Martin Cruz Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Cruz Smith
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| Born | Martin William Smith November 3, 1942 Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Education | University of Pennsylvania (BA) |
| Genre | Mystery Crime |
| Notable works | Gorky Park |
Martin Cruz Smith, born Martin William Smith (November 3, 1942), is an American writer. He is famous for his mystery and suspense novels. Many of his stories take place in different countries or in the past.
He is best known for his series about a Russian investigator named Arkady Renko. The first book in this series was Gorky Park, published in 1981. The tenth book in the series, Independence Square, came out in May 2023.
Contents
Who is Martin Cruz Smith?
Martin William Smith was born in Reading, Pennsylvania on November 3, 1942. His father, John Calhoun Smith, was a jazz musician. His mother, Louise Lopez, was a jazz singer and a Native American rights activist.
Martin went to Germantown Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later, he studied at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in creative writing in 1964. Martin has a diverse background, including Pueblo, Spanish, Senecu del Sur, and Yaqui ancestry.
What Kind of Books Does He Write?
Martin Cruz Smith started his career as a journalist from 1965 to 1969. He began writing fiction in the early 1970s.
He wrote some Western novels using the pen name Jake Logan. He also wrote other paperback books. These included a series about "The Inquisitor," a secret agent who worked for the Vatican. In 1970, he wrote a science fiction novel called The Indians Won. This was one of the first widely published science fiction books by a Native American writer. He also wrote three novels for the Nick Carter series.
His Early Successes
Canto for a Gypsy was Martin Cruz Smith's third novel. It was nominated for an Edgar Award. This award is given for excellent mystery writing. The book featured a gypsy art dealer named Roman Grey in New York City.
His novel Nightwing (1977) was also nominated for an Edgar Award. This book helped him become more well-known. He even helped turn Nightwing into a movie in 1979.
The Arkady Renko Series
Martin Cruz Smith is most famous for his novels about Russian investigator Arkady Renko. The first book with Renko was Gorky Park (1981). This novel became a huge bestseller. Time magazine called it the "first thriller of the '80s." It also won a Gold Dagger award from the British Crime Writers' Association.
Gorky Park quickly became very popular. It reached No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list in April 1981. It stayed near the top for months! Another Renko novel, Polar Star, also hit No. 1 on the bestseller list for two weeks in 1989.
Martin Cruz Smith has won the Dashiell Hammett Award twice. He won for Rose in 1996 and for Havana Bay in 1999. His most recent Renko novel, Independence Square, was published in 2023.
Why Did He Change His Name?
Martin Cruz Smith originally wrote under the name "Martin Smith." However, he found out there were other writers with the same name. His agent suggested he add a third name. He chose "Cruz," which was his paternal grandmother's last name.
Where Does He Live?
Martin Cruz Smith lives in San Rafael, California, with his family.
See also
In Spanish: Martin Cruz Smith para niños
