Edward Whittemore

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Edward Whittemore (born May 29, 1933 in Manchester (New Hampshire) , USA ; † August 3, 1995 in New York City ) was an American writer who published five novels from 1974 to 1987.

Edward Whittemore was born the youngest of five children. After graduating from high school in Portland (Maine) , he studied history at Yale University . As a member of the United States Marine Corps , he served in Japan, where he was enlisted as a CIA agent. From 1958 to 1967 he worked in this activity, disguised as a reporter for The Japan Times , in the Far East , Europe and the Middle East .

Whittemore is best known as a writer through the four novels of his "Jerusalem Quartet". In his earlier novel, Quin's Shanghai Circus , he developed his style of surreal, historical fantasy , which he developed further in the four "Jerusalem" novels. A number of writers and critics have highlighted Whittemore's imagination and breadth. In contrast, the science fiction author Thomas M. Disch criticized the low power of imagination in Jerusalem Poker . Regardless of the general success with the critics, Whittemore's books were denied great success, despite translations into German and French. His works were out of print for a long time, only in 2003 there was a new edition of all five novels.

He kept his private life strictly secret, so little is known about him. In 1982 Whittemore met the artist Helen Bar-Lev and went with her to Jerusalem , where they lived together for five years, before he suddenly left her for reasons unknown and returned to New York. Edward Whittemore died at the age of 62 shortly after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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personal data
SURNAME Whittemore, Edward
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American writer
DATE OF BIRTH May 29, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Manchester, New Hampshire , USA
DATE OF DEATH August 3, 1995
Place of death New York City