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==Writing career== ==Writing career==


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=== 1979–1994 ===
Anthony Horowitz's first book, ''The Sinister Secret of Frederick K Bower'', was a humorous adventure for children, published in 1979<ref>Anthony Horowitz. ''The Sinister Secret of Frederick K. Bower'' (London: Arlington Books, 1979)</ref> and later reissued as ''Enter Frederick K Bower''. In 1981 his second novel, ''Misha, the Magician and the Mysterious Amulet'' was published and he moved to Paris to write his third book.<ref>Anthony Horowitz. ''Misha, the Magician and the Mysterious Amulet'' (London: Arlington Books, 1981)</ref> In 1983 the first of the Pentagram series, ''The Devil's Door-Bell'', was released. This story saw Martin Hopkins battling an ancient evil that threatened the whole world. Only three of four remaining stories in the series were ever written: ''The Night of the Scorpion'' (1984), ''The Silver Citadel'' (1986) and ''Day of the Dragon'' (1986). In 1985 he released ''Myths and Legends'', a collection of retold tales from around the world.

In between writing these novels, Horowitz turned his attention to legendary characters, working with ] on the '']'' television series, writing five episodes of the third season. He also novelised three of Carpenter's episodes as a children's book under the title ''Robin Sherwood: The Hooded Man'' (1986). In addition, he created '']'' (1987), a half-hour action adventure series loosely based on ].

In 1988, '']'' was published. This book went on to win the 1989 Lancashire Children's Book of the Year Award.<ref name="cboty">{{cite web| title=Lancashire Children's Book of the Year| url=http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/services/children/cboty/cbotyhistory.asp}}</ref> It was partially based on the years Horowitz spent at boarding school. Its central character is a thirteen-year-old "witch", David Eliot, gifted as the ]. Like Horowitz's, Eliot's childhood is unhappy. The Groosham Grange books are aimed at a slightly younger audience than Horowitz's previous books. <!---Is this true?--->

This era in Horowitz's career also saw ''Adventurer'' (1987) and '']'' (1990) published<!---what are they about?--->. However, the most major release of Horowitz's early career was '']'' (1986). This book was the first in the successful '']'' series, and was filmed for television in 1989 as '']'', with an all star cast that included Bill Paterson, Jimmy Nail, Roy Kinnear, Susannah York, Michael Robbins and Patricia Hodge, and featured Colin Dale and Dursley McLinden as Nick and Tim Diamond. It was followed in 1987 with '']'', and by ''South by South East'' in 1991 followed by '']'', '']'', '']'' and most recently '']''.

=== 1994–2000 ===
Horowitz wrote many stand alone novels in the 1990s. 1994's ''Granny'', a comedy thriller about an evil grandmother, was Horowitz's first book in three years, and it was the first of three books for an audience similar to that of ''Groosham Grange''. The second of these was ''The Switch'', a body swap story, first published in 1996. The third was 1997's '']'', which is set in the ] and explores the rumour of ]'s secret son.
In 1999, ''The Unholy Grail'' was published as a sequel to '']''. ''The Unholy Grail'' was renamed as '']'' in 2003, possibly to help readers understand the connection between the books. '']'' (1999) and '']'' (2000) saw Horowitz exploring a darker side of his writing. Each book contains several short horror stories. Many of these stories were repackaged in twos or threes as the ''Pocket Horowitz'' series.

=== 2005–present ===
Horowitz began his most famous and successful series in the new millennium with the Alex Rider novels. These books are about a 14-year-old boy becoming a ], a member of the British Secret Service branch MI6. Currently, there are nine Alex Rider books and the tenth is connected to the Alex Rider series (although it is not a part of it) : '']'' (2000), '']'' (2001), '']'' (2002), '']'' (2003), '']'' (2004) '']'' (2005), '']'' (2007), '']'' (2009), '']'' (2011), and '']''(2013). The seventh Alex Rider novel, ''Snakehead'', was released on 31 October 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anthonyhorowitz.com/newscentre/alexrider/february-nightrise-walker-books-and-snakehead/26/ |title=News – Nightrise, Walker Books and Snakehead |publisher=Anthonyhorowitz.com |date= |accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref> and the eighth, '']'', was released in the UK on 12 November 2009. The ninth Alex Rider book, '']'', was released on 31 March 2011. Horowitz stated that ''Scorpia Rising'' was the last book in the Alex Rider series. He has, however, written another novel about the life of ] entitled Russian Roulette, which was released on 12 September 2013 in the ] and 3 October 2013 in the ]. It will not be a part of the Alex Rider series.<ref> Horowitz official site]</ref>

