Harry Kemelman
Encyclopedia
Harry Kemelman was an American mystery writer and a professor of English
. He was the creator of one of the most famous religious sleuths, Rabbi David Small.
After receiving a B.A.
in English Literature from Boston University
and an M.A.
in English philology
from Harvard
, he taught at a number of schools before World War II
. During the war, Kemelman worked as wage administrator for the United States Army Transportation Corps
in Boston and later for the War Assets Administration
. Following the war, he was a freelance writer and private businessman. In 1963 he became assistant professor of English at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
in Boston. He was also an assistant professor at Boston State College
in the 1960s.
featuring New England college professor Nicky Welt, the first of which, "The Nine Mile Walk", is considered a classic.
The Rabbi Small series began in 1964 with the publication of Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
, which became a huge bestseller, a difficult achievement for a religious mystery, and won Kemelman a 1965 Edgar Award
for Best First Novel. The Rabbi Small books are not only mysteries, but also considerations of Conservative Judaism
.
in 1976, starring Art Carney
as Chief Lanigan and Stuart Margolin
as Rabbi Small. A short-lived TV series,
Lanigan's Rabbi
, shown as part of NBC
's Mystery Movie
series in January 1977, was based on the book series. Art Carney played Chief Lanigan with Bruce Solomon
as Rabbi Small.
In 2003, director Alvaro Brechner
shot in Toledo (Spain) an adaptation of The Nine Mile Walk. The film was selected in more than a 100 International Film Festival, obtaining several awards.
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
. He was the creator of one of the most famous religious sleuths, Rabbi David Small.
Early life
Harry Kemelman was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1908.After receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English Literature from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in English philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, he taught at a number of schools before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During the war, Kemelman worked as wage administrator for the United States Army Transportation Corps
United States Army Transportation Corps
The Transportation Corps was established 31 July 1942 by Executive Order 9082. The Transportation Corps is a combat service support branch of the U.S. Army, and was headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia, but has now moved to Fort Lee, Virginia. The Transportation Corps is responsible for the...
in Boston and later for the War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
. Following the war, he was a freelance writer and private businessman. In 1963 he became assistant professor of English at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
The Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston, Massachusetts is one of New England's oldest colleges of engineering and technologies. The college was established with funds bequethed in Benjamin Franklin's will.-History:...
in Boston. He was also an assistant professor at Boston State College
Boston State College
Boston State College was a public university located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.It was located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston. Boston State College's roots begin with the Girls High School, founded in 1852. In 1872, the Boston Normal School separated from Girls High School and...
in the 1960s.
Writing career
His writing career began with short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery MagazineEllery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine is an American monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction...
featuring New England college professor Nicky Welt, the first of which, "The Nine Mile Walk", is considered a classic.
The Rabbi Small series began in 1964 with the publication of Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
Friday the Rabbi Slept Late is a mystery novel written by Harry Kemelman in 1964, the first of the successful Rabbi Small series.- Plot introduction :...
, which became a huge bestseller, a difficult achievement for a religious mystery, and won Kemelman a 1965 Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Best First Novel. The Rabbi Small books are not only mysteries, but also considerations of Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
.
Adaptations
Kemelman also received $35,000 for the movie rights to Friday the Rabbi Slept Late, a made-for-TV adaptation of which was broadcast on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 1976, starring Art Carney
Art Carney
Arthur William Matthew “Art” Carney was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. He is best known for playing Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners....
as Chief Lanigan and Stuart Margolin
Stuart Margolin
Stuart Margolin is an American film and television actor and director.-Television:Margolin is best known for his role on the television show The Rockford Files, playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin, the shifty friend and former cellmate of Jim Rockford...
as Rabbi Small. A short-lived TV series,
Lanigan's Rabbi
Lanigan's Rabbi
Lanigan's Rabbi is a short-lived American crime drama series that aired on NBC during the first half of 1977.-Synopsis:Based upon a series of novels by Harry Kemelman, the series starred Art Carney as Police Chief Paul Lanigan, who fights crime in a small California town with the help of his best...
, shown as part of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Mystery Movie
NBC Mystery Movie
The NBC Mystery Movie is the general name of an American television series, produced by Universal Studios, that was broadcast by NBC from 1971-77...
series in January 1977, was based on the book series. Art Carney played Chief Lanigan with Bruce Solomon
Bruce Solomon
Bruce Peter Solomon is an American television and film star, best known for the roles of Sgt. Foley in the TV show "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and Kenny Zuckerman in Beverly Hills, 90210.-Television and film:...
as Rabbi Small.
In 2003, director Alvaro Brechner
Alvaro Brechner
Alvaro Brechner is a film director, writer and film producer.His debut feature film, Bad day to go fishing has been exhibited in several prestigious festivals such as Critics Week of Cannes Film Festival.-Biography:He attended the Catholic University of Uruguay where he obtained a degree in Media...
shot in Toledo (Spain) an adaptation of The Nine Mile Walk. The film was selected in more than a 100 International Film Festival, obtaining several awards.
The Nicky Welt Stories
- "The Nine Mile Walk" – 1947
- "The Straw Man" – 1950
- "The Ten O'Clock Scholar" – 1952
- "End Play" – 1950
- "Time and Time Again (The Man with Two Watches)" – 1962
- "The Whistling Tea Kettle (The Adelphi Bowl)" – 1963
- "The Bread and Butter Case (A Winter's Tale)" – 1962
- "The Man on the Ladder" – 1967
- Collected in The Nine Mile Walk – 1967
The Rabbi Small Novels
- Friday the Rabbi Slept LateFriday the Rabbi Slept LateFriday the Rabbi Slept Late is a mystery novel written by Harry Kemelman in 1964, the first of the successful Rabbi Small series.- Plot introduction :...
– 1964 - Saturday the Rabbi Went Hungry – 1966
- Sunday, the Rabbi Stayed Home – 1969
- Monday The Rabbi Took Off – 1972
- Tuesday the Rabbi Saw Red – 1973
- Wednesday the Rabbi Got WetWednesday the Rabbi Got WetWednesday the Rabbi Got Wet is a mystery novel written by Harry Kemelman in 1976, one of the Rabbi Small series.- Plot introduction :...
– 1976 - Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out – 1978
- Conversations with Rabbi Small – 1981
- Someday the Rabbi Will Leave – 1985
- One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross – 1987
- The Day the Rabbi Resigned – 1992
- That Day the Rabbi Left Town – 1996