Peter O'Donnell
Encyclopedia
Peter O'Donnell was a British writer
of mysteries and of comic strips, best known as the creator of Modesty Blaise
, a female action hero/undercover trouble-shooter/enforcer. He was also an historical romance novelist who wrote under the female pseudonym
Madeleine Brent.
, London
, O'Donnell began to write professionally prior to World War II
at the age of 16. From 1938 and during the war he served as an NCO in mobile radio detachment (3 Corps) of Royal Signals Corps
in the 8th Army
in Persia
in 1942. Afterwards his unit was moved to Syria, Egypt, the Western Desert, Italy, and Greece in October 1944.
After the war O'Donnell began to script comic strips, including the Daily Express
adaptation of the James Bond
novel, Dr. No. From 1953-1966 he wrote for Garth
, and from 1956-1962 Romeo Brown
(with Jim Holdaway
as an artist).
In addition to the comic strips and graphic novels based on Modesty Blaise, O'Donnell published two collections of short stories and twenty novels. He wrote a play which was widely performed in the 1980s, "Mr. Fothergill's Murder," and wrote for television and film. He also wrote for women's magazines and children's papers early in his career.
His most famous creation, Modesty Blaise
, was first published in 1963 in comic strip form. For the first seven years, the strip was illustrated by Holdaway until his death in 1970. Enrique Badia Romero
then became the artist, and except for a seven-year period (1979–1986) he drew the strip until it ended in 2001.
In 1965, O'Donnell novelized his screenplay for a motion picture version
(the final release of which in 1966 used virtually nothing of O'Donnell's original material), which was published as Modesty Blaise
. This book was a huge success and O'Donnell would publish a dozen more novels and short story collections until 1996. Kingsley Amis
said the novels were "endlessly fascinating" and that Blaise and Garvin were "one of the great partnerships in fiction, bearing comparison with that of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson."
At the request of publisher Ernest Hecht, he began writing gothic romance and adventure novels under the pen name of Madeleine Brent. The novels are not a series, but feature a variety of strong female protagonists. They are written in first person, take place in the late Victorian era, and although every protagonist has connections to England, part of each book is set in various locations around the world—including China, Australia, Afghanistan, and Mexico. Identity—the need to discover who she really is—is often a major part of the protagonist's struggle.
In 2001, O'Donnell retired from writing the Modesty Blaise comic strip and was also said to have retired from full-time writing. From 2004 to 2009 he wrote the introductions for a series of Modesty Blaise comic strip reprint volumes published by Titan Books
; beginning in 2010, just prior to O'Donnell's death, another writer had begun composing these introductions. He was also interviewed for a special feature included on the DVD release of the 2002 film My Name Is Modesty
, which was based on his creation.
O'Donnell's wish was that no one else write any future Modesty Blaise stories.
In 2007, working with young women students at Bullers Wood and Newstead Wood schools, he established an official Web site, Modesty Blaise, Ltd.
According to his obituary in the Evening Standard
, O'Donnell had been suffering from Parkinson's disease
in his later years.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of mysteries and of comic strips, best known as the creator of Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise is a British comic strip featuring a fictional character of the same name, created by Peter O'Donnell and Jim Holdaway in 1963. The strip follows the adventures of Modesty Blaise, an exceptional young woman with many talents and a criminal past, and her trusty sidekick Willie Garvin...
, a female action hero/undercover trouble-shooter/enforcer. He was also an historical romance novelist who wrote under the female pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Madeleine Brent.
Biography
Born in LewishamLewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, 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...
, O'Donnell began to write professionally prior to 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...
at the age of 16. From 1938 and during the war he served as an NCO in mobile radio detachment (3 Corps) of Royal Signals Corps
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
in the 8th Army
Eighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
in Persia
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1942. Afterwards his unit was moved to Syria, Egypt, the Western Desert, Italy, and Greece in October 1944.
After the war O'Donnell began to script comic strips, including the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
adaptation of the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
novel, Dr. No. From 1953-1966 he wrote for Garth
Garth (comic strip)
Garth was a comic strip in the British newspaper Daily Mirror from July 24, 1943, to March 22, 1997. The strip belonged to the action-adventure genre and recounted the exploits of the title character, an immensely strong hero who battled various villains throughout the world and many different...
