Oakley Hall
Encyclopedia
Oakley Maxwell Hall was an American
novelist. He was born in San Diego, California
, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
, and served in the Marines
during World War II
. Some of his mysteries were published under the pen names "O.M. Hall" and "Jason Manor." Hall received his Master of Fine Arts
in English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
at the University of Iowa
.
. His most famous book, Warlock
, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
in 1958. The film adaptation of the same title
was directed by Edward Dmytryk
. In Thomas Pynchon
's introduction to Richard Fariña
's Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me
, Pynchon stated that he and Fariña started a "micro-cult" around Warlock. Another novel, The Downhill Racers was made into a film
starring Robert Redford
in 1969.
After the death of Wallace Stegner
, Hall was considered the dean of West Coast writers, having supported the early careers of California novelists such as Richard Ford
and Michael Chabon
, both graduates of the well-known writing program at the University of California, Irvine
where Hall taught for many years, and Amy Tan
, his student from The Squaw Valley Community of Writers. Hall's colleagues at Irvine included Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and fellow Iowa graduate Charles Wright
and poet and Victorian Scholar Robert Peters
. San Diego—and Hall's one-time San Diego neighborhood of Mission Hills—serve as focal points of two novels: "Corpus of Joe Bailey" and his 2007 novel "Love & War in California."
Hall died May 12, 2008, in Nevada City, California
. Among his many honors are lifetime achievement awards from the PEN American Center
and the Cowboy Hall of Fame. He was also the father of the playwright Oakley "Tad" Hall III
and writer, actor and director Sands Hall
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist. He was born in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and served in the Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Some of his mysteries were published under the pen names "O.M. Hall" and "Jason Manor." Hall received his Master of Fine Arts
Master of Fine Arts
A Master of Fine Arts is a graduate degree typically requiring 2–3 years of postgraduate study beyond the bachelor's degree , although the term of study will vary by country or by university. The MFA is usually awarded in visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, dance, or theatre/performing arts...
in English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Career
His books focus primarily on the historical American WestAmerican Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
. His most famous book, Warlock
Warlock (1958 novel)
Warlock is an American western novel by author Oakley Hall first published in 1958.The novel is loosely based on characters and events that took place in the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona....
, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life. It originated as the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel, which was awarded between 1918 and 1947.-1910s:...
in 1958. The film adaptation of the same title
Warlock (1959 film)
Warlock is a 1959 film, released by Twentieth Century Fox and shot in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope. It is a Western adapted from the novel by Oakley Hall...
was directed by Edward Dmytryk
Edward Dmytryk
Edward Dmytryk was an American film director who was amongst the Hollywood Ten, a group of blacklisted film industry professionals who served time in prison for being in contempt of Congress during the McCarthy-era 'red scare'.-Early life:Dmytryk was born in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada,...
. In Thomas Pynchon
Thomas Pynchon
Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr. is an American novelist. For his most praised novel, Gravity's Rainbow, Pynchon received the National Book Award, and is regularly cited as a contender for the Nobel Prize in Literature...
's introduction to Richard Fariña
Richard Fariña
Richard George Fariña was an American writer and folksinger.-Early years and education:Richard Fariña was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Cuban and Irish descent. He grew up in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn and attended Brooklyn Technical High School...
's Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me
Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me is a novel by Richard Fariña. First published in the United States during 1966 the novel, based largely on Fariña's college experiences and travels, is a comic picaresque story that is set in the American West, in Cuba during the Cuban Revolution, and at an...
, Pynchon stated that he and Fariña started a "micro-cult" around Warlock. Another novel, The Downhill Racers was made into a film
Downhill Racer
Downhill Racer is a 1969 film and the first to be directed by Michael Ritchie. A drama about ski racing, it stars Robert Redford and Gene Hackman.Tagline: How fast must a man go to get from where he's at?-Plot:...
starring Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
in 1969.
After the death of Wallace Stegner
Wallace Stegner
Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
, Hall was considered the dean of West Coast writers, having supported the early careers of California novelists such as Richard Ford
Richard Ford
Richard Ford is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist and short story writer. His best-known works are the novel The Sportswriter and its sequels, Independence Day and The Lay of the Land, and the short story collection Rock Springs, which contains several widely anthologized stories.-Early...
and Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
, both graduates of the well-known writing program at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
where Hall taught for many years, and Amy Tan
Amy Tan
Amy Tan is an American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships. Her most well-known work is The Joy Luck Club, which has been translated into 35 languages...
, his student from The Squaw Valley Community of Writers. Hall's colleagues at Irvine included Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and fellow Iowa graduate Charles Wright
Charles Wright (poet)
Charles Wright is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award Charles Wright (born August 25, 1935) is an American poet whose awards include the National Book Award (19830 for...
and poet and Victorian Scholar Robert Peters
Robert Peters
Robert Louis Peters is a poet, critic, scholar, playwright, editor, and actor born in an impoverished rural area of northern Wisconsin in 1924. He holds a Ph.D in Victorian literature. His poetry career began in 1967 when his young son Richard died unexpectedly of spinal meningitis...
. San Diego—and Hall's one-time San Diego neighborhood of Mission Hills—serve as focal points of two novels: "Corpus of Joe Bailey" and his 2007 novel "Love & War in California."
Hall died May 12, 2008, in Nevada City, California
Nevada City, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Nevada City had a population of 3,068. The population density was 1,399.7 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Nevada City was 2,837 White, 26 African American, 28 Native American, 46 Asian, 0 Pacific Islander, 40 from other races,...
. Among his many honors are lifetime achievement awards from the PEN American Center
PEN American Center
PEN American Center , founded in 1922 and based in New York City, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. The Center has a membership of 3,300 writers, editors, and translators...
and the Cowboy Hall of Fame. He was also the father of the playwright Oakley "Tad" Hall III
Oakley Hall III
Oakley "Tad" Hall III was an American playwright, director, and author. The eldest child of novelist Oakley Hall and photographer Barbara E. Hall, at age 28 he was a rising star in the New York theatre scene. In the mid-1970s, his play Mike Fink was optioned by Joseph Papp of the Public Theatre...
and writer, actor and director Sands Hall
Sands Hall
Sands Hall is an American writer, theatre director and actor. The daughter of novelist Oakley Hall, she was born in La Jolla, California, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of California, Irvine...
.
Legends West series
- WarlockWarlock (1958 novel)Warlock is an American western novel by author Oakley Hall first published in 1958.The novel is loosely based on characters and events that took place in the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona....
(1958) - The Bad Lands (1978)
- Apaches (1986)
Ambrose Bierce series
- Ambrose Bierce and the Queen of Spades (1998)
- Ambrose Bierce and the Death of Kings (2001)
- Ambrose Bierce and the One-Eyed Jacks (2003)
- Ambrose Bierce and the Trey of Pearls (2004)
- Ambrose Bierce and the Ace of Shoots (2005)
Other novels
- Murder City (1949)
- So Many Doors (1950)
- Corpus of Joe Bailey (1953)
- Mardios Beach (1955)
- The Pleasure Garden (1966)
- The Downhill Racers (1963)
- A Game for Eagles (1970)
- The Adelita (1975)
- Lullaby (1982)
- The Children of the Sun (1983)
- The Coming of the Kid (1985)
- Separations (1997)
- Love and War in California (2007)