Philip Kerr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Philip Kerr
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Kerr at PEN American Center in 2014
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| Born | Philip Ballantyne Kerr 22 February 1956 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 23 March 2018 (aged 62) London, England |
| Pen name | P. B. Kerr |
| Occupation | Author |
| Children | 3 |
Philip Ballantyne Kerr (born 22 February 1956 – died 23 March 2018) was a British author. He was famous for his detective thrillers, especially the Bernie Gunther series. He also wrote many popular books for children.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Philip Kerr was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was an engineer, and his mother worked as a secretary. He went to a grammar school in Northampton, England.
He later studied at the University of Birmingham from 1974 to 1980. There, he earned a master's degree in law and philosophy. Before becoming a full-time writer in 1989, Kerr worked in advertising. He was a copywriter for a company called Saatchi & Saatchi.
Writing Career and Popular Books
Philip Kerr wrote books for both adults and children. He was most known for his Bernhard "Bernie" Gunther series. These are 14 historical thrillers set in Germany. The stories take place during the 1930s, the Second World War, and the Cold War.
He also wrote children's books under the name P. B. Kerr. His most famous children's series is Children of the Lamp. Kerr also wrote for newspapers and magazines like The Sunday Times and the New Statesman.
Philip Kerr was married to another novelist, Jane Thynne. They lived in Wimbledon, London, and had three children. Just before he passed away, he finished his 14th Bernie Gunther novel, Metropolis. This book was published after his death in 2019.
Awards and Special Mentions
Philip Kerr received several awards for his writing.
Recognized as a Top Novelist
In 1993, he was included in Granta's list of "Best Young British Novelists". This list highlights promising new writers in the UK.
Winning Crime Fiction Awards
In 2009, his book If the Dead Rise Not won the RBA Prize for Crime Writing. This was a very valuable award for crime fiction. The same book also won the Ellis Peters Historical Award. This award is given by the British Crime Writers' Association for historical crime stories. His novel Prussian Blue was also considered for the Walter Scott Prize in 2018.
Later Life and Passing
Philip Kerr died on 23 March 2018, at the age of 62. He passed away from bladder cancer.
Published Works
Philip Kerr wrote many books throughout his career.
Bernie Gunther Series
These are detective thrillers set in different historical periods.
- March Violets (1989) – set in 1936
- The Pale Criminal (1990) – set in 1938
- A German Requiem (1991) – set in 1947–48
- If the Dead Rise Not (2009) – set in 1934 and 1954
- Metropolis (2019) – set in 1928 (published after his death)
Children's Books (as P. B. Kerr)
Philip Kerr wrote several fantasy books for younger readers.
Children of the Lamp Series
This series is about children who discover they are djinn (genies).
- The Akhenaten Adventure (2004)
- The Blue Djinn of Babylon (2005)
- The Cobra King of Kathmandu (2006)
- The Day of the Djinn Warriors (2007)
- The Eye of the Forest (2009)
Other Children's Books
- One Small Step (2008)
- The Most Frightening Story Ever Told (2016)
See also
In Spanish: Philip Kerr para niños