, and from 1956-1962 Romeo Brown
Romeo Brown
Romeo Brown was a British comic strip written by Peter O'Donnell and drawn by Alfred Mazure and Jim Holdaway . It was published in the Daily Mirror from 1954 to 1963. It featured the adventures of Romeo Brown, a dashing private detective and ladies man....
(with Jim Holdaway
Jim Holdaway
Jim Holdaway was a British illustrator, who was famous for his illustrations of numerous comic strips. His most famous contributions was to the Modesty Blaise comics written by Peter O'Donnell.-Art career:...
as an artist).
In addition to the comic strips and graphic novels based on Modesty Blaise, O'Donnell published two collections of short stories and twenty novels. He wrote a play which was widely performed in the 1980s, "Mr. Fothergill's Murder," and wrote for television and film. He also wrote for women's magazines and children's papers early in his career.
His most famous creation, Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise is a British comic strip featuring a fictional character of the same name, created by Peter O'Donnell and Jim Holdaway in 1963. The strip follows the adventures of Modesty Blaise, an exceptional young woman with many talents and a criminal past, and her trusty sidekick Willie Garvin...
, was first published in 1963 in comic strip form. For the first seven years, the strip was illustrated by Holdaway until his death in 1970. Enrique Badia Romero
Enrique Badia Romero
Enrique Badía Romero is a Spanish comics artist, best known to English-speaking audiences for his work on Modesty Blaise...
then became the artist, and except for a seven-year period (1979–1986) he drew the strip until it ended in 2001.
In 1965, O'Donnell novelized his screenplay for a motion picture version
Modesty Blaise (1966 film)
Modesty Blaise was a comedic spy-fi motion picture produced in the United Kingdom and released worldwide in 1966. It was loosely based upon the popular comic strip Modesty Blaise by Peter O'Donnell, who wrote the original story and scenario upon which Evan Jones based his screenplay...
(the final release of which in 1966 used virtually nothing of O'Donnell's original material), which was published as Modesty Blaise
Modesty Blaise (novel)
Modesty Blaise is the title of an action-adventure/spy fiction novel by Peter O'Donnell which was first published in 1965, featuring the character Modesty Blaise which O'Donnell had created for a comic strip in 1963....
. This book was a huge success and O'Donnell would publish a dozen more novels and short story collections until 1996. Kingsley Amis
Kingsley Amis
Sir Kingsley William Amis, CBE was an English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, various short stories, radio and television scripts, along with works of social and literary criticism...
said the novels were "endlessly fascinating" and that Blaise and Garvin were "one of the great partnerships in fiction, bearing comparison with that of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson."
At the request of publisher Ernest Hecht, he began writing gothic romance and adventure novels under the pen name of Madeleine Brent. The novels are not a series, but feature a variety of strong female protagonists. They are written in first person, take place in the late Victorian era, and although every protagonist has connections to England, part of each book is set in various locations around the world—including China, Australia, Afghanistan, and Mexico. Identity—the need to discover who she really is—is often a major part of the protagonist's struggle.
In 2001, O'Donnell retired from writing the Modesty Blaise comic strip and was also said to have retired from full-time writing. From 2004 to 2009 he wrote the introductions for a series of Modesty Blaise comic strip reprint volumes published by Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
; beginning in 2010, just prior to O'Donnell's death, another writer had begun composing these introductions. He was also interviewed for a special feature included on the DVD release of the 2002 film My Name Is Modesty
My Name is Modesty
My Name Is Modesty is a 2003 American action film that was released direct-to-DVD. The film is based on the early years of the character Modesty Blaise, a former crime boss turned secret agent....
, which was based on his creation.
O'Donnell's wish was that no one else write any future Modesty Blaise stories.
In 2007, working with young women students at Bullers Wood and Newstead Wood schools, he established an official Web site, Modesty Blaise, Ltd.
According to his obituary in the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
, O'Donnell had been suffering from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
in his later years.
External links
- Modesty Blaise, Ltd
- The Modesty Blaise Book Site
- Kristy Valenti's three-part article on Peter O'Donnell - Part one, Part Two and Part Three at comiXology
- Peter O'Donnell's 2001 interview with Publishers Weekly http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20010402/30668-modesty-blaise-s-final-bow-.html