James Hadley Chase facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Hadley Chase
Born	René Lodge Brabazon Raymond (1906-12-24)24 December 1906 London, England
Died	6 February 1985(1985-02-06) (aged 78) Corseaux-sur-Vevey, Switzerland
Pen name	James L. Docherty Raymond Marshall R. Raymond Ambrose Grant
Occupation	Novelist
Language	English
Nationality	British
Genre	Crime fiction, mystery, thriller, detective
Literary movement	Golden Age of Detective Fiction
Spouse	Sylvia Ray (1932–1985)
Children	1
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James Hadley Chase (born René Lodge Brabazon Raymond) was a famous English writer. He was born on December 24, 1906, and passed away on February 6, 1985. He used several pen names, like James Hadley Chase, James L. Docherty, Raymond Marshall, and Ambrose Grant.

Chase became one of the most well-known thriller writers ever. He wrote 90 books, earning him the title "king of thriller writers" in Europe. Many of his books were best-sellers around the world. So far, 50 of his stories have been turned into movies!

About James Hadley Chase

René Lodge Brabazon Raymond, known as James Hadley Chase, was born in London, England. His father, Colonel Francis Raymond, was a veterinary surgeon in the British Indian Army. His father wanted him to study science, so he went to King's School in Rochester, Kent.

Chase left home when he was 18 years old. In 1932, he married Sylvia Ray, and they had a son. The family moved to France in 1956. Later, in 1969, they moved to Switzerland. They lived a quiet life in Corseaux-sur-Vevey, near Lake Geneva. Chase died there in 1985.

His Career and Books

Military Service

During World War II, James Hadley Chase served in the Royal Air Force. He became a Squadron Leader. He also helped edit the RAF's journal. Some of his stories from the journal were later published in a book called Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology.

How He Started Writing

After leaving home at 18, Chase worked in sales. He sold children's encyclopedias and worked in a bookshop. He also worked for a company that sold books wholesale. Eventually, he decided to become a writer. He wrote over 90 exciting mystery books!

Chase enjoyed photography, reading, and listening to classical music. When he needed a break from writing, he would build very detailed Meccano models.

Famous Books and Style

Chase noticed that people loved gangster stories. He was inspired by a book called The Postman Always Rings Twice. He also read about the American gangster Ma Barker and her sons. Using maps and a slang dictionary, he wrote his first thriller, No Orchids for Miss Blandish. He said he wrote it in just six weekends, but it might have taken a bit longer. This book became super popular and was one of the best-selling books of its time. It was even made into a play and a movie!

During the war, Chase wrote a short story called "The Mirror in Room 22." This story was different from his usual crime thrillers. It was published under his real name, Rene Raymond, in the Slipstream book.

Chase never lived in the United States, but he visited briefly twice. He became friends with Merrill Panitt, who gave him books about American slang and the underworld. This helped Chase write many of his early books that were set in America. Some of these stories were even based on real events!

Chase had a very special writing style. His stories were fast-paced, meaning they moved quickly. He didn't spend much time describing places or weather. His characters were often unpredictable but acted in ways that made sense for the story. His writing used short, powerful sentences and realistic-sounding dialogue. There was always lots of action!

In many of his stories, a main character tries to get rich by doing something risky. But their plans often go wrong, leading to unexpected problems. Women in his books are often beautiful and smart, but sometimes they can be tricky. They might even trick the main character into doing something dangerous. The stories often have surprising endings that leave readers shocked!

Chase's books were very popular in France, where more than 30 of them became movies. He was also well-liked in other parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. After a big change in Russia, all his books were published there too. However, his books didn't become as popular in the American market.

Published Works

James Hadley Chase

Raymond Marshall

Other Pen Names

• He Wont Need It Now (as James L. Docherty, 1941)
• Slipstream: A Royal Air Force Anthology (as R. Raymond, 1946)
• More Deadly Than the Male (as Ambrose Grant, 1947)

See also

In Spanish: James Hadley Chase para niños

• Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century