David Grann
Encyclopedia
David Grann is an American literary journalist and best-selling author
. He has written about a range of subjects, from New York City's antiquated water supply system to the hunt for giant squid
to the U.S. presidential campaign.
His first book, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
, was published by Doubleday in February 2009. After its first week of publication, it debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #4.
in 1989 with a B.A. in Government. He received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
and conducted research in Mexico, where he began his career as a freelance journalist. He received a masters degree in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
in 1993. Primarily interested in fiction
, Grann hoped to develop a career as a novelist. His reputation as a "workhorse reporter" has made him a popular journalist who "inspires a devotion in readers that can border on the obsessive."
His journalism career began after he was hired as a copy editor
at The Hill
, a Washington, D.C.-based newspaper covering the United States Congress
) in 1994. The same year, he earned a masters degree in creative writing
from Boston University
, where he taught courses in creative writing and fiction. He was named The Hill's executive editor in 1995. He became a senior editor at The New Republic
in 1996. He joined The New Yorker
in 2003 as staff writer. He was a finalist for the Michael Kelly Award in 2005, and was awarded the 2009 George Polk Award and 2009 Sigma Delta Chi Award for his New Yorker piece "Trial By Fire", which has been described as the first thoroughly documented case of the execution of an innocent man (Cameron Todd Willingham) under the modern American judicial system. Another New Yorker piece, "The Mark of a Masterpiece", was nominated for the 2010 National Magazine Awards for feature writing which honors original, stylish storytelling
. The subject of that article, Peter Paul Biro, who Grann portrayed as a forger, lodged a federal defamation lawsuit in United States district court
against Grann and his employer, Condé Nast Publications
in June 2011. New Yorker editor David Remnick
stated "David Grann’s reporting on this story and everything else he does is painstaking in both its attention to the facts and tone. We stand with David Grann and behind the story and believe the suit has no merit."
, The Atlantic, The Washington Post
, The Wall Street Journal
, and The Weekly Standard
.
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
tells the story of the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett
who, in 1925, disappeared with his son in the Amazon
while looking for the Lost City of Z
. For decades, explorers and scientists have tried to find evidence of both his party and the Lost City of Z. More than 100 people perished or disappeared seeking Fawcett. Grann made his own journey into the Amazon, revealing new evidence about how Fawcett died and showing that Z may have indeed existed. The book was optioned by Brad Pitt
's Plan B
production company and Paramount Pictures.
An anthology of 12 previously published Grann essays The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession
was published in March, 2010.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He has written about a range of subjects, from New York City's antiquated water supply system to the hunt for giant squid
Giant squid
The giant squid is a deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae, represented by as many as eight species...
to the U.S. presidential campaign.
His first book, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
The Lost City of Z (book)
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon is a non-fiction book by American author David Grann. It tells the story of the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett who, in 1925, disappeared with his son in the Amazon while looking for an ancient lost city. For decades, explorers...
, was published by Doubleday in February 2009. After its first week of publication, it debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #4.
Career
Grann graduated from Connecticut CollegeConnecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
in 1989 with a B.A. in Government. He received a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship
The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is a grant that enables graduating seniors to pursue a year of independent study outside the United States. The Fellowship Program was established by the children of Thomas J. Watson, the founder of IBM....
and conducted research in Mexico, where he began his career as a freelance journalist. He received a masters degree in international relations from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University is the oldest school in the United States dedicated solely to graduate studies in international affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's foremost schools of international affairs. Every Fall, the school enrolls approximately 265...
in 1993. Primarily interested in fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, Grann hoped to develop a career as a novelist. His reputation as a "workhorse reporter" has made him a popular journalist who "inspires a devotion in readers that can border on the obsessive."
His journalism career began after he was hired as a copy editor
Copy editing
Copy editing is the work that an editor does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of text. Unlike general editing, copy editing might not involve changing the substance of the text. Copy refers to written or typewritten text for typesetting, printing, or publication...
at The Hill
The Hill (newspaper)
The Hill, a subsidiary of News Communications Inc., is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C. since 1994.Its first editor was Martin Tolchin, a veteran correspondent in the Washington bureau of The New York Times....
