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LIONEL
DAVIDSON winner of the CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION PRESTIGIOUS CARTIER DIAMOND DAGGER AWARD 2001 profiled by RUSSELL JAMES |
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BIO: One of 8 children born to a Jewish tailor in Hull, married twice -
once at 27 and again at 67 - Davidson is one of the few living authors
to have had his first novel come out in a Penguin green jacket. The
Night of Wenceslas was also made into a film starring Dirk Bogarde -
which many of us rate success enough - and was the archetypically
'reluctant amateur hero' novel. Davidson rapidly became one of the great
hopes of British fiction. HIS BOOKS: After Wenceslas Davidson produced The Rose of Tibet, one of the greatest and most enjoyable novels ever written. the books that followed were of variable quality, though The Sun Chemist was described by The Spectator as 'the book of the year' and The Chelsea Murders (his first murder book) was an effortless masterpiece. BEHIND HIS BACK: People regret the early promise to become a giant of British fiction never quite materalised. As his output dwindled, so did his fame. Perhaps when he dies - which hopefully won't be for a long time - he will be rediscovered. It's the sort of thing that happens to his characters. WHAT ELSE DOES HE WRITE? A few children's novels. WHAT IS HIS FAVOURITE BOOK? Dreiser's An American Tragedy. WHO IS HIS FAVOURITE CRIME WRITER? He acknowledges no real favourite, saying instead that he enjoys practically any popular author?. TELL US MORE: Apart from the Author's Club Best First Novel Award, Davidson has won 3 CWA Gold Daggers and, in Israel, the President's Prize for Literature. WHERE WOULD HE PREFER TO LIVE? Where is does now, in London's NW3 with his second wife,Frances Ullman. WHAT ARE HIS TRUE LOVES? Curry, whisky and Mozart - preferably in the same evening. HIS HATES? Phonies. |
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ALL OF LIONEL DAVIDSON'S BACKLIST HAS BEEN REJACKETED AND AVAILABLE AGAIN TO CELEBRATE HIS WORK. CLICK ON A TITLE TO PURCHASE.
 The Rose of Tibet |
 The Night of Wenceslas |
 Smith's Gazelle |
 Kolymsky Heights |
 Making Good Again |
 The Chelsea Murders |
 Long Way to Shiloh |
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