Ian Rankin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ian Rankin
OBE DL FRSE FRSL
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Rankin in 2007
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| Born | Ian James Rankin 28 April 1960 Cardenden, Fife, Scotland |
| Pen name | Jack Harvey |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Period | 1984–present |
| Genre | Crime fiction |
| Notable works | DI John Rebus novels Malcolm Fox novels Dark Entries |
| Spouse |
Miranda Harvey
(m. 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
Sir Ian James Rankin (born 28 April 1960) is a famous Scottish writer. He is best known for his exciting Inspector Rebus crime novels. He also gives a lot of money to good causes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ian Rankin was born in Cardenden, Scotland. His dad owned a shop, and his mom worked in a school canteen. He went to Beath High School. His parents wanted him to learn a trade. But Ian chose to study literature at the University of Edinburgh.
He graduated in 1982. He also started a higher degree about writer Muriel Spark. But he did not finish it. Before becoming a full-time writer, he had many different jobs. He picked grapes, worked as a taxman, and was even a punk musician!
Writing Career
Ian Rankin didn't plan to be a crime writer. His first books, Knots and Crosses and Hide and Seek, were not meant to be crime stories. He thought they were more like classic Scottish novels.
Rankin's popular Inspector Rebus novels are mostly set in Edinburgh. These books are a big part of a type of crime fiction called "tartan noir." This name combines Scottish culture with dark crime stories. Many of his Rebus novels were made into a TV series on ITV. John Hannah and Ken Stott both played the role of Inspector Rebus.
In 2009, Rankin gave a short story called "Fieldwork" to Oxfam. This was for their "Ox-Tales" project, which collected stories from many UK authors.
He also wrote a graphic novel called Dark Entries. This is like a comic book but longer. In 2013, Rankin wrote a play called Dark Road. It was shown at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh.
In 2021, Rankin helped finish a book by another Scottish writer, William McIlvanney. McIlvanney had passed away, leaving his detective novel The Dark Remains unfinished. Rankin completed it.
In 2022, Ian Rankin was made a knight by Queen Elizabeth II. This was to honor his work in literature and his charity efforts.
TV Shows and Music
Ian Rankin often appears on TV shows about arts. He made a three-part TV series about the idea of evil in 2002. In 2005, he explored how real-life cases inspire crime fiction in a documentary.
He also appeared in a TV show with chef Anthony Bourdain. They explored Edinburgh together. Rankin was also in a 2019 film about Scotch whisky called The Amber Light.
Rankin is the singer in a band called Best Picture. They formed in 2017 and released a song called "Isabelle."
Personal Life and Charity Work
Ian Rankin lives in Edinburgh with his wife, Miranda. They met at university and got married in 1986. They have two sons, John Morgan and Christopher Connor. They have shared how helpful the Forward Vision charity in Edinburgh has been for their son Christopher.
In 2011, some amazing book sculptures appeared around Edinburgh. Many of them were inspired by Rankin's books. One sculpture was even a special gift just for him.
In 2019, Rankin gave his personal notes and writings to the National Library of Scotland. These archives include his research and manuscripts.
Rankin has given a lot of money to charity. In 2007, he and his wife started a trust. This trust supports charities that help with health, art, and education. He has donated over £1 million to this trust in recent years.
Awards and Recognition
Ian Rankin has received many awards for his writing. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002. In 2022, he was knighted.
Here are some of his awards:
- 1994 CWA Short Story Dagger
- 1997 CWA Gold Dagger for Fiction for Black and Blue
- 1998 Joined the Detection Club (a group of top crime writers)
- 2004 Edgar Award for Resurrection Men
- 2005 CWA Lifetime Achievement Award (Cartier Diamond Dagger)
- 2007 The Edinburgh Award
- 2008 ITV3 Crime Thriller Award for Author of the Year
- 2012 Specsavers National Book Award, Outstanding Achievement
- 2015 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- 2016 RBA Prize for Crime Writing for Even Dogs in the Wild
- 2016 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
Other Works
Ian Rankin has also worked on different types of projects:
- Edited Books: He has edited collections of stories, like Criminal Minded (2000).
- Recordings: He has collaborated on music albums and audio stories.
- Graphic Novels: He wrote Dark Entries (2009) and The Lie Factory.
- Opera: He worked on an opera called Gesualdo (2008).
- Short Stories: He has written many short stories, often featuring Inspector Rebus.
- Other Writings: He has written essays and articles, and helped finish other authors' books.
See also
In Spanish: Ian Rankin para niños
