Sam Greenlee
Encyclopedia
Sam Greenlee is an African American
writer
, best known for his novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door
, first published in London by Allison & Busby
in March 1969, which was made into the 1973 movie of the same name and won The Sunday Times
Book of the Year award. Other works include Baghdad Blues, a 1976 novel based on his experiences traveling in Iraq
in the 1950s, Blues for an African Princess, a 1971 collection of poems, and Ammunition, a 1975 collection of poems. In 1990 Greenlee was the Illinois
poet laureate
.
Born in Chicago, Greenlee attended the University of Wisconsin (BS, political science, 1952) and the University of Chicago
(1954-7). He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity. He served in the military (1952-4), earning the rank of first lieutenant, and subsequently worked for the United States Information Agency
, serving in Iraq (in 1958 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
for bravery during the Baghdad
revolution), Pakistan
, Indonesia
, and Greece
between 1957 and 1965. He undertook further study (1963-4) at the University of Thessaloniki, in Greece, where he lived for three years.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, best known for his novel The Spook Who Sat by the Door
The Spook Who Sat by the Door (novel)
The Spook Who Sat by the Door is a novel by Sam Greenlee, first published in March 1969 . The 1973 film based on the novel is of the same name The Spook Who Sat by the Door....
, first published in London by Allison & Busby
Allison & Busby
Allison & Busby is a British publishing house, set up by Clive Allison and Margaret Busby in 1967. The company has built up a reputation as a leading independent publisher....
in March 1969, which was made into the 1973 movie of the same name and won The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
Book of the Year award. Other works include Baghdad Blues, a 1976 novel based on his experiences traveling in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in the 1950s, Blues for an African Princess, a 1971 collection of poems, and Ammunition, a 1975 collection of poems. In 1990 Greenlee was the Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
poet laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
.
Born in Chicago, Greenlee attended the University of Wisconsin (BS, political science, 1952) and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
(1954-7). He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity. He served in the military (1952-4), earning the rank of first lieutenant, and subsequently worked for the United States Information Agency
United States Information Agency
The United States Information Agency , which existed from 1953 to 1999, was a United States agency devoted to "public diplomacy". In 1999, USIA's broadcasting functions were moved to the newly created Broadcasting Board of Governors, and its exchange and non-broadcasting information functions were...
, serving in Iraq (in 1958 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
for bravery during the Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
revolution), Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
between 1957 and 1965. He undertook further study (1963-4) at the University of Thessaloniki, in Greece, where he lived for three years.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339131/ IMDb (Internet Movie Database) Greenlee page
- http://books.google.com/books?id=rprS-mm9uywC&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=%22Sam+Greenlee%22&source=web&ots=NLaadK1b33&sig=VZbBvIA05R-j0Ejhha1jwKtnXKM&hl=en Biography of Greenlee from Greenwood Press' reference book Contemporary African-American Novelists
- http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2413/Greenlee-Sam.html Biography
- http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=87&category=Artmakers Historymakers Greenlee page