In 2003, Horowitz also wrote three novels featuring the Diamond Brothers: ''The Blurred Man'', '']'' and '']'', which were republished together as '']'' in 2004. The author information page in early editions of '']'' and the introduction to '']'' claimed that Horowitz had travelled to Australia to research a new Diamond Brothers book, entitled ''Radius of the Lost Shark''. However, this book has not been mentioned since, so it is doubtful it is still planned. A new Diamond Brothers "short" book entitled ''The Greek who Stole Christmas!'' was later released. It is hinted at the end of ''The Greek who Stole Christmas'' that ''Radius of the Lost Shark'' may turn out to be the eighth book in the series.<ref> by Anthony Horowitz, , UK.</ref>

In 2004, Horowitz branched out to an adult audience with '']'', a comedy about a man who tries to track a joke to its source with disastrous consequences. Horowitz's second adult novel, ''The Magpie Murders'', was due out on 18 October 2006. However, that date passed with no further news on the book; all that is known about it is that it will be about "a whodunit writer who is murdered while he's writing his latest whodunit" and "it has an ending which I hope will come as a very nasty surprise".<ref name="orionbooks">{{cite web| title=Orion Publishing Group| work=Anthony Horowitz, author of The Killing Joke, answers our questions| url=http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/QandA.aspx?id=10964&catID=0| accessdate=12 October 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070927012039/http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/QandA.aspx?id=10964&catID=0 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 27 September 2007}}</ref> As the initial release date was not met, it is not currently known if or when ''The Magpie Murders'' will be released.

In August 2005, Horowitz released a book called '']'' which began another series entitled '']'' (''The Gatekeepers'' in the United States). He describes it as "Alex Rider with witches and devils".<ref name="ahorowitz2">{{cite web| title=News| url=http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/news/archive/jan2005.html}}</ref> The second book in the series, '']'', was released in April 2006. The third in the series is called '']'', and was released on 2 April 2007. The fourth book '']'' was released in October 2008. The fifth and last book was released in October 2012 and is named 'Oblivion.'

''The Power of Five'' is a rewritten, modern version of the Pentagram series from the 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} Although Pentagram required five books for story development, Horowitz completed only four: The Devil's Door-bell (]), The Night of the Scorpion (]), The Silver Citadel (]) and Day of the Dragon (]). Horowitz was clearly aiming for the same audience that read the ''Alex Rider'' novels with these rewrites, and ''The Power of Five'' has gained more public recognition than his earlier works, earning number 1 in the top 10 book chart.<ref name="horosons"/>

In October 2008, Anthony Horowitz's play '']'' opened Off Broadway at the Soho Playhouse in New York City.<ref>http://www.mindgametheplay.com</ref> ''Mindgame'' starred ], Lee Godart, and Kathleen McNenny. The production was the New York stage directorial debut for ]. Recently he got into a joke dispute with ] over the author using a character that had a similar name and a description that fitted his. Although Horowitz considered suing, he decided not to.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anthonyhorowitz.com/newscentre/alexrider/necropolis-new-york-and-a-question-should-i-sue-darren-shan/73/ |title=anthonyhorowitz.com |publisher=anthonyhorowitz.com |date= |accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref>

In March 2009 he was a guest on '']'', the biographical music discussion programme on ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/privatepassions/ |title=BBC Radio 3 |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1 January 1970 |accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref>

On 19 January 2011, the estate of Arthur Conan Doyle announced that Horowitz was to be the writer of a new Sherlock Holmes novel, the first such effort to receive an official endorsement from them and to be entitled '']''. It was both published<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/news/anthony-horowitz-to-write-new-sherlock-holmes-novel |title=Orion Books |publisher=Orion Books |date=17 January 2011 |accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2011/01/110119_sherlock_holmes_nh_hs.shtml |title=BBC |publisher=BBC |date=19 January 2011 |accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/apr/12/sherlock-holmes-novel-anthony-horowitz|title=New Sherlock Holmes novel by Anthony Horowitz out in November|last=Kennedy|first=Maev|date=12 April 2011|newspaper=Guardian}}</ref> in November 2011 and broadcast on BBC Radio 4.<ref>{{cite web|author= – 05:20 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b017b817 |title=BBC Radio 4, '&#39;The House of Silk'&#39; |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= |accessdate=10 June 2012}}</ref>

Horowitz was appointed ] (OBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to literature.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=60728|supp=yes|startpage=12|endpage=|date=31 December 2013}}</ref>

=== Writing for television and film ===
Horowitz began writing for television in the 1980s, contributing to the children's anthology series '']'', and also writing for the popular fantasy series '']''. His association with murder mysteries began with the adaptation of several ] stories for ]'s popular '']'' series during the 1990s.

