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Michael Dibdin

December 07, 2023

Michael Dibdin (21 March 1947 – 30 March 2007)[1] was a British crime writer, best known for inventing Aurelio Zen, the principal character in 11 crime novels set in Italy.

Early life edit

Dibdin was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire (now West Midlands), England. The son of a physicist, he was brought up from the age of seven in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, where he attended the Friends' School and was taught by James Simmons.[1] He graduated with a degree in English from Sussex University, and then went to study for a Master's degree at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Career edit

After publishing his first novel, a Sherlock Holmes pastiche, he lived for four years in Italy, teaching at the university in Perugia.

Dibdin is best known for his Aurelio Zen mysteries, set in Italy.[2] The first of these, Ratking, won the 'Gold Dagger' award of 1988. This series of detective novels provide a penetrating insight into the less visible aspects of Italian society over the last 20 years. The earlier books have a lightness of touch that gradually becomes much darker. The character of Zen himself is anti-heroic, which adds much to the books' irony and black humour. A final Zen book, End Games, appeared posthumously in July 2007.

He also wrote other detective works set in America and in the UK.

Personal life edit

Dibdin eventually settled in Seattle, Washington, United States.

Dibdin was married three times, most recently to the novelist K. K. Beck. He died in Seattle on 30 March 2007, aged 60, following a short illness.

Bibliography edit

Aurelio Zen series edit

  1. Ratking (1988)
  2. Vendetta (1991)
  3. Cabal (1992)
  4. Dead Lagoon (1994)
  5. Cosi Fan Tutti (1996)
  6. A Long Finish (1998)
  7. Blood Rain (1999)
  8. And Then You Die (2002)
  9. Medusa (2003)
  10. Back to Bologna (2005)
  11. End Games (2007)

Other books edit

  • The Last Sherlock Holmes Story (1978)
  • A Rich Full Death (1986)
  • The Tryst (1989)
  • Dirty Tricks (1991)
  • The Dying of the Light (1993)
  • Dark Spectre (1995) ISBN 0-571-17523-6
  • Thanksgiving (2000)

References edit

  1. ^ a b Christopher Hawtree (4 April 2007). "Guardian obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  2. ^ Patricia Prandini Buckler (2014). Bloody Italy: Essays on Crime Writing in Italian Settings. McFarland. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-7864-5864-6.

External links edit

  • Michael Dibdin at British Council: Literature
  • BBC obituary
  • January Magazine Interview: Michael Dibdin
  • BBC Programme page: Zen

Video edit

  • Michael Dibdin: "Zen is someone I don't know very much about" – video


   

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December 07, 2023
michael, dibdin, march, 1947, march, 2007, british, crime, writer, best, known, inventing, aurelio, principal, character, crime, novels, italy, contents, early, life, career, personal, life, bibliography, aurelio, series, other, books, references, external, li. Michael Dibdin 21 March 1947 30 March 2007 1 was a British crime writer best known for inventing Aurelio Zen the principal character in 11 crime novels set in Italy Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 Bibliography 4 1 Aurelio Zen series 4 2 Other books 5 References 6 External links 6 1 VideoEarly life editDibdin was born in Wolverhampton Staffordshire now West Midlands England The son of a physicist he was brought up from the age of seven in Lisburn Northern Ireland where he attended the Friends School and was taught by James Simmons 1 He graduated with a degree in English from Sussex University and then went to study for a Master s degree at the University of Alberta in Edmonton Alberta Canada Career editAfter publishing his first novel a Sherlock Holmes pastiche he lived for four years in Italy teaching at the university in Perugia Dibdin is best known for his Aurelio Zen mysteries set in Italy 2 The first of these Ratking won the Gold Dagger award of 1988 This series of detective novels provide a penetrating insight into the less visible aspects of Italian society over the last 20 years The earlier books have a lightness of touch that gradually becomes much darker The character of Zen himself is anti heroic which adds much to the books irony and black humour A final Zen book End Games appeared posthumously in July 2007 He also wrote other detective works set in America and in the UK Personal life editDibdin eventually settled in Seattle Washington United States Dibdin was married three times most recently to the novelist K K Beck He died in Seattle on 30 March 2007 aged 60 following a short illness Bibliography editAurelio Zen series edit Ratking 1988 Vendetta 1991 Cabal 1992 Dead Lagoon 1994 Cosi Fan Tutti 1996 A Long Finish 1998 Blood Rain 1999 And Then You Die 2002 Medusa 2003 Back to Bologna 2005 End Games 2007 Other books edit The Last Sherlock Holmes Story 1978 A Rich Full Death 1986 The Tryst 1989 Dirty Tricks 1991 The Dying of the Light 1993 Dark Spectre 1995 ISBN 0 571 17523 6 Thanksgiving 2000 References edit a b Christopher Hawtree 4 April 2007 Guardian obituary The Guardian Retrieved 9 January 2021 Patricia Prandini Buckler 2014 Bloody Italy Essays on Crime Writing in Italian Settings McFarland p 177 ISBN 978 0 7864 5864 6 External links editMichael Dibdin at British Council Literature BBC obituary Daily Telegraph obituary January Magazine Interview Michael Dibdin BBC Programme page ZenVideo edit Michael Dibdin Zen is someone I don t know very much about video nbsp nbsp This article about a writer or poet from the United Kingdom is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Dibdin amp oldid 1162066580, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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