Drawing on unprecedented archival and family access, Cooler Than Cool: The Life of Elmore Leonard, is the first comprehensive biography of the master American crime writer, author of witty, gritty bestsellers like Get Shorty and Raylan.
Over the course of his sixty-year career, Elmore Leonard, "the Dickens of Detroit," published forty-five novels that have had enduring appeal to readers around the world. Revered by Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Raymond Carver, and Stephen King, his books were innovative in their blending of a Hemingway-inspired noirish minimalism and a masterful use of realistic dialogue over exposition—a direct evolution in his celebrated crime writing process spurred by his years as a screenwriter.
Leonard’s fiction contained many layers, and at the heart of his work were progressive themes, stemming from his years as a student of the Jesuit religious order, his personal beliefs in social justice, and his successful battle over alcoholism. He drew inspiration from greats like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, but the true motivation and brilliance behind his iconic Westerns and crime writing was the ongoing class struggle to achieve the American Dream—often seen through the eyes of law enforcement officers and the criminals they vowed to apprehend.
C. M. Kushins tells Leonard’s full life story against recurring themes and evolving storytelling methods of his work, drawing on interviews with primary sources ranging from Leonard’s family and friends to those who acted in, produced, and directed his work onscreen, including for the hit TV series Justified. This definitive biography of an author also includes never-before-published excerpts from Leonard’s unfinished final novel and planned memoir. Revealing and insightful, Cooler Than Cool shows Leonard emerging from the "pulp fiction" era of midcentury America, to ultimately become one of the most successful storytellers of the twentieth century, whose influence continues to have far-reaching effects on both contemporary crime fiction and American filmmaking.
This landmark literary biography is the definitive story of Elmore Leonard’s life and work, revealing:
- The Life of a Crime Writer: Go inside the mind of a master, with exclusive access to Leonard’s personal archives and intimate interviews with his family, friends, and collaborators.
- Pulp Fiction History: See how Leonard evolved from the pulp fiction era, drawing on influences like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett to create his signature style.
- Signature Noir Writing and Dialogue: Explore the development of his revolutionary noirish minimalism and the masterful use of realistic dialogue that made his novels leap off the page.
- From Page to Screen: Discover Leonard’s incredible influence on American filmmaking, from his early screenplays and iconic Westerns to modern classics like Get Shorty.
- Never-Before-Seen Writing: Features exclusive, never-before-published excerpts from Leonard's unfinished final novel and his planned memoir.
Drawing on unprecedented archival and family access, Cooler Than Cool: The Life of Elmore Leonard, is the first comprehensive biography of the master American crime writer, author of witty, gritty bestsellers like Get Shorty and Raylan.
Over the course of his sixty-year career, Elmore Leonard, "the Dickens of Detroit," published forty-five novels that have had enduring appeal to readers around the world. Revered by Martin Amis, Margaret Atwood, Raymond Carver, and Stephen King, his books were innovative in their blending of a Hemingway-inspired noirish minimalism and a masterful use of realistic dialogue over exposition—a direct evolution in his celebrated crime writing process spurred by his years as a screenwriter.
Leonard’s fiction contained many layers, and at the heart of his work were progressive themes, stemming from his years as a student of the Jesuit religious order, his personal beliefs in social justice, and his successful battle over alcoholism. He drew inspiration from greats like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, but the true motivation and brilliance behind his iconic Westerns and crime writing was the ongoing class struggle to achieve the American Dream—often seen through the eyes of law enforcement officers and the criminals they vowed to apprehend.
C. M. Kushins tells Leonard’s full life story against recurring themes and evolving storytelling methods of his work, drawing on interviews with primary sources ranging from Leonard’s family and friends to those who acted in, produced, and directed his work onscreen, including for the hit TV series Justified. This definitive biography of an author also includes never-before-published excerpts from Leonard’s unfinished final novel and planned memoir. Revealing and insightful, Cooler Than Cool shows Leonard emerging from the "pulp fiction" era of midcentury America, to ultimately become one of the most successful storytellers of the twentieth century, whose influence continues to have far-reaching effects on both contemporary crime fiction and American filmmaking.
This landmark literary biography is the definitive story of Elmore Leonard’s life and work, revealing:
- The Life of a Crime Writer: Go inside the mind of a master, with exclusive access to Leonard’s personal archives and intimate interviews with his family, friends, and collaborators.
- Pulp Fiction History: See how Leonard evolved from the pulp fiction era, drawing on influences like Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett to create his signature style.
- Signature Noir Writing and Dialogue: Explore the development of his revolutionary noirish minimalism and the masterful use of realistic dialogue that made his novels leap off the page.
- From Page to Screen: Discover Leonard’s incredible influence on American filmmaking, from his early screenplays and iconic Westerns to modern classics like Get Shorty.
- Never-Before-Seen Writing: Features exclusive, never-before-published excerpts from Leonard's unfinished final novel and his planned memoir.
Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard
512
Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard
512
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780063306868 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperCollins |
| Publication date: | 06/10/2025 |
| Pages: | 512 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.70(d) |