renowned American author of mystery novels and short stories. They are commonly known as Ellery Queen, a pen name that has become synonymous with detective fiction.
Birth and Death Dates
Ellery Queen was born on April 20, 1905, in Brooklyn, New York. Frederick Dannay passed away on September 20, 1982. Manfred Bennington Babb died on August 10, 1971. The exact cause of his death remains unclear.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Ellery Queen was an American author, best known for creating the fictional detective character with the same name. They wrote over 40 novels and numerous short stories in the mystery genre.
Early Life and Background
Born to a family of Jewish immigrants, Ellery Queen grew up in Brooklyn. His parents encouraged his love for reading and writing from an early age. The brothers developed their fascination for mystery and detective fiction through the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and other authors.
Their first collaboration, a short story called "The Roman Hat Mystery," was published under the pseudonym Ellery Queen in 1929. This marked the beginning of their remarkable career as writers. They adopted the pen name to maintain their anonymity, which allowed them to focus on writing rather than drawing attention to themselves.
Major Accomplishments
Ellery Queen's most notable achievement is undoubtedly creating one of the most iconic detective characters in literature: Ellery Queen himself. The character first appeared in "The Roman Hat Mystery" and went on to become a central figure in their novels and short stories. This fictional detective was known for his cleverness, wit, and analytical mind.
Throughout their career, Ellery Queen received numerous awards and accolades. They were awarded the Grand Master Award by the Mystery Writers of America in 1952 and the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 1949.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Ellery Queen's most notable works include:
"The Roman Hat Mystery" (1929): The novel that introduced the character of Ellery Queen.
"Calamity Town" (1952): A mystery novel set in a small town, which won the Edgar Award for Best Novel.
* "Ten Days' Wonder" (1948): A short story collection featuring some of their most famous cases.
Ellery Queen's contributions to the mystery genre extend beyond their own works. They were also editors and publishers of anthologies, such as "The Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine," which featured stories by prominent authors in the field.
Impact and Legacy
Ellery Queen's influence on detective fiction is undeniable. Their creation of the character Ellery Queen has inspired countless adaptations, from films to stage plays. The fictional detective's cleverness and analytical mind have become iconic tropes in mystery literature.
Their contributions to the genre have also paved the way for other authors to experiment with innovative storytelling techniques and characters. As editors and publishers, they provided a platform for emerging writers to showcase their work, helping shape the landscape of mystery fiction.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ellery Queen is widely quoted and remembered due to their significant impact on the mystery genre. Their creation of Ellery Queen has become synonymous with detective fiction. The fictional detective's cleverness and analytical mind have been emulated by countless authors, making them an enduring figure in literature.
Their legacy extends beyond their own works, as they played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of mystery fiction. As editors and publishers, they provided a platform for emerging writers to showcase their work, helping shape the genre into what it is today.
Their influence can still be seen in modern detective fiction, with authors continuing to draw inspiration from their innovative storytelling techniques and characters.
Quotes by Ellery Queen
There’s no wonderment left in the real world any longer. Or rather, everything is so wonderful the wonder’s gone out of it.
My very revered father, I am beginning to think that – Well, there’s little peace in this world for a quiet book-loving man.
Now, now,” said Ellery with a smile. “Surely that’s overheated imagination, Jenny? I thought ghosts are indigenous only to old English castles.
Had Walter ever read Bernard Shaw (he had not), he might have been pleased with the line, "When you have learned something, my dear, it often feels at first as if you had lost something.
The place smelled male, not the metal-and-soap maleness of a locker room nor the malt-and-sawdust maleness of an old-time corner saloon, but the leather-and-oiled-wood maleness of a city club, as finished and self-consistent as the ash of a fine cigar. At sight of the skirted figure stalking him, the sole visible attendant took refuge behind a showcase; surely a giraffe, were it a male one, would have startled him less.
Why did people do it? Why this herd curiosity about a street, a house, windows, doors? He was a public servant, the Inspector mused, but there were times when he would enjoy loading all the rubbernecks onto barges and towing them out to sea to be served, with ceremony, to sharks.
The girl was kind in a special way; when you spoke to her, she seemed to stop thinking of whatever she been thinking and listened to you altogether.
If it pains you to discover that a Nice Man can be a crumbum, Tom, it's life you've got to object to, not Percy in particular.
Now, Jehovah, Yahweh, was a member of no Trinity, was represented by no lambs, suffered no little children. He was an almighty vindictive deity. He meddled in individual lives. And He was always right because He was.