It is possible to write short stories in this fashion, and ellin consistently wrote the best mystery short stories of his time. Jul 08, 2014 stanley ellin 19161986 was an american mystery writer known primarily for his short stories. Following my torrent of sherlock holmes i was tempted to do a five to try on the short story collections, picking my favourite story from each. The story was written by stanley ellin, known both for his short stories and his mystery novels. Edgar allan poe award for best short story winners 1950s. Ellin wrote numerous novels and short stories during his 40year career. Aug 27, 2018 given the amount of short stories ive been working on recently, i got to thinking about some of the stories that have been so important to me, and authors i go back to time and again when im struggling with a story myself, looking for inspiration, or just after a damn good read.
After working a series of odd jobs including dairy farmer, salesman. The early editions were known for their lurid cover art and. American mystery author stanley ellin has had several of his books and short stories adapted into film. He admitted to having rewritten the opening paragraph of a short story as many as forty times before going on to the next paragraph and polishing each subsequent page in similar fashion before preceeding further. The faith of aaron menefee, based on the short story of the same name by stanley ellin, begins as a big car pulls into a gas station by the side of a dusty country road.
Stanley ellin author of the specialty of the house and. While his novels are acclaimed, he is best known for his short stories. The blessington method by stanley ellin a short story a day. Ellin was also the guest of honor at the 1979 bouchercon held in new york city. The authors whose work he discusses here are some of my favorites and i hope yours too, including the late, great stanley ellin. To test this, i jumped my toread queue with an anthology i picked up lately, edited by the reliably excellent peter haining. Distinguish2 stanley bernard ellin october 6, 1916 july 31, 1986 was an american mystery writer. The specialty of the house by stanley ellin bitter tea and mystery. The blessington method by stanley ellin a short story a. The moment of decision perched on the edge of what. Stanley ellin s first short story, the specialty of the house, about a new york restaurant with a special gourmet menu, was published in ellery queens mystery magazine in 1948 and caused an immediate sensation, winning him a special ellery queen award.
Stanley ellin biography, movie highlights and photos. May 15, 2015 to test this, i jumped my toread queue with an anthology i picked up lately, edited by the reliably excellent peter haining. Jan 03, 2012 the stories by stanley ellin are not detective stories and sometimes they might not even be eligible to be called as a mystery story but most of his stories have crime as its central theme with an exquisite plot exposing the dark side of the human mind to its ultimate best with a twist ending to boot. Havent read a single one of those stories, though about half of the authors are familiar names. The short story is the perfect medium to deliver a quick, intense burst of fear.
Stanley ellin, in his stories, is known for making some of the most outrageously bizarre things seem utterly plausible and no other story qualifies for this distinction than the blessington method. Born stanley bernard ellin, as a youth he became an avid reader. After working a series of odd jobs including dairy farmer, salesman, steel worker, and teacher, and serving in the us army, ellin began writing full time in 1946. Apr 12, 2018 stanley ellin 19161986 has been called one of the best mystery short story writers of the twentieth century.
Mar 18, 2012 stanley ellin won his first edgar for the house party in 1954. Stanley ellin was born on october 6, 1916 in brooklyn, new york, usa as stanley bernard ellin. Stanley ellin the specialty of the house 1948 a businessman takes a colleague to sbirros, the. Ellin was a member of the mystery writers of america. Told in the first person by an unnamed narrator, the story begins with his assertion that the day in question was a turning point in the life of his best friend when they were boys together in brooklyn in 1923. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about the specialty of the house and other stories. Willoughby is on vacation to calm his nerves and relax, on the advice of his doctor. After a brief tenure in the army, at the insistence of his wife, ellin began writing fulltime. Stanley ellin won his first edgar for the house party in 1954. Stanley ellin project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. His first edgar was for the short story the house party in 1954, then for the short story the blessington method in 1956, and his third for the novel the eighth circle in.
His last novel, very old money, a tale of a young couple being corrupted by wealth, was published in 1985. The eighth circle is one of three works for which ellin won the edgar awardhe also won it for his short stories the house party in 1954 and the blessington method in 1959. The specialty of the house was the first story published by stanley ellin, who would go on to become one of the great short fiction authors of the twentieth century. Stanley bernard ellin was a mystery writer of short stories and novels. My favorite anthology with many murder stories is the black lizard big book of lockedroom mysteries. Click to read more about the specialty of the house and other stories. Although i deplore the tendency some new writers have to view the short story as a lesser art form than the noveljust think of the late great stanley ellin and the masterful short stories he labored over for months and months at a timeill certainly concede that anyone who seeks to make a living writing fiction today has got to aim for. Specialty of the house is not a supernatural story. Stanley ellin has won the edgar for the best short story of the year twice, 4 more have been shortlisted for edgar and his short story the specialty of the house has been deemed the best first mystery short story in modern times by ellery queen.
After a brief tenure in the army, at the insistence of his wife, ellin began writing full time. I first read this in one of the pan book of horror stories. In these stories there is a killing early on, someone is accused of murder, or a major character has murderous plans. Mar 20, 2019 stanley ellin october 6, 1916 july 31, 1986 was an american mystery writer. Ellin would go onto publish four short story collections and 12 novels, and in 1981, hed serve as grand master.
Admittedly, it lacks the bite and sting of the short, but if one hasnt read the short then this serves as a good introduction to the tale. The pan book of horror stories was a paperback series of short story anthologies. See all books authored by stanley ellin, including great short tales of mystery and terror, and tricks and treats. Solid adaptation of stanely ellin s iconic short story. It was followed by the blessington method 1964 and. His second edgar was for the blessington method in 1956. After working a series of odd jobs including dairy farmer, salesman, steel worker, and teacher, and serving in the us army, ellin began writing full ti. Im probably unusual in that im a great fan of ellin s novels as well as his much praised short fiction.
