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Award-winning British mystery writer dies
Paris, July 28: Prize-winning British crime writer Nicolas Freeling, author of more than three dozen novels, has died after a long battle with cancer, according to his family. He was 76 years old. Freeling died Sunday at his family home in Mutzig in France`s Vosges region, in eastern France, his son Conrad Freeling said Wednesday in a telephone interview.
Paris, July 28: Prize-winning British crime writer Nicolas Freeling, author of more than three dozen novels, has died after a long battle with cancer, according to his family. He was 76 years old. Freeling died Sunday at his family home in Mutzig in France's Vosges region, in eastern France, his son Conrad Freeling said Wednesday in a telephone interview.
Freeling wrote 36 works of fiction and four nonfiction books, including two cook books, his son said.
With its diverse European settings and characters, Freeling's writing reflected in part the nomadic lifestyle he led before taking up the pen. Surrounded by literature in his youth, he fell into writing almost by happenstance while working as a cook in Amsterdam, and ending up doing a month's stint in jail, accused of stealing meat, according to his son.
Freeling was intrigued by the police inspector and the interrogation process.
"Love in Amsterdam" was the result. Published in 1961, it was an immediate success and set him on a writing career. In the book, the author introduced readers to detective Piet Van der Valk, a character who developed a following among fans. When Freeling moved to France, where he lived for more than three decades, he killed off his Dutch detective in 1972 _ to the dismay of fans _ replacing him with Inspector Henri Castang. The French protagonist of a series of books first appeared in "A Dressing of Diamond" in 1974.
Freeling's last book, The Janeites, was published in 2002. Freeling won three acclaimed literary awards _ France's Grand Prix de Roman Policier, the American Edgar Allan Poe award and the British Crime Writers' Golden Dagger.
Born March 3, 1927, in London, Freeling, whose mother wrote children's books, had often rummaged around in markets, buying dusty second-hand books with the little money he had, his son said. His favorite authors included Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling. However, Freeling did not start writing until his 30s. Having dropped out of Dublin University, he headed to France, traveled around the Mediterranean Sea in an old fishing boat and worked in a string of restaurants to earn money.
During his travels, Freeling discovered he had a talent for cooking, and eventually wrote two cookbooks.
His real legacy is his detective books. But his son said they are about more than crime.
"His books aren't mechanical crime stories," he said. "They are about what he observed, what he felt, what he believed .... "You can't just say he was a crime writer."
Funeral services were set for Thursday in Grandfontaine, in eastern France, where the family maintains a home, his son said. Freeling is survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Bureau Report
Freeling wrote 36 works of fiction and four nonfiction books, including two cook books, his son said.
With its diverse European settings and characters, Freeling's writing reflected in part the nomadic lifestyle he led before taking up the pen. Surrounded by literature in his youth, he fell into writing almost by happenstance while working as a cook in Amsterdam, and ending up doing a month's stint in jail, accused of stealing meat, according to his son.
Freeling was intrigued by the police inspector and the interrogation process.
"Love in Amsterdam" was the result. Published in 1961, it was an immediate success and set him on a writing career. In the book, the author introduced readers to detective Piet Van der Valk, a character who developed a following among fans. When Freeling moved to France, where he lived for more than three decades, he killed off his Dutch detective in 1972 _ to the dismay of fans _ replacing him with Inspector Henri Castang. The French protagonist of a series of books first appeared in "A Dressing of Diamond" in 1974.
Freeling's last book, The Janeites, was published in 2002. Freeling won three acclaimed literary awards _ France's Grand Prix de Roman Policier, the American Edgar Allan Poe award and the British Crime Writers' Golden Dagger.
Born March 3, 1927, in London, Freeling, whose mother wrote children's books, had often rummaged around in markets, buying dusty second-hand books with the little money he had, his son said. His favorite authors included Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling. However, Freeling did not start writing until his 30s. Having dropped out of Dublin University, he headed to France, traveled around the Mediterranean Sea in an old fishing boat and worked in a string of restaurants to earn money.
During his travels, Freeling discovered he had a talent for cooking, and eventually wrote two cookbooks.
His real legacy is his detective books. But his son said they are about more than crime.
"His books aren't mechanical crime stories," he said. "They are about what he observed, what he felt, what he believed .... "You can't just say he was a crime writer."
Funeral services were set for Thursday in Grandfontaine, in eastern France, where the family maintains a home, his son said. Freeling is survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Bureau Report