Dean H. King
Encyclopedia
Dean King is an American
author of narrative non-fiction on adventure, historical and maritime subjects. His books include Skeletons on the Zahara
(2004) and Unbound
(2010), both published by Little, Brown. He is the author of companion books to Patrick O'Brian's
Aubrey-Maturin series of novels and is the first biographer of O'Brian. In his biography, Patrick O'Brian: A Life (2000), which was excerpted in four full pages in the Daily Telegraph in London
, King revealed that O'Brian was not really of Irish origin, as O'Brian claimed, and that he had changed his name by deed pole in London in 1945. King has also published articles in The New York Times
, National Geographic Adventure
, New York Magazine, Outside
and other magazines and newspapers.
, where he attended St. Christopher's School
. He then went to the University of North Carolina
, where he played on UNC's 1982 National Champion Lacrosse team and edited the undergraduate literary magazine while earning his bachelor's degree in English. After graduating, he and a friend spent a week and a half walking across the entirety of England. He earned his master's degree in English at New York University
, studying under Gloria Naylor
, John A. Williams, and E. L. Doctorow
.
. While there he became an original contributing editor to Men's Journal
and wrote for other publications, including Esquire
, Art & Antiques, Travel + Leisure Magazine, Connoisseur
, and the New York Times. He is a past director of book publishing at National Review
.
In the early 1990s he also founded the out-of-print Bubba Magazine, a publication which poked fun at Bill Clinton
. The publication garnered national press after its February 9, 1993 debut, with media outlets such as Entertainment Tonight
booking interviews.
In 1995 King co-authored A Sea of Words with naval historian John B. Hattendorf and J. Worth Estes, and two years later he again worked with Hattendorf to edit and publish Every Man Will Do His Duty. Both are companion books to Patrick O'Brian's
Aubrey-Maturin series of novels In 2000 he also wrote a historically significant biography of famed author Patrick O'Brian, which was published just three months after O'Brian's death. This book, Patrick O'Brian: A Life Revealed, was named a book of the year by The Telegraph
, and King appeared in a BBC
documentary about O'Brian, as well as on ABC
World News Tonight and NPR
's Talk of the Nation
.
For his 2004 non-fiction book, Skeletons on the Zahara
, he traveled more than 100 miles across the western Sahara Desert on foot and by camel in order to experience a similar journey to Captain James Riley
. During research for Unbound: A True Story of War, Love, and Survival he spent July 2009 in China's Sichuan province, trekking eight days through treacherous highland bogs and hiking up the Dagushan Mountain on the Tibet
an border. As with Africa, his goal was to retrace his historical protagonists' dangerous journey, in this case the 30 women who walked 4,000 miles in the Communists' Long March
with Mao Zedong
in 1934.
. King is also frequently asked to give talks to schools and community groups. He serves on the boards of the Library of Virginia Foundation and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). He is a founder and co-chair of the Virginia Literary Festival (VLF), a week-long, multi-organizational celebration of reading and authors in Richmond.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of narrative non-fiction on adventure, historical and maritime subjects. His books include Skeletons on the Zahara
Skeletons on the Zahara
Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival is a 2004 nonfiction book written by maritime historian Dean King. Based directly on Captain James Riley's memoir Sufferings in Africa, Amazon.com listed Skeletons on the Zahara as their #6 Best History Book of 2004...
(2004) and Unbound
Unbound (book)
Unbound: A True Story of War, Love, and Survival is a narrative nonfiction book by author Dean King. It follows the stories of the 30 women who undertook the Long March as part of the Chinese Red Army in 1934. While only 10,000 of the original 86,000 soldiers survived the 4,000 mile trek, all 30...
(2010), both published by Little, Brown. He is the author of companion books to Patrick O'Brian's
Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
Aubrey-Maturin series of novels and is the first biographer of O'Brian. In his biography, Patrick O'Brian: A Life (2000), which was excerpted in four full pages in the Daily Telegraph in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, King revealed that O'Brian was not really of Irish origin, as O'Brian claimed, and that he had changed his name by deed pole in London in 1945. King has also published articles in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, National Geographic Adventure
National Geographic Adventure
National Geographic Adventure, formerly known as Adventure One but now commonly known as Nat Geo Adventure, is a subscription TV channel part of National Geographic Channels International and News Corporation...
, New York Magazine, Outside
Outside (magazine)
Outside is an American magazine focused on the outdoors. The first issue debuted in September 1977 with its mission statement declaring that the publication was "dedicated to covering the people, sports and activities, politics, art, literature, and hardware of the outdoors..."Its founders were...
and other magazines and newspapers.
Early life and education
King was born and raised in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, where he attended St. Christopher's School
St. Christopher's School
St. Christopher's School is the name of several schools around the world, including:*St. Christopher's School, Bahrain*St. Christopher's School, Richmond, Virginia, USA*St. Christopher's School, Metairie, Louisiana, USA...
. He then went to the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, where he played on UNC's 1982 National Champion Lacrosse team and edited the undergraduate literary magazine while earning his bachelor's degree in English. After graduating, he and a friend spent a week and a half walking across the entirety of England. He earned his master's degree in English at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, studying under Gloria Naylor
Gloria Naylor
Gloria Naylor is an African American novelist and educator.-Early life:Born in New York, she was the first child to Roosevelt Naylor and Alberta McAlpin. As Naylor grew up, her father was a transit worker and her mother was a telephone operator. When Naylor was young, her mother encouraged her to...
