Elmore Leonard, Legendary Crime Writer, Dies
Elmore Leonard, the legendary crime novelist and screenwriter who wielded sharp prose and created quirky misfit characters to captivate a legion of readers, has died, his literary agent said Tuesday.
The 87-year-old writer, who had been recovering from a stroke, wrote novels in the crime and Western genres, as well as short stories and screenplays.
He recently won a lifetime achievement award from the National Book Foundation.
“For a half-century, Elmore Leonard has produced vibrant literary work with an inimitable writing style,” said the foundation’s executive director, Harold Augenbraum.
In his stories, characters move from scene to scene, cracking wise while they do stupid, violent things.
He is the master of quirky, well-drawn characters, snappy dialogue, clever plot twists and a narrative style so spare it reads like haiku. Its simple beauty can put a bullet through your heart.