Robert C. O'Brien
Encyclopedia
Robert Leslie Conly (better known by his pen name
, Robert C. O'Brien) was an American author and journalist
for National Geographic Magazine
.
, he was listed as 4-F largely because his sickliness as a child made him physically questionable. However, there were also psychological grounds for the 4-F classification: he had had a mental breakdown in early adulthood.
With interests in music and literature, Conly entered Williams College in 1935 but left in his second year. Although he later studied for a time at Juilliard, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts
in English
at the University of Rochester
in 1940.
. Because he could no longer drive to work, he and his family moved close to his office. In the time he saved from not having to commute, he began to write children's stories.
Conly is best known for writing children's books under the "O'Brien" pen name. In all there were four of these: The Silver Crown (1968); Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
(1971), which received the 1972 Newbery Medal
; A Report from Group 17 (1972); and the posthumously published Z for Zachariah
(1975), which received a 1976 Edgar Award
for Best Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America
.
In 1982, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was made into a significantly altered animated film, The Secret of NIMH
. Conly's daughter Jane Leslie Conly
later published two sequels to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Racso and the Rats of NIMH
(1986) and R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH
(1990).
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
, Robert C. O'Brien) was an American author and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
for National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded...
.
Early life
Conly was the third of five children from a well-educated Irish-Catholic family. During World War IIWorld 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...
, he was listed as 4-F largely because his sickliness as a child made him physically questionable. However, there were also psychological grounds for the 4-F classification: he had had a mental breakdown in early adulthood.
With interests in music and literature, Conly entered Williams College in 1935 but left in his second year. Although he later studied for a time at Juilliard, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts
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
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1940.
Journalism
In 1951, having covered both national and city news, Conly began working as an editor and writer for National Geographic, a job which was to take him around the world. He was employed to Nathan Forsythe and they both worked together.Children's writer
In 1963 Conly developed glaucomaGlaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
. Because he could no longer drive to work, he and his family moved close to his office. In the time he saved from not having to commute, he began to write children's stories.
Conly is best known for writing children's books under the "O'Brien" pen name. In all there were four of these: The Silver Crown (1968); Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien. Illustrated by Zena Bernstein, it won the 1972 Newbery Medal. A film adaptation, The Secret of NIMH, was released in 1982....
(1971), which received the 1972 Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
; A Report from Group 17 (1972); and the posthumously published Z for Zachariah
Z for Zachariah
Z for Zachariah is a novel by Robert C. O'Brien which was published posthumously in 1973. He died when writing the last chapter, so his family finished the book for him. It is written from the first person perspective of a sixteen-year-old girl named Ann Burden, who survives a nuclear war in a...
(1975), which received a 1976 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 Juvenile Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
.
In 1982, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH was made into a significantly altered animated film, The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH
The Secret of NIMH is a 1982 animated film directed by Don Bluth in his directorial debut. It is an adaptation of Robert C. O'Brien's 1971 children's novel Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. The film was produced by Aurora Pictures and released by United Artists. While released to critical acclaim,...
. Conly's daughter Jane Leslie Conly
Jane Leslie Conly
Jane Leslie Conly is an American author, the daughter of author Robert C. O'Brien. She started her literary work by finishing the manuscript for her father's Z for Zachariah in 1975 after his death. Her first own book, Racso and the Rats of NIMH, was published in 1986, and is a sequel to her...
later published two sequels to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Racso and the Rats of NIMH
Racso and the Rats of NIMH
Racso and the Rats of NIMH is the 1986 sequel to the popular book, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, written by Jane Leslie Conly. It continues where the previous book left off....
(1986) and R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH
R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH
R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH is a sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and it continues the story after the end of Racso and the Rats of NIMH...
(1990).
Personal life
O'Brien married Sarah McCaslin in 1943. The couple had four children. The marriage lasted until his death thirty years later.Selected bibliography
- The Silver Crown, Atheneum (1968)
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMHMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien. Illustrated by Zena Bernstein, it won the 1972 Newbery Medal. A film adaptation, The Secret of NIMH, was released in 1982....
, Atheneum (1971) - A Report from Group 17, Macmillan (1972)
- Z for ZachariahZ for ZachariahZ for Zachariah is a novel by Robert C. O'Brien which was published posthumously in 1973. He died when writing the last chapter, so his family finished the book for him. It is written from the first person perspective of a sixteen-year-old girl named Ann Burden, who survives a nuclear war in a...
, Atheneum (1975)