Jack Higgins facts for kids

Jack Higgins was a famous British writer. His real name was Henry Patterson. He wrote many exciting books, mostly thrillers and spy stories. His most famous book, The Eagle Has Landed, came out in 1975. It sold over 50 million copies! This book was even made into a popular movie in 1976.

Jack Higgins wrote 85 novels in total. These books have sold more than 250 million copies around the world. They have also been translated into 55 different languages. Some of his other well-known books include A Prayer for the Dying (1973) and The Eagle Has Flown (1991).

Growing Up: Jack Higgins' Early Life

Jack Higgins, whose real name was Henry Patterson, was born on July 27, 1929. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. His father left the family when Henry was very young. So, his mother took him to her hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland. They lived with his grandmother and grandfather.

Life in Belfast was tough, with lots of religious and political problems. Henry learned to read when he was only three years old. He would read The Christian Herald to his sick grandfather. At night, he would read by the light of street lamps.

Later, his mother got married again. The family moved to Leeds, England. Henry won a scholarship to attend Roundhay Grammar School for Boys. But he wasn't a very good student and left school without many qualifications.

Military Service and College Life

In 1947, Henry Patterson joined the army for two years. This was called "national service." He first served with the East Yorkshire Regiment. Later, he became a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Horse Guards Regiment. He worked on security along the border with East Germany.

After leaving the army, he went back to school. He studied for a science degree in sociology. He attended Beckett Park teacher training college in Leeds. He also studied as an external student for the London School of Economics. He chose this university because it was known for being different. While studying, he worked as a driver during the day and a laborer at night. He earned his degree after three years.

After getting his teaching qualification, he started teaching at Allerton Grange Comprehensive School. He later became a lecturer. He taught social psychology and criminology. He also taught at Leeds Polytechnic.

Becoming a Writer: Jack Higgins' Career

Jack Higgins started writing novels in 1959. At first, he used his real name, Harry Patterson. He also used other pen names like James Graham, Martin Fallon, and Hugh Marlowe. His early books were thrillers. They often featured tough heroes, bad villains, and dangerous places.

He wrote 35 books between 1959 and 1974. This helped him learn and improve his writing skills. Some of his early notable books include East Of Desolation (1968) and The Savage Day (1972). These books had exciting plots and vivid descriptions of places like Greenland and Belfast.

He began using the name Jack Higgins in the late 1960s. His first popular books under this name were The Savage Day and A Prayer for the Dying. But it was his 36th book, The Eagle Has Landed, published in 1975, that made him truly famous. This book is about a German commando team sent to England to kidnap Winston Churchill. A key character in the story is an Irish gunman and poet named Liam Devlin. After this success, Higgins wrote more thrillers, some of which also featured Liam Devlin.

In 1992, Jack Higgins started a new phase in his writing. He published Eye of the Storm. This book was a fictional story about a real-life mortar attack on Prime Minister John Major. The main character in this new series was a young Irish gunman and philosopher named Sean Dillon. Sean Dillon became the main character in 22 of Higgins's next novels. He was a mix of Higgins's earlier heroes, with skills in languages, martial arts, and a strong sense of justice.

Family Life and Passing Away

Jack Higgins met Amy Hewitt when they were both studying at the London School of Economics. They got married in 1958. They had four children: Sarah, Ruth, Sean, and Hannah. Their daughter Sarah Patterson also became a writer. Her novel The Distant Summer came out in 1976. Jack and Amy's marriage ended in 1984. In 1985, he married his second wife, Denise Palmer.

Jack Higgins passed away at his home in Jersey on April 9, 2022. He was 92 years old.

Books Made into Movies

Many of Jack Higgins's exciting novels were turned into movies and TV shows. Here is a list of some of them:

See also

In Spanish: Jack Higgins para niños