Robert Goddard (novelist)
Encyclopedia
Robert Francis Goddard (b. 13 November 1954, Fareham
, Hampshire, England) is a British novelist.
Thumping Good Read Award, presented to the best new fiction author of the year.
Goddard's 1997 book Beyond Recall was nominated for the Edgar Award
Best Novel prize but lost out to Mr White's Confession by Robert Clark
.
Goddard's book "Long Time Coming" won the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback.
Into the Blue was adapted for television in 1997 and starred John Thaw
in the lead role of Harry Barnett. Robert Goddard was not impressed with the adaptation. In an interview, he said "The TV version of Into the Blue was a travesty of the story I wrote and I am determined that any future adaptations should be more faithful to the original."
, Cornwall. Several of the recent books published in his name have identified Vaunda as joint holder of the copyright.
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
, Hampshire, England) is a British novelist.
Life and career
Goddard was educated at Wallisdean County Junior School and Price's Grammar School in Fareham before going on to study history at the University of Cambridge. After unsuccessful attempts at a career in both journalism and teaching, he worked for a time as an educational administrator in Devon before becoming a full-time novelist. His thrillers usually have a historical element and settings in provincial English towns and cities, and many plot twists. They usually involve the lead character gradually uncovering a conspiracy which has long been kept secret, by means of historical documents such as diaries or by means of word-of-mouth accounts that have been handed down from one person to another. Regarded as one of Britain's finest historical/crime thriller authors, Goddard's first novel, Past Caring, was published in 1986. He has since written another twenty novels, the majority of which have been Sunday Times Top Ten best-sellers in the UK.Awards
Goddard's 1990 book Into the Blue was the inaugural winner of the W H SmithW H Smith
WHSmith plc is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. It is best known for its chain of high street, railway station, airport, hospital and motorway service station shops selling books, stationery, magazines, newspapers, and entertainment products...
Thumping Good Read Award, presented to the best new fiction author of the year.
Goddard's 1997 book Beyond Recall was nominated for the Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
Best Novel prize but lost out to Mr White's Confession by Robert Clark
Robert Clark (author)
Robert Clark is a novelist and writer of nonfiction. He received the Edgar Award for his novel Mr. White's Confession in 1999. A native of St...
.
Goddard's book "Long Time Coming" won the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Original Paperback.
Harry Barnett
The books Into the Blue, Out of the Sun and Never Go Back, although distinct books in their own right, form a chronological series featuring the central character of Harry Barnett. Harry Barnett also appears in Goddard's only published short story, 'Toupee for a Bald Tyre'.Into the Blue was adapted for television in 1997 and starred John Thaw
John Thaw
John Edward Thaw, CBE was an English actor, who appeared in a range of television, stage and cinema roles, his most popular being police and legal dramas such as Redcap, The Sweeney, Inspector Morse and Kavanagh QC.-Early life:Thaw came from a working class background, having been born in Gorton,...
in the lead role of Harry Barnett. Robert Goddard was not impressed with the adaptation. In an interview, he said "The TV version of Into the Blue was a travesty of the story I wrote and I am determined that any future adaptations should be more faithful to the original."
Personal life
Robert Goddard is married and lives with his wife Vaunda in TruroTruro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, Cornwall. Several of the recent books published in his name have identified Vaunda as joint holder of the copyright.
External links
- Official website
- Robert Goddard Interview at Bloc Online that gives some insight into his writing style
- 'The Mystery of Robert Goddard'; 37-page analysis of Goddard's fiction(with especial reference to 'In Pale Battalions' and 'Closed Circle')
- Interview at Bookdepository.co.uk
- Robert Goddard at the 'Meet The Author' site gives an overview of his book 'Dying to Tell'
- Interview with Robert Goddard about the novel "Long time coming" at www.thecrimehouse.com.