Elmore leonard discusses the moral ambiguity of his protagonist, the struggle to make good guys as interesting as villains, and his thoughts on justified, the tv series based on his work. Leonard is the recipient of the national book foundations medal for distinguished contribution to american letters, the lifetime achievement award from pen usa, and the grand. Fire in the hole is a 60 page novel written by elmore leonard. And beyond that, the show spurred leonard to write another book raylan based on how much justified had ignited the character. He has since published a novel titled ryalan 2012 from the justified tv series produced by fx network. Elmore leonard got a kick out of justified, show creator says timothy olyphant portrays raylan givens in fxs justified, a tv series that sprang from an elmore leonard short story. The titular character, raylan givens, is also the protagonist of an excellent fx television series, justified, which is based on leonards novella fire in the hole, originally.
I was excited by the prospect of listening to raylan, as ive become a fan of not only elmore leonards novels but also the the tv series justified. Elmore leonard and hollywood film adaptations bookbaby blog. In the world of elmore leonard novels, cops and criminals get by with a gru. Leonard gives nprs noah adams a tour of his hometown. Elmore leonard was born on october 11, 1925 in new orleans, louisiana, usa as elmore john leonard jr. Justified, the hit series from fx, is based on leonards character raylan givens, who appears in riding the rap, pronto, raylan and the short story fire in the hole. Though justified, and its pilot episode in particular, is based on elmore leonards 2001 short story fire in the hole, raylan givens made his literary debut in 1993, as a character in leonard s. Its a novel set in boston about a criminal being squeezed as an informer for the government. Below is a list of all of his published books in order of when they were originally released. Elmore leonard in harlan elmore leonards 1925 19 long career as a writer of westerns and crime fiction ended with his 2012 novel, raylan.
The television series justified is based on a popular leonard character. Those who have never read leonard before are not only missing out on a very amusing storyteller, but should begin with one of leonard s other better known novels such as get shorty, out of sight or maximum bob. Marshal enforcing his own brand of justice, in his hometown of harlan, kentucky. Due to his fathers position working for general motors, leonards family moved numerous times during his childhood, before finally settling in detroit, mi in 1934. Elmore leonard and graham yost discuss raylan and justified. In the world of elmore leonard novels, cops and more. Elmore leonard books list of books by author elmore leonard. Pronto 1993 and riding the rap 1995 and one novella, fire in the hole upon which justified is based, in the story collection, when the women come out to dance 2002. Aug 20, 20 american novelist elmore leonard with his wife christine in detroit, michigan, circa 1992. His strengths and weaknesses are what make him so compelling and the story line so involving. Elmore leonard wrote some of the classic crime novels of the twentieth century. Part of a series, the novel is set in the coal country of harlan, kentucky, and features as its main character u.
Elmores legacy lives on, and the memory of his life is survived by five children, grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren. Elmore leonard talks justified, get shorty and a lot of bad adaptations. Mar 16, 2010 elmore leonard, at home in detroit the crime writer has more than 40 books to his name and dozens of films made from that source material. American novelist elmore leonard with his wife christine in detroit, michigan, circa 1992. Raylan givens initially appeared in the novels pronto and riding the rap. Raylan pulls out a beat up copy of the friends of eddie coyle, by george v. The justified series is great because of its main character, who reminds you of the old west marshals code of morality, honor and chivalry. Twentysix of his bestselling books and stories have become popular films and television shows, including get shorty, out of sight, jackie brown based on the novel rum punch, hombre, and 3.
Fire in the hole is the novella which inspired the series, and was used as the basis for the plot of its first episode. Feb 05, 2012 the titular character, raylan givens, is also the protagonist of an excellent fx television series, justified, which is based on leonards novella fire in the hole, originally. The show is based on a book by famed novelist elmore leonard, who also serves as a producer and makes sure the scripts are always entertaining and unpredictable. Elmore leonard says actor timothy olyphant, who plays lead character raylan givens in the tv series justified based on leonards books. Justified, the hit series from fx, is based on leonards character raylan givens, who appears in riding the rap, pronto, the short story fire in the hole, and raylan. He was married to christine kent, joan shepard and beverly claire cline.
I was excited by the prospect of listening to raylan, as ive become a fan of not only elmore leonard s novels but also the the tv series justified. Apr 14, 2015 did you catch what i think is a small homage to elmore leonard, the novelist whose books the series is based on. Returning from service, he enrolled in the university of detroit and worked as an. He was a writer and producer, known for out of sight 1998, get shorty 1995 and justified 2010. Raylan made to jump from the written page onto the screen when graham yost created the justified fx television series on, based on the elmore leonard short story fire in the hole. The 201015 fx series justified was based around the popular leonard character u.
Posted mar 15, 2010 by alan sepinwallthe starledger. Elmore leonard wrote more than forty books during his long career, including the bestsellers raylan, tishomingo blues, be cool, get shorty, and rum punch, as well as the acclaimed collection when the women come out to dance, which was a new york times notable book. Elmore leonard, considered by many to be the greatest crime writer of modern times, has died due to complications of a stroke. The justified series became an instant hit, and prompted author elmore leonard to undertake a novelization project. Justified, the hit series from fx, is based on leonards character raylan.
Why these 10 books are the best elmore leonard wrote the. Elmore leonard talks justified, get shorty and a lot. Elmore leonard on justified and his new book, raylan wsj. Did you catch what i think is a small homage to elmore leonard, the novelist whose books the series is based on. Elmore leonard got a kick out of justified, show creator. In 2012, after two hit seasons of justified had aired, elmore leonard took raylan givens back to the page, in a novel titled raylan his first givens story since 2001.
