William Dietrich (novelist)
Encyclopedia
William Dietrich is a novelist, non-fiction author, journalist, and college professor. His historical novels and thrillers have made bestseller lists and his Ethan Gage series, set during the Napoleonic wars, have sold in 28 languages. He has also written novels set during the Roman empire, Antarctica, and Australia. His non-fiction works are natural history and environmental history of the Pacific Northwest.
Dietrich was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and attended Fairhaven College at Western Washington University
, graduating with a degree in journalism. He worked for several Pacific Northwest newspapers and Gannett News Service. In 1990 while at The Seattle Times
, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
on the Exxon Valdez oil spill
. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University
(1987–88) and won National Science Foundation fellowships to Antarctica in 1994 and 1996. He reported extensively on science and the environment. His first book, The Final Forest, depicted the old growth and spotted owl
battle in Forks, Washington. The book won the Washington Governor Writer's Award and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. He wrote a book on the Columbia River, Northwest Passage, a book on Northwest plants and animals, Natural Grace, and did the text for the Art Wolfe photography book, On Puget Sound.
His first novel, the World War II adventure Ice Reich, grew out of his reporting in Antarctica. This was followed by Getting Back, an eco-fable set in Australia, Dark Winter, a thriller at the South Pole, and Hadrian's Wall and The Scourge of God, set during the Roman empire. Most recent are the Ethan Gage series of novels: Napoleon's Pyramids, The Rosetta Key, The Dakota Cipher, and The Barbary Pirates.
Since 2006 he has been a professor of environmental journalism and writing at Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University
, where he advises Planet magazine. He currently lives with his wife Holly in Washington, United States. He has two grown daughters.
Dietrich was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and attended Fairhaven College at Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
, graduating with a degree in journalism. He worked for several Pacific Northwest newspapers and Gannett News Service. In 1990 while at The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times is a newspaper serving Seattle, Washington, US. It is the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington. It has been, since the demise in 2009 of the printed version of the rival Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle's only major daily print newspaper.-History:The Seattle Times...
, he shared a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
The Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting has been awarded since 1948 for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award....
on the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Exxon Valdez oil spill
The Exxon Valdez oil spill occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on March 24, 1989, when the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker bound for Long Beach, California, struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef and spilled of crude oil. It is considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused...
. He was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(1987–88) and won National Science Foundation fellowships to Antarctica in 1994 and 1996. He reported extensively on science and the environment. His first book, The Final Forest, depicted the old growth and spotted owl
Spotted Owl
The Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, is a species of true owl. It is a resident species of forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between 13 and 66 yards high and usually contain two eggs...
battle in Forks, Washington. The book won the Washington Governor Writer's Award and Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. He wrote a book on the Columbia River, Northwest Passage, a book on Northwest plants and animals, Natural Grace, and did the text for the Art Wolfe photography book, On Puget Sound.
His first novel, the World War II adventure Ice Reich, grew out of his reporting in Antarctica. This was followed by Getting Back, an eco-fable set in Australia, Dark Winter, a thriller at the South Pole, and Hadrian's Wall and The Scourge of God, set during the Roman empire. Most recent are the Ethan Gage series of novels: Napoleon's Pyramids, The Rosetta Key, The Dakota Cipher, and The Barbary Pirates.
Since 2006 he has been a professor of environmental journalism and writing at Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Western Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
, where he advises Planet magazine. He currently lives with his wife Holly in Washington, United States. He has two grown daughters.
Standalone Novels
- Ice Reich (1998)
- Getting Back (2000)
- Dark Winter (2001)
- Hadrian's Wall (2004)
- The Scourge of God (2005)
- Blood of the Reich (2011)
Ethan Gage Adventures
- Napoleon's Pyramids (2007)
- The Rosetta Key (2008)
- The Dakota Cipher (2009)
- The Barbary Pirates (2010)
Non-Fiction
- The Final Forest (1992)
- Northwest Passage: The Great Columbia River (1995)
- Natural Grace (2003)
- On Puget Sound (With Art Wolfe, 2007)
External links
- Official Website of William Dietrich
- William Dietrich Bio from Bookreporter.com, accessed January 1, 2010.