Stanley Ellin
Encyclopedia
Stanley Bernard Ellin was an American
mystery writer. Ellin was born in Brooklyn, New York. He garnered a love for reading at a young age with an interest in works by the likes of Mark Twain
, Rudyard Kipling
, and Edgar Allan Poe
. Ellin was educated at Brooklyn College
and received a B.A. in 1936. He married Jeanne Michael in 1937; they had one daughter, Sue Ellin, and a granddaughter, Tae Ellin.
Ellin worked as a steel worker, dairy farmer, and teacher before serving in the US Army
in 1944-1945 during World War II
. After his brief tenure in the Army, at the insistence of his wife, Ellin began writing full-time. In May 1948, one of Ellin's most famous short stories, "The Specialty of the House", appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
.
In the years to come, Ellin's fame as an author grew. He was awarded three Edgar Allan Poe Awards (Edgar Award
). His first Edgar was for the short story "The House Party" in 1954, then for the short story "The Blessington Method" in 1956, and his third for the novel The Eighth Circle in 1959. Several episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents
were based on Ellin short stories, and his novels Dreadful Summit, House of Cards, and The Bind were adapted into feature films.
Ellin was a long-time member and past president of the Mystery Writers of America
. In 1981, he was awarded with the Mystery Writers of America's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
Ellin died of a heart attack in Brooklyn, New York on July 31, 1986. He and his wife had become Quakers early in his writing career. This association with a belief that a pure Light and an ideal of peace are at the core of every individual highlighted the often-noted contrast of Ellin's vivid grasp of the dark side of human nature with his personal modesty and generous spirit. His remains lie in the Friends Cemetery in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mystery writer. Ellin was born in Brooklyn, New York. He garnered a love for reading at a young age with an interest in works by the likes of Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
, Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
, and Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
. Ellin was educated at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
and received a B.A. in 1936. He married Jeanne Michael in 1937; they had one daughter, Sue Ellin, and a granddaughter, Tae Ellin.
Ellin worked as a steel worker, dairy farmer, and teacher before serving in the US Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1944-1945 during 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...
. After his brief tenure in the Army, at the insistence of his wife, Ellin began writing full-time. In May 1948, one of Ellin's most famous short stories, "The Specialty of the House", appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine is an American monthly digest size fiction magazine specializing in crime fiction, particularly detective fiction...
.
In the years to come, Ellin's fame as an author grew. He was awarded three Edgar Allan Poe Awards (Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
). His first Edgar was for the short story "The House Party" in 1954, then for the short story "The Blessington Method" in 1956, and his third for the novel The Eighth Circle in 1959. Several episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
were based on Ellin short stories, and his novels Dreadful Summit, House of Cards, and The Bind were adapted into feature films.
Ellin was a long-time member and past president of 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 1981, he was awarded with the Mystery Writers of America's highest honor, the Grand Master Award.
Ellin died of a heart attack in Brooklyn, New York on July 31, 1986. He and his wife had become Quakers early in his writing career. This association with a belief that a pure Light and an ideal of peace are at the core of every individual highlighted the often-noted contrast of Ellin's vivid grasp of the dark side of human nature with his personal modesty and generous spirit. His remains lie in the Friends Cemetery in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Novels
- 1948 - Dreadful Summit (aka The Big Night)
- 1952 - The Key to Nicholas Street
- 1958 - The Eighth Circle; (Edgar AwardEdgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Best Novel, 1959) - 1960 - The Winter after This Summer
- 1962 - The Panama Portrait
- 1963 - House of Cards
- 1968 - The Valentine Estate; (shortlisted for Edgar AwardEdgar AwardThe Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Best Novel, 1969) - 1970 - The Bind (aka The Man from Nowhere)
- 1972 - Mirror, Mirror on the Wall; (Grand Prix de Littérature PolicièreGrand Prix de Littérature PolicièreThe Grand Prix de Littérature Policière is a French literary prize founded in 1948 by author and literary critic Maurice-Bernard Endrèbe. It is the most prestigious award for crime and detective fiction in France...
, 1974) - 1974 - Stronghold
- 1976 - The Other Side of the Wall
- 1977 - The Luxembourg Run
- 1979 - Star Light, Star Bright
- 1983 - The Dark Fantastic
- 1984 - Very Old Money
Short Story Collections
- 1956 - Mystery Stories (aka Quiet Horror; contains "The specialty of the house", "The cat's paw", "Death on Christmas Eve", "The orderly world of Mr. Appleby", "Fool's mate", "The best of everything", "The betrayers", "The house party", "Broker's special", "The moment of decision")
- 1964 - The Blessington Method
- 1967 - The Specialty of the House
- 1975 - Kindly Dig Your Grave
Selected Short Stories
- "The House Party", EQMM, May 1954; (Edgar Award for Best Short Story, 1955)
- "The Blessington Method", EQMM, June 1956; (Edgar Award for Best Short Story, 1957)
- "The Day of the Bullet", EQMM, October 1959; (shortlisted for Edgar Award for Best Short Story, 1960)
- "The Crime of Ezechiele Coen", EQMM, November 1963; (shortlisted for Edgar Award for Best Short Story, 1964)
- "The Last Bottle in the World", EQMM, February 1968; (shortlisted for Edgar Award for Best Short Story, 1969)
- "Graffiti", EQMM, March 1983; (shortlisted for Edgar Award for Best Short Story, 1984)
Films
The following films were adapted from Stanley Ellin's novels and stories.- 1951 - The Big NightThe Big NightThe Big Night is a 1951 black-and-white film drama starring John Drew Barrymore . The film, directed by Joseph Losey, is considered to be film noir.- Reception :...
, USA, directed by Joseph LoseyJoseph LoseyJoseph Walton Losey was an American theater and film director. After studying in Germany with Bertolt Brecht, Losey returned to the United States, eventually making his way to Hollywood...
, (novel Dreadful Summit) - 1959 - À double tourÀ double tourÀ double tour is a 1959 French suspense thriller film directed by Claude Chabrol and based on the novel by American writer Stanley Ellin. It was Chabrol's first film in the thriller genre, which would be his genre of choice for the rest of his career. The film had a total of 1,445,587 admissions...
, France, directed by Claude ChabrolClaude ChabrolClaude Chabrol was a French film director, a member of the French New Wave group of filmmakers who first came to prominence at the end of the 1950s...
, (novel The Key to Nicholas Street) - 1964 - Nothing But the Best, UK, directed by Clive DonnerClive DonnerClive Stanley Donner was a British film director who was a defining part of the British New Wave, directing films such as The Caretaker, Nothing But the Best, Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and What's New Pussycat?...
, (short story) - 1968 - House of Cards, USA, directed by John Guillermin, (novel)
- 1979 - SunburnSunburn (film)Sunburn is a 1979 British-American detective-comedy film directed by Richard C. Sarafian and starring Farrah Fawcett, Charles Grodin and Art Carney...
, USA, directed by Richard C. SarafianRichard C. SarafianRichard C. Sarafian is an Armenian-American TV and film director. Richard Sarafian has complied a versatile career that has spanned over five decades as a director, actor and writer. He is most popular for his film Vanishing Point . He is the father of: Richard Sarafian Jr., Tedi Sarafian, Damon B...
, (novel The Bind) - 1997 - A Prayer in the Dark, USA, directed by Jerry CiccorittiJerry CiccorittiJerry Ciccoritti is a Canadian film, television and theatre director. His ability to work in a number of genres and for many mediums has made him one of the most successful directors in the country.- Biography :...
, (novel Stronghold)
External links
- http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/sellin.htm