Justified series creator graham yost based his tv show on a short story by elmore leonard heard about kentucky coalminerturnedu. Marshal raylan givens journeys back to his roots in an eastern kentucky coalmining town to pursue boyd crowder, a white supremacist income tax evader who plans to blow up a cincinnati irs building. This kindle collection is a repackaging of three previously published elmore leonard books, all featuring deputy u. Elmore leonard, 192520 elmore leonard was born october 11, 1925 in new orleans, louisiana. The enduring appeal of elmore leonard and deputy us marshal raylan givens. I get asked every week by justified fans new to elmores work which books has raylan appeared in. Once youre done with those, read everything else elmore leonard wrote.
This collection of elmore leonards short fiction was originally entitled when the women come out to dance, but the title was changed to capitalize on its connection to fxs justified. His funeral service was held at holy name church in birmingham, michigan. Jan 18, 2012 elmore leonard discusses the moral ambiguity of his protagonist, the struggle to make good guys as interesting as villains, and his thoughts on justified, the tv series based on his work. Olyphant is wonderful as an oldschool lawman who wont draw his weapon unless he plans to shoot to kill, because thats the whole purpose of a gun. Elmore leonard returns with raylan the new york times. He died on august 20, 20 in bloomfield township, michigan, usa. Better known as novelist and screenwriter elmore leonard, he joined the navy after graduating from high school and served in the south pacific. Elmore leonard has been writing since the early 50s and keeps going to this day. His earliest novels, published in the 1950s, were westerns, but he went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.
He was buried in a cemetery in bloomfield, michigan. Justified ends with an unpredictable, poetic and memorable. Elmore leonard was amazed by justified hollywood reporter. When the women come out to dance is a collection of short stories, including fire in the hole, which justified was based on. This book offers light but entertaining reading best enjoyed by fans of raylan givens, of justified, or of elmore leonard. A curious entry in the leonard filmography, based on one of his lesserknown early novels which also recently lent its name, if little else, to a justified episode, the moonshine war. Yost wrote the pilot episode for the fx series justified based on a 2001. Elmore leonard in harlan elmore leonard s 1925 19 long career as a writer of westerns and crime fiction ended with his 2012 novel, raylan. When elmore leonard died in august at age 87, he left behind more than 40 novels, a number of short stories, and one ongoing television show, justified, which begins its fifth season in january. The first two works, pronto and riding the rap, are novels originally published in 1993 and 1995, repectively. He was a recipient of the national book foundations medal for distinguished contribution to american letters, the lifetime achievement award from pen usa, and the grand master. When elmore leonard died in august at age 87, he left behind more than 40. This story contains details of tonights justified series finale.
Justified, the tv show based on a book by detroits elmore. Marshal raylan givens, the character now made famous by the tv series justified. Notably inspired by higginss the friends of eddie coyle, 1972, leonard was an adept dialogue writer and master of the tight scene. October 11, 1925 august 20, 20 was an american novelist, short. Justified is an american crime drama television series that premiered on march 16, 2010, on the fx network. Timothy olyphant portrays raylan givens, a tough deputy u. Awards elmore leonard has won different awards for his literary works and respective adaptations. Elmore leonard is a crime novelist whose legacy will live on for decades to come.
Leonard went on to graduate high school in detroit in 1943, and. October 11, 1925 august 20, 20 was an american novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. Photo by michael brennangetty images when revered writer elmore leonard died tuesday due to complications from a stroke, he left behind not just family and loved ones, but a large community of readers who treasured the works in his vast oeuvre of. Elmore leonard, like many writers, fashioned a method of. Benjamin cavill, writer for the series justified based on elmores short story fire in the hole, has said the narration has a sort of hemingway staccato. Appropriate, considering leonards admiration for the author. Raylan givens, the inspiration for the fx networks hit tv show justified, returns this january in elmore leonards latest novel, raylan. The 201015 fx series justified was based around the popular leonard. Developed by graham yost, it is based on elmore leonard s short story fire in the hole. I get asked every week by justified fans new to elmore s work which books has raylan appeared in. Elmore leonard, at home in detroit the crime writer has more than 40 books to his name and dozens of films made from that source material.
Raylan givens is a fictional character created by american author elmore leonard, featured in a series of crime fiction novels. How elmore leonard and justified changed pop culture the. Picking the 10 best elmore leonard novels is a mugs game, but im willing to share my own personal top 10, if you bear in mind that i havent read all of leonards books the moonshine war. Leonard believed that his books during the 1980s were becoming more humorous and that he was developing a style that was more free and easy. May 14, 20 a curious entry in the leonard filmography, based on one of his lesserknown early novels which also recently lent its name, if little else, to a justified episode, the moonshine war. I think thats partly what has made justified, which was based on a leonard short story called fire in the hole, such a fullyformed, fullyrealized depiction of character.
One of the coolest things about elmore leonards crime fiction is that he didnt get to it until he was close to 50 years old and had been a professional writer for more than 20. Elmore leonard says timothy olyphant of justified plays raylan givens, exactly the way i wrote himexcept for the hat. Feb 07, 20 this book offers light but entertaining reading best enjoyed by fans of raylan givens, of justified, or of elmore leonard. The fx show justified, a new crime series based on the book fire in the hole by detroit author elmore leonard. After the sixseason catandmouse chase between deputy u.
Fxs justified isnt just a big television hit, its also a standing legacy to author elmore leonard, whose unique style changed pop culture for the better. Those who have never read leonard before are not only missing out on a very amusing storyteller, but should begin with one of leonards other better known novels such as get shorty, out of sight or maximum bob. Ive long been a huge fan of the books of elmore leonard, and ive also really enjoyed the television series, justified, which is based on leonards excellent. Marshal raylan givens, from the novels pronto, riding the rap, the eponymous raylan, and the short story fire in the hole.
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