Ellin was an american mystery writer from new york. While resting on a train, he overhears an experienced lawyer telling the story of the most interesting case he ever worked on. Kindly dig your grave and other wicked stories was the third collection of stanley ellin s short mystery stories these stories were originally published from 1963 to 1977 they are very diverse with little duplication in theme or style but they do have one common quality they are excellent. Two years later he was awarded for the short story the blessington method. A novelist, he is probably best known for his short story crime fiction mysteries. The stories are kindly dig your grave the crime of ezechiele coen death of an old fashioned girl the last. Ellin was born in brooklyn in 1916, and he would spend most of his life in the surrounding five boroughs up. The specialty of the house by stanley ellin ten to infinity. His first edgar was for the short story the house party in 1954, then for the short story the blessington method in 1956, and his third for the. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. May 16, 2012 i read the stories aloud, giving us the chance to savor the sound of ellins style, but as much as we admire that finely honed prose, what has given ellin such lasting renown in the pantheon of short story writers is surely the precision of his plotting. Oct 30, 2018 a restaurant has a gourmet dish for only the select few. His extravagant, satirical fiction revolves around american consumerism, popular culture, and malefemale relationships.
Stanley bernard ellin october 6, 1916 july 31, 1986 was an american mystery writer. After graduating from new utrecht high school in brooklyn, new york he attended brooklyn college there and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1936. Stanley ellin grew up in brooklyn, went to school and college there, and lived there for most of his life. Stanley ellin author of the specialty of the house and other. Stanley ellins first short story, the specialty of the house, about a new york. After graduating from new utrecht high school in brooklyn, new york he attended brooklyn college there and graduated with a.
Stanley ellin was born in new york on a saturday, january 1, 6124. Amazon its a huge collection with many famous names as well as lesserknown pulp stories. Mystery stories by ellin, stanley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Im probably unusual in that im a great fan of ellins novels as well as his much praised short fiction. The complete mystery tales, 19481978 1st first edition hardcover ellin, stanley on. The house party and the blessington method subsequently both won edgar.
Stanley ellin 19161986 stanley bernard ellin was born in brooklyn, new york. Among them are house of cards, and dreadful summit which became the big night. The complete mystery tales, 1948 1978 ellin, stanley on. Stanley bernard ellin was born on october 6, 1916, in the bath beach section of brooklyn, new york, the son of louis ellin and rose mandel ellin.
Ray bradburys fourth teleplay for alfred hitchcock presents represented the first and only time he would adapt a story by another writer for this series. His first published short story, the speciality of the house caused an. Nowhere in the file can i find a table of contents not an interactive one that enables you to read any story in the order that you choose just no no table of contents as if the one in the print edition was first deleted from the file to create the kindle edition of a short story collection. The question short story by stanley ellin librarything. Stanley ellin author of the specialty of the house and other stories. The house party, brokers special, the moment of decision new york. From crime to horror to grim tragedy, every story in this collection is as delectable as a cut of meat prepared by sbirro himself. Ellin was the author of one of the earliest stories i recommended, fools mate. Stanley ellin was born in brooklyn, new york, where he grew up and lived most. From 1944 to 1945, he served in the united states army.
Stanley ellin biography, movie highlights and photos allmovie. An anthology of mystery stories by the mystery writers of america, and more on. Stanley ellin october 6, 1916 july 31, 1986 was an american mystery writer. Stanley, born in bath beach, brooklyn, was the only child of louis and rose mandel ellin. Stanley ellin 19161986 was an american mystery writer known primarily for his short stories. Born in brooklyn, he held various jobs as a young man and served in the army in world war two before turning his hand to fiction. He was a writer, known for alfred hitchcock presents 1955, suspense 1949 and the big night 1951. And the first story in it reminded me why this website is useful.
Stanley ellin novelist life, age, zodiac birthday celebs. Scariest short stories they say classic horror film board. Id read stanley ellin s excellent mystery novel very old money and also some of his short stories in anthologies, where i didnt pay enough attention to the authors name to connect the dots between those stories or between the stories and that novel. Stanley ellin books list of books by author stanley ellin.
Unreasonable doubt stanley ellin the ingenious game of. The specialty of the house by stanley ellin mysterious press. He worked as a teacher, steelworker and a dairy farmer. They were a loving family and he enjoyed a happy childhood. By stanley ellin the specialty of the house and other stories. I am reading stanley ellin s the specialty of the house with the kindle app on my laptop.
Author stanley ellins complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. Stanley lawrence elkin may 11, 1930 may 31, 1995 was an american novelist, short story writer, and essayist. The specialty of the house was ellin s first short story, published in ellery queens mystery magazine in 1948. A blog feature which i havent run for about a year or more returns with the highlighting of a couple of stanley ellin books in my collection. During the late 1930s, he eked out a living working at a number of jobs, including junior college teacher, magazine salesman, and steelworker. Per wikipedia, he was awarded three edgar allan poe awards edgar award. Click to read more about the question short story by stanley ellin. He is a capricorn and was born in the year of the rat an american mystery writer, he is particularly known for such short stories as the specialty of the house 1948 and the house party 1954. The pan book of horror stories was a paperback series of short story anthologies first published in 1959. Stanley bernard ellin was an american mystery writer. List of edgar allan poe award for best short story winners.
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