, John A. Williams, and E. L. Doctorow
E. L. Doctorow
Edgar Lawrence Doctorow is an American author.- Biography :Edgar Lawrence Doctorow was born in the Bronx, New York City, the son of second-generation Americans of Russian Jewish descent...
.
Magazines
After further travel in England and France, King worked for a decade in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. While there he became an original contributing editor to Men's Journal
Men's Journal
Men's Journal is an American men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and "gear". It is owned by Jann Wenner of Wenner Media....
and wrote for other publications, including Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, Art & Antiques, Travel + Leisure Magazine, Connoisseur
Connoisseur
A connoisseur is a person who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts, cuisines, or an expert judge in matters of taste.Modern connoisseurship must be seen along with museums, art galleries and "the cult of originality"...
, and the New York Times. He is a past director of book publishing at National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
.
In the early 1990s he also founded the out-of-print Bubba Magazine, a publication which poked fun at Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. The publication garnered national press after its February 9, 1993 debut, with media outlets such as Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
booking interviews.
Non-fiction books
King has published ten books, most with a focus on historical and adventure narratives. Many of King's works focus on sea adventure and maritime history, and he is past series editor for the Heart of Oak Sea Classics.In 1995 King co-authored A Sea of Words with naval historian John B. Hattendorf and J. Worth Estes, and two years later he again worked with Hattendorf to edit and publish Every Man Will Do His Duty. Both are companion books to Patrick O'Brian's
Patrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
Aubrey-Maturin series of novels In 2000 he also wrote a historically significant biography of famed author Patrick O'Brian, which was published just three months after O'Brian's death. This book, Patrick O'Brian: A Life Revealed, was named a book of the year by The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, and King appeared in a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary about O'Brian, as well as on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
World News Tonight and NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation
Talk of the Nation is a talk radio program based in the United States, produced by National Public Radio, and is broadcast nationally from 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Its focus is current events and controversial issues....
.
For his 2004 non-fiction book, Skeletons on the Zahara
Skeletons on the Zahara
Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival is a 2004 nonfiction book written by maritime historian Dean King. Based directly on Captain James Riley's memoir Sufferings in Africa, Amazon.com listed Skeletons on the Zahara as their #6 Best History Book of 2004...
, he traveled more than 100 miles across the western Sahara Desert on foot and by camel in order to experience a similar journey to Captain James Riley
James Riley (Captain)
James Riley was the Captain of the United States merchant ship Commerce.-Sufferings in Africa:Riley led his crew through the Sahara Desert after they were shipwrecked off the coast of Western Sahara in August 1815, and wrote a book on their ordeal detailing his memoirs...
. During research for Unbound: A True Story of War, Love, and Survival he spent July 2009 in China's Sichuan province, trekking eight days through treacherous highland bogs and hiking up the Dagushan Mountain on the Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
an border. As with Africa, his goal was to retrace his historical protagonists' dangerous journey, in this case the 30 women who walked 4,000 miles in the Communists' Long March
Long March
The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
with Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
in 1934.
Community work
In the early 2000s, he and a group of Richmond writer friends, including best-selling novelist David L. Robbins, founded the nonprofit James River Writers, which promotes and encourages local authors. He is past co-chair and advisory board member. King also helped establish the James River Writers Conference, which is held annually at the Richmond Library of VirginiaLibrary of Virginia
The Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, is the library agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its archival agency, and the reference library at the seat of government. The Library moved into a new building in 1997 and is located at 800 East Broad Street, 2 blocks from the Virginia State...
. King is also frequently asked to give talks to schools and community groups. He serves on the boards of the Library of Virginia Foundation and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). He is a founder and co-chair of the Virginia Literary Festival (VLF), a week-long, multi-organizational celebration of reading and authors in Richmond.
Personal life
King is a cancer survivor and avid hiker. He currently lives in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia with his wife Jessica and their four daughters.As contributing editor
- The Penny Pincher's Almanac Handbook for Modern Frugality (1992) - edited by King and the editors of The Penny Pincher's Almanac
- Every Man Will Do His Duty: An Anthology of Firsthand Accounts From the Age of Nelson (1997) - edited by King with naval historian John B. Hattendorf
- Cancer Combat: Cancer Survivors Share Their Guerrilla Tactics to Help you Win the Fight of Your Life (1998) - edited by Dean King, Jessica King & Jonathan Pearlroth
As author
- A Sea of Words: a Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O'Brian's Seafaring Tales (1995) - co-authored by John B. Hattendorf and J. Worth Estes
- Paper Clips to Printers: the Cost-cutting Sourcebook for Your Home Office (1996) - co-authored with Jessica King
- Patrick O'Brian: a Life Revealed (2000)
- Harbors and High Seas: an Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian (2000) - co-authored with John B. Hattendorf
- Skeletons on the Zahara: a True Story of SurvivalSkeletons on the ZaharaSkeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival is a 2004 nonfiction book written by maritime historian Dean King. Based directly on Captain James Riley's memoir Sufferings in Africa, Amazon.com listed Skeletons on the Zahara as their #6 Best History Book of 2004...
(2004) - Unbound: a True Story of War, Love, and SurvivalUnbound (book)Unbound: A True Story of War, Love, and Survival is a narrative nonfiction book by author Dean King. It follows the stories of the 30 women who undertook the Long March as part of the Chinese Red Army in 1934. While only 10,000 of the original 86,000 soldiers survived the 4,000 mile trek, all 30...
(2010)