Ross Macdonald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ross Macdonald
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Kenneth Millar December 13, 1915 Los Gatos, California |
| Died | July 11, 1983 (aged 67) Santa Barbara, California |
| Pen name | John Macdonald, John Ross Macdonald, Ross Macdonald |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | American–Canadian |
| Alma mater | University of Western Ontario, University of Michigan |
| Genre | Crime fiction |
| Spouse |
Margaret Millar
(m. 1938) |
| Children | 1 |
Ross Macdonald was the pen name of Kenneth Millar (born December 13, 1915 – died July 11, 1983). He was an American-Canadian writer famous for his crime fiction novels.
He is best known for his series of books about a private detective named Lew Archer. These stories are set in Southern California. Macdonald's books are known for their deep look into people's minds and feelings. They also show a strong sense of place and use beautiful language.
Macdonald grew up in Ontario, Canada. Later, he moved to California, where he lived until he passed away in 1983.
Contents
Life Story of Kenneth Millar
Early Life and Education
Kenneth Millar was born in Los Gatos, California. His parents were Canadian, and he grew up in Kitchener, Ontario. His family name, Millar, was pronounced like Miller.
When Kenneth was four years old, his father left the family. He and his mother moved many times, living with different relatives. By the time he was 16, he had lived in several places.
As a young adult, he returned to Kitchener, Canada. He studied at the University of Western Ontario. He earned a degree in History and English. After college, he worked as a high school teacher.
Later, he went to the University of Michigan. He earned a PhD degree in 1952.
Family Life
Kenneth Millar married Margaret Sturm in 1938. They had known each other since high school. In 1939, they had a daughter named Linda. Sadly, Linda passed away in 1970. In 1946, the family moved from Kitchener to Santa Barbara.
Starting His Writing Career
Millar began his writing career by creating stories for pulp magazines. These were inexpensive magazines printed on cheap paper. He used his real name for his first four novels. He finished his fourth novel, The Dark Tunnel, in 1944.
From 1944 to 1946, Millar served in the navy. He was a communications officer at sea. After his service, he went back to Michigan. There, he finished his PhD in literature.
For his doctorate, Millar studied with the poet W. H. Auden. Auden believed that mystery stories could be great literature. This encouraged Millar to continue writing in this style.
Choosing a Pen Name
For his fifth novel in 1949, he used the name John Macdonald. This was to avoid confusion with his wife, Margaret Millar. She was also a successful writer.
He then briefly changed his pen name to John Ross Macdonald. Finally, he settled on Ross Macdonald. He chose "Ross" from a favorite cousin's name. This helped avoid confusion with another mystery writer, John D. MacDonald. From the mid-1950s onward, Millar used "Ross Macdonald" for all his fiction.
Most of his books were set in and around Santa Barbara, California. He called the fictional city where Lew Archer lived "Santa Teresa".
Ross Macdonald died in 1983 from Alzheimer's disease.
Exploring Ross Macdonald's Works
Introducing Lew Archer
Ross Macdonald first introduced his detective, Lew Archer, in a short story in 1946. The story was called "Find the Woman." His first full novel featuring Archer was The Moving Target in 1949. This book was the first of eighteen novels in the series.
Macdonald said he named his detective after Miles Archer, a character from another famous detective story. He also took inspiration from Lew Wallace, who wrote Ben-Hur. The character of Lew Archer was based on Philip Marlowe, another well-known detective. Macdonald also mentioned that "Archer" was inspired by his own astrological sign, Sagittarius the archer.
Why His Books Are Special
Critics and fans loved the Lew Archer novels. They are seen as some of the most important American mystery books from the mid-20th century. They brought a literary touch to the mystery genre.
Macdonald's writing style was sharp and clear, like earlier detective writers. But he added more depth to his characters' thoughts and feelings. His plots were complex and often involved Archer uncovering old family secrets. These secrets sometimes went back several generations. A common theme in his novels was finding lost or troubled sons and daughters.
Critics praised how Macdonald combined two parts of mystery writing. He mixed the "whodunit" (who committed the crime) with a psychological thriller. Even his regular readers found it hard to guess the ending of his stories.
Books Adapted for Film
Screenwriter William Goldman adapted Macdonald's book The Moving Target into a movie. The film was called Harper and came out in 1966. Goldman called Macdonald's books "the finest series of detective novels ever written by an American."
Another film based on his work was The Drowning Pool (1975). Both movies starred Paul Newman as the detective, who was called "Lew Harper" in the films. Also, The Underground Man was made into a TV movie in 1974.
Tom Nolan, who wrote a biography about Ross Macdonald, said: "He was truly remarkable. His first books were like Hammett and Chandler's. They showed life in California after the war. They also retold old Greek myths. Over time, he focused more on personal identity, family secrets, and childhood problems. He explored how people need and fight each other. He showed how the past can come back to affect the present. He brought deep psychological drama to detective stories. His writing was full of poetic images."
Awards and Recognition
Critical Acclaim
According to The New York Times, "some critics ranked him among the best American novelists of his generation." William Goldman, from the newspaper's Book Review section, wrote that the Archer books were "the finest series of detective novels ever written by an American."
Awards Received
Ross Macdonald received several awards during his career:
- In 1964, the Mystery Writers of America gave him the Silver Dagger award for his book "The Chill."
- Ten years later, in 1974, he received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. This award honors a writer's lifetime achievements in mystery writing.
- In 1982, he received "The Eye," a Lifetime Achievement Shamus Award. This award is given by the Private Eye Writers of America.
- Also in 1982, he was given the Robert Kirsch Award by the Los Angeles Times. This award recognizes an author from the West or whose work features the West.
See also
In Spanish: Ross Macdonald para niños
