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Elmore John Leonard Jr.

エルモア・レナード

Elmore Leonard

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1925-10-11 （New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.）
Died
2013-08-20 （Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S.） age 87
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
New Orleans (early childhood) → Dallas → Oklahoma City → Memphis → Detroit (long-term residence) → Bloomfield Hills (later life)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Screenwriter, Copywriter
Active Years
1950-2013
Influenced By
Erich Maria Remarque, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett
Influenced
Dennis Lehane, Peter Leonard, Quentin Tarantino (influence through film adaptation)

Education

University of Detroit
English and Philosophy
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Period: 1946-1950
Year of Graduation: 1950
Country: United States
Enrolled after military service; graduated with a degree in English and Philosophy

Awards

Edgar Award (Best Novel)
1984
Work: La BRAVA
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: Winner
Hammett Prize
1991
Work: Maximum Bob
Organization: International Association of Crime Writers (North American branch)
Result: Winner
Grand Master Award
1992
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Bounty Hunters

1953 Western

An early Western novel focusing on bounty hunters and confrontations on the frontier.

Justice and revengeThe frontier

Hombre

1961 Western

A Western examining prejudice and courage; one of Leonard's works adapted into film.

PrejudicePersonal courage
Adaptations
  • [Film] Hombre / Martin Ritt (1967)

The Big Bounce

1969 Crime fiction

Marked a move away from Westerns; a crime tale where chance and criminal schemes intersect.

CrimeWit
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Big Bounce (1969)
  • [Film (remake)] The Big Bounce / George Armitage (2004)

Mr. Majestyk

1974 Action / Crime

An action-oriented tale of an ordinary man drawn into conflict; source for a film.

ViolenceJustice
Adaptations
  • [Film] Mr. Majestyk (1974)

City Primeval

1980 Crime / Hardboiled

A novel about urban crime and corruption, reflecting the atmosphere of the Detroit area.

CorruptionViolence

La BRAVA

1983 Crime / Thriller

A work that brought wide critical recognition; a cool, incisive depiction of crime and relationships.

CrimeInterpersonal relationships

Glitz

1985 Crime / Suspense

A crime story set around gambling and resorts; became a bestseller.

GamblingUnderworld

Get Shorty

1990 Crime / Comedy

A witty novel that intersects the criminal world with Hollywood; adapted into a successful film.

Film industryCrime and humor
Adaptations
  • [Film] Get Shorty / Barry Sonnenfeld (1995)

Rum Punch

1992 Crime

A crime novel about robbery and betrayal; adapted by Quentin Tarantino into a film.

CrimeBetrayal
Adaptations
  • [Film] Jackie Brown / Quentin Tarantino (1997)

Out of Sight

1996 Crime / Romance

A story of a criminal on the run and a federal marshal; crime and sensuality intersect. Adapted by Soderbergh.

On the runDangerous romance
Adaptations
  • [Film] Out of Sight / Steven Soderbergh (1998)

3:10 to Yuma

1954 Western

A well-known short story adapted into films multiple times.

CourageLaw and order
Adaptations
  • [Film] 3:10 to Yuma (1957)
  • [Film (remake)] 3:10 to Yuma / James Mangold (2007)

Bibliography

  • The Bounty Hunters (1953)
  • The Law at Randado (1954)
  • Escape from Five Shadows (1956)
  • Hombre (1961)
  • The Big Bounce (1969)
  • The Moonshine War (1969)
  • Valdez Is Coming (1970)
  • Mr. Majestyk (1974)
  • Fifty-Two Pickup (1974)
  • Swag (1976)
  • Unknown Man No.89 (1977)
  • The Hunted (1977)
  • The Switch (1978)
  • Gunsights (1979)
  • City Primeval (1980)
  • Gold Coast (1980)
  • Split Images (1981)
  • Cat Chaser (1982)
  • Stick (1983)
  • La BRAVA (1983)
  • Glitz (1985)
  • Bandits (1987)
  • Touch (1987)
  • Freaky Deaky (1988)
  • Killshot (1989)
  • Get Shorty (1990)
  • Maximum Bob (1991)
  • Rum Punch (1992)
  • Pronto (1993)
  • Riding the Rap (1995)
  • Out of Sight (1996)
  • Cuba Libre (1998)
  • Be Cool (1999)
  • Pagan Babies (2000)
  • Tishomingo Blues (2002)
  • A Coyote's in the House (2003)
  • Mr. Paradise (2004)
  • The Complete Western Stories (2004)
  • The Hot Kid (2005)
  • Comfort to the Enemy (2006)
  • Up in Honey's Room (2007)
  • Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing (2007)
  • Road Dogs (2009)

Adaptations

  • 3:10 to Yuma — film adaptations (1957, 2007)
  • Hombre — film adaptation (1967)
  • Get Shorty — film (1995)
  • Jackie Brown (from Rum Punch) — film (1997)
  • Out of Sight — film (1998)
  • Be Cool — film (2005)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Lean, economical proseDry humour and dialogue-driven storytelling
Recurring Motifs
Blurred lines between crime and justiceCrisp, hard-edged dialogueGritty masculine milieusAmbiguity of law

Legacy

Elmore Leonard significantly influenced modern crime fiction with his spare, fast-paced prose and sharp dialogue. Many of his works were adapted for film, earning him wide recognition at home and abroad.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of America

In Popular Culture

  • Influenced Hollywood and popular culture through numerous film adaptations
  • His rules for writers are widely cited as writing advice

Quotes

  • Try to leave out the part that readers tend to skip.
    Source: Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing (2007) (2007)

Trivia

  • Full name: Elmore John Leonard Jr.
  • Served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during World War II (1943–1946)
  • Nickname was "Dutch"
  • Had five children; son Peter Leonard is also a writer