Trevanian
Trevanian
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Trevanian was a pen name used by American author Rodney William Whitaker. He is also known as R.W. Whitaker.
Birth and Death Dates
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Trevanian was born on September 6, 1939, and passed away on November 12, 2005, at the age of 66.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Trevanian was an American author, best known for his novels that blended elements of thriller, mystery, and historical fiction. He is also credited with writing under several other pseudonyms, including R.W. Whitaker.
Early Life and Background
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Born in New York City to a family of modest means, Trevanian grew up with a love for storytelling and history. His early life was marked by a desire to create immersive experiences that transported readers to different eras and cultures. This interest would later become the hallmark of his writing.
Major Accomplishments
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Trevanian's breakthrough novel, "The Eiger Sanction", published in 1972, became an instant success, thanks to its unique blend of espionage, mystery, and adventure. The book was adapted into a film starring Clint Eastwood in 1975. This achievement catapulted Trevanian to international fame and established him as a masterful storyteller.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Trevanian's most notable works include:
"The Loo Sanction" (1974) - A sequel to "The Eiger Sanction", further exploring the world of espionage.
"Shibumi" (1978) - A novel that delves into the life of a Japanese master swordsman, blending elements of historical fiction and thriller genres.
"The Summer of '55" (1996) - A work of non-fiction that explores his own experiences growing up in New York City during World War II.Impact and Legacy
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Trevanian's writing has had a lasting impact on the literary world. His unique style, which combines meticulous research with compelling storytelling, has influenced many authors to experiment with genre-bending narratives. His commitment to historical accuracy and cultural sensitivity has also made his works enduringly popular among readers worldwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Trevanian's quotes are widely remembered for their insight into the human condition, as well as their thought-provoking reflections on history, culture, and the role of storytelling in our lives. His writing continues to captivate audiences with its blend of action, suspense, and intellectual curiosity.
Key Takeaways
Trevanian was a pen name used by American author Rodney William Whitaker.
He is best known for his novels that blended elements of thriller, mystery, and historical fiction.
"The Eiger Sanction" was his breakthrough novel, published in 1972.
* His writing has had a lasting impact on the literary world, influencing many authors to experiment with genre-bending narratives.
Quotes by Trevanian
Why did I submit myself to the butchery of the trenches when I might have served in the echelons as a medical officer? Even the most rudimentary knowledge of Doctor Freud would suggest that I was pursuing a death wish.
The Trevanian Buff is a strange and wonderful creature: an outsider, a natural elitist, not so much a cynic as an idealist mugged by reality, not just one of those who march to a different drummer, but the solo drummer in a parade of one.
Indeed, my first interest in the pioneer work of Doctor Freud sprang, not from a concern for persons wounded in their collisions with reality, but from my personal curiosity about the nature of creativity and the springs of motivation. So.
It is revealing of the American culture that its prototypic hero is the cowboy: an uneducated, boorish, Victorian migrant agricultural worker.
But he could feel nothing but disdain for the artificial class of the merchant, who sucks up his living through buying and selling things he does not create, who collects power and wealth out of proportion to his discrimination, and who is responsible for all that is kitsch, for all that is change without progress, for all that is consumption without use.
Prudence is a bourgeois virtue, because the rich have something worth saving. The poor splurge because they need desperately to make a colorful splash across the drab fabric of their lives. The hungry don’t dream of brown rice and vegetables; they dream of cake.
You can gain experience, if you are careful to avoid empty redundancy. Do not fall into the error of the artisan who boasts of twenty years experience in craft while in fact he has had only one year of experience–twenty times. And never resent the advantage of experience your elders have. Recall that they have paid for this experience in the coin of life, and have emptied a purse that cannot be refilled.
Diamond could not repress a sigh when he read that phrase. Miss Stern obviously suffered from the democratic delusion that all people are created interesting.
But I was a polite kid, so I went. Even the wildest and toughest of us kids, several of whom ended up in prison and one on death row, would be accounted polite by today’s standards.