Fitz-James O'Brien

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Fitz-James O'Brien

Michael "Fitz James" O'Brien (born December 31, 1828 in County Cork , † April 6, 1862 in Cumberland , Maryland ) was an Irish writer .

Life

O'Brien, born into a wealthy family to a lawyer, studied at Dublin University . During this time two of his poems were written: Loch Ine and Irish Castles , which were published in 1856 in the " Ballads of Ireland ". After spending his £ 8,000 inheritance in 1852, he left Ireland for the United States. Since then he has called himself Fitz James. In 1858 he published his most famous story, The Diamond Lens ; Allegations of plagiarism were not confirmed.

He published 60 articles in Harper's New Monthly Magazine (1859–1864) and one in The United States Democratic Review (1853). He developed thoughts (texts) in which elements of science fiction can be found as in the authors Edgar Allan Poe , Nathaniel Hawthorne and similar in ETA Hoffmann . The idea of ​​the robot is one of his most important contributions to science fiction.

Fitz-James O'Brien was a participant in the Civil War . In 1861 he joined the 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard and was in Cameron for six weeks . His regiment, under the command of General Frederick W. Lander , returned to New York. Wounded and left behind on February 26, 1862, O'Brien died on April 6, 1862 near Cumberland, Maryland . Bruce Franklin cites the cause of death as the result of an incorrectly treated injury as a result of a duel, while Sam Moskowitz wrote that he died after an arm and shoulder blade amputation as a result of a combat injury.

His friend William Winter collected his poems, stories and personal memories.

Works

Here is a selection from 61 works:

  • The Diamond Lens (1858)
  • The dragon tooth of the magician Piuo-Lu (1856)
  • The Lost Room (1858)
  • What was it? (1859)
  • The Miracle Smith (1859)
  • The Fantastic Tales; ISBN 0-7145-3617-2

Web links

personal data
SURNAME O'Brien, Fitz-James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES O'Brien, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Irish writer
DATE OF BIRTH December 31, 1828
PLACE OF BIRTH County Cork
DATE OF DEATH April 6, 1862
Place of death Cumberland, Maryland