Edward Whittemore facts for kids

Edward Payson Whittemore (born May 26, 1933 – died August 3, 1995) was an American writer. He wrote five novels between 1974 and 1987. His most famous books are part of a series called the Jerusalem Quartet. Before becoming a writer, he worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1958 to 1967. He traveled a lot during that time.

Edward Whittemore's Life Story

Edward Whittemore was born on May 26, 1933, in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. He was the youngest of five children. His father, John Cambridge Whittemore, worked for a telephone company. His mother was Elizabeth Payson Whittemore.

Edward went to Deering High School in Portland, Maine. After graduating in 1951, he studied history at Yale University.

From Marines to the CIA

After college, Edward joined the United States Marine Corps. He served as an officer in Japan. Later, he was asked to join the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Many people from top universities joined the CIA around that time.

From 1958 to 1967, Edward worked undercover for the CIA. He pretended to be a reporter for The Japan Times. This job allowed him to travel to many places. He visited the Far East, Europe, and the Middle East.

Becoming a Novelist

While traveling for the CIA, Edward Whittemore started writing his novels. These books later became his most well-known works. His first book, Quin's Shanghai Circus, was published in 1974. This book set the stage for his famous series, the Jerusalem Quartet.

His books were unique and often received different opinions from critics. Some praised his ability to mix history with fiction. Others found his stories unusual and hard to follow. For example, Sinai Tapestry (1977) was compared to famous authors like Pynchon and Nabokov. Some critics thought his writing was clear and felt like real history.

Edward Whittemore was a very private person. He did not like giving interviews to strangers. This made it harder for his books to become widely known. Even though many writers and critics admired his novels, they did not sell a lot of copies at first.

Edward Whittemore passed away on August 3, 1995, in New York City. He had recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Edward Whittemore's Books Reissued

For many years, Edward Whittemore's books were hard to find. But in 2002, all five of his novels were reissued by Old Earth Books. This meant new readers could discover his unique stories. Later, in 2013, Open Road Media also released eBook versions of his novels.

Edward Whittemore's Published Works

• Quin's Shanghai Circus (1974)

The Jerusalem Quartet Series

• Sinai Tapestry (1977)
• Jerusalem Poker (1978)
• Nile Shadows (1983)
• Jericho Mosaic (1987)