A. J. Quinnell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
A. J. Quinnell
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| Born | Philip Nicholson 25 June 1940 Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, U.K. |
| Died | 10 July 2005 (aged 65) Gozo, Malta |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | British |
| Genre | Thriller fiction |
| Notable works | Man on Fire, The Mahdi |
Philip Nicholson (born June 25, 1940 – died July 10, 2005) was a British writer. He used the pen name A. J. Quinnell. He wrote exciting thriller novels. His most famous book is Man on Fire. This book was made into a movie two times. The most recent movie came out in 2004. It starred the famous actor Denzel Washington. Philip Nicholson spent a lot of his later life in Gozo, Malta, where he passed away.
Contents
Life of a Thriller Writer
Who Was Philip Nicholson?
Philip Nicholson traveled a lot during his life. He met many different people. Some of the characters in his books were inspired by these real people. Nicholson was married three times. His last wife, Elsebeth Egholm, is also a writer. She writes mystery novels in Denmark. Philip and Elsebeth lived in two places. They had homes on the island of Gozo and in Denmark.
How A. J. Quinnell Got His Name
When Philip Nicholson was ready to publish his first book, Man on Fire, he wanted to keep his real name a secret. His agent, Chris Little, suggested he use a different name. This is called a pen name. Philip chose "Quinnell" after a rugby player named Derek Quinnell. He added "A. J." from the first letters of a bartender's son's name. Philip Nicholson often visited a bar in Mġarr, Gozo. He enjoyed writing late at night and into the morning. He always wrote while standing up. He also supported a local soccer team in Gozo. The people of Gozo admired him very much.
Meet Marcus Creasy
A. J. Quinnell created a very popular character. His name was Marcus Creasy. Creasy was an American. He used to be a member of the French Foreign Legion. The books about Marcus Creasy are very popular in Japan. Many fans there love his stories.
Books Becoming Movies
A. J. Quinnell's book Man on Fire was made into a movie twice. The first movie came out in 1987. The second movie was released in 2004. The 2004 film was later remade into a Bollywood film in 2005. Because of these movies, more people wanted to read Quinnell's books. Especially popular were the books that featured his character, Marcus Creasy.