Often his work has a comic edge, such as with the comic murder anthology '']'' (BBC Two, 1991) and the comedy-drama ''The Last Englishman'' (1995), starring ]. From 1997, he wrote the majority of the episodes in the early series of '']''. In 2001, he created a drama anthology series of his own for the BBC, ''Murder in Mind'', an occasional series which deals with a different set of characters and a different murder every one-hour episode.

He is also less-favourably known for the creation of two short-lived and sometimes derided ], '']'' (1997) for BBC One and ''The Vanishing Man'' (pilot 1996, series 1998) for ]. While ''Crime Traveller'' received favourable viewing figures it was not renewed for a second season, which Horowitz accounts to temporary personnel transitioning within the BBC. It has, however, attracted somewhat of a cult following.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}} The successful 2002 launch of the detective series '']'', set during the ], helped to restore his reputation as one of Britain's foremost writers of popular drama.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

He devised the 2009 ITV crime drama '']'' and co-wrote the screenplay with ].

Horowitz is the writer of a feature film screenplay, '']'', which was released in 2003 and starred ]. He wrote the screenplay for Alex Rider's first major motion picture, '']''.

In an interview with ] on 6 April 2011, Horowitz announced that he was writing the sequel to ]'s '']''. The sequel is rumoured to be based on '']'' comic '']'' and directed by ], who produced the first film.


==Bibliography== ==Bibliography==

Revision as of 19:48, 9 February 2014

For the American journalist, see Tony Horwitz.

Anthony Horowitz
BornAnthony John Horowitz
(1955-04-05) 5 April 1955 (age 69)
London Borough
OccupationNovelist, screenwriter, children's writer
NationalityBritish
GenreAdventure, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Fantasy
Notable worksAlex Rider, The Power of Five, The Diamond Brothers, Foyle's War
SpouseJill Green (married 1988)
ChildrenNicholas Mark, Cassian James
Website
http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com

Anthony Horowitz, OBE (born 5 April 1955) is a prolific English novelist and screenwriter specialising in mystery and suspense. His work for children and teenagers includes The Diamond Brothers series, the Alex Rider series, and The Power of Five series (aka The Gatekeepers). His work for adults includes the novel and play Mindgame (2001) and the Sherlock Holmes novel The House of Silk (2011). He has also written extensively for television, contributing numerous scripts to ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot and Midsomer Murders. He was the creator and principal writer of the ITV series Foyle's War, Collision and Injustice.

Background and personal life

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Writing career

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Bibliography

Groosham Grange

  • Groosham Grange (1988)
  • The Unholy Grail (also released as Return To Groosham Grange) (1990)

Alex Rider

Main article: Alex Rider

The Diamond Brothers

Pentagram

  • The Devil's Door-Bell (1983)
  • The Night of the Scorpion (1983)
  • The Silver Citadel (1986)
  • Day of the Dragon (1989)

The Power of Five (The Gatekeepers)

Main article: The Power of Five

Other novels

  • Enter Frederick K Bower (1978)
  • The Sinister Secret of Frederick K Bower (1979)
  • Misha, the Magician and the Mysterious Amulet (1981)
  • Robin of Sherwood: The Hooded Man (1986) (with Richard Carpenter)
  • Adventurer (1987)
  • New Adventures of William Tell (1987)
  • Starting Out (1990)
  • Granny (1994)
  • The Switch (1996)
  • The Devil and His Boy (1998)

Adult novels

Collections

Edge: Horowitz Graphic Horror

  • The Phone Goes Dead (2010)
  • Scared (2010)
  • Killer Camera (2010)
  • The Hitchhiker (2010)

Graphic novels

Films

Television series

References

  1. Walker Books. ISBN 978-1-4063-1700-8.

External links

Anthony Horowitz
Alex Rider
The Diamond Brothers
The Power of Five
James Bond
Sherlock Holmes
Susan Ryeland
Hawthorne and Horowitz
Other novels
Short story collections
Films/plays
Television series created
Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
Novels
Adaptations
Characters
The Power of Five by Anthony Horowitz
Novels
Characters

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