, a Washington, D.C.-based newspaper covering the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
) in 1994. The same year, he earned a masters degree in creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
from Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, where he taught courses in creative writing and fiction. He was named The Hill's executive editor in 1995. He became a senior editor at The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
in 1996. He joined The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
in 2003 as staff writer. He was a finalist for the Michael Kelly Award in 2005, and was awarded the 2009 George Polk Award and 2009 Sigma Delta Chi Award for his New Yorker piece "Trial By Fire", which has been described as the first thoroughly documented case of the execution of an innocent man (Cameron Todd Willingham) under the modern American judicial system. Another New Yorker piece, "The Mark of a Masterpiece", was nominated for the 2010 National Magazine Awards for feature writing which honors original, stylish storytelling
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
. The subject of that article, Peter Paul Biro, who Grann portrayed as a forger, lodged a federal defamation lawsuit in United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
against Grann and his employer, Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast Publications
Condé Nast, a division of Advance Publications, is a magazine publisher. In the U.S., it produces 18 consumer magazines, including Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, GQ, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and Vogue, as well as four business-to-business publications, 27 websites, and more than 50 apps...
in June 2011. New Yorker editor David Remnick
David Remnick
David Remnick is an American journalist, writer, and magazine editor. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for his book Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire. Remnick has been editor of The New Yorker magazine since 1998. He was named "Editor of the Year" by Advertising Age in 2000...
stated "David Grann’s reporting on this story and everything else he does is painstaking in both its attention to the facts and tone. We stand with David Grann and behind the story and believe the suit has no merit."
Grann married television producer Kyra Darnton, daughter of George Polk AwardsGeorge Polk AwardsThe George Polk Awards in Journalism are a series of American journalism awards presented annually by Long Island University in New York in the United States.-History:...
curator, John DarntonJohn DarntonJohn Darnton is an American journalist and author.-At The New York Times:After attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Darnton joined The New York Times as a copyboy in 1966...
, in 2000. The couple has two children, and as of 2009 resided in New York City.
Other publications
Grann's stories have appeared in several anthologies, including What We Saw: The Events of September 11, 2001, The Best American Crime Writing of 2004 and 2005, and The Best American Sports Writing of 2003 and 2006. He has also written for The New York Times MagazineThe New York Times Magazine
The New York Times Magazine is a Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of The New York Times. It is host to feature articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors...
, The Atlantic, The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, and The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard
The Weekly Standard is an American neoconservative opinion magazine published 48 times per year. Its founding publisher, News Corporation, debuted the title September 18, 1995. Currently edited by founder William Kristol and Fred Barnes, the Standard has been described as a "redoubt of...
.
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
The Lost City of Z (book)
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon is a non-fiction book by American author David Grann. It tells the story of the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett who, in 1925, disappeared with his son in the Amazon while looking for an ancient lost city. For decades, explorers...
tells the story of the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett
Percy Fawcett
Lt. Colonel Percival Harrison Fawcett was a British artillery officer, archaeologist and South American explorer....
who, in 1925, disappeared with his son in the Amazon
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
while looking for the Lost City of Z
Lost City of Z
The Lost City of Z is the name given by Col. Percy Harrison Fawcett, a British surveyor, to a city that he thought existed in the jungle of the Mato Grosso region of Brazil...
. For decades, explorers and scientists have tried to find evidence of both his party and the Lost City of Z. More than 100 people perished or disappeared seeking Fawcett. Grann made his own journey into the Amazon, revealing new evidence about how Fawcett died and showing that Z may have indeed existed. The book was optioned by Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
's Plan B
Plan B Entertainment
Plan B Entertainment is a film production company founded by Brad Pitt, Brad Grey, and Jennifer Aniston. In 2006, Pitt became the sole owner; the company currently holds a release deal with Paramount Pictures, along with Warner Bros...
production company and Paramount Pictures.
An anthology of 12 previously published Grann essays The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession
The Devil and Sherlock Holmes
The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession is a collection of 12 essays by American journalist David Grann. The essays were previously published between 2000 and 2009 in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic and The Atlantic and have been...
was published in March, 2010.
Awards
- Thomas J. Watson FellowshipThomas J. Watson FellowshipThe Thomas J. Watson Fellowship is a grant that enables graduating seniors to pursue a year of independent study outside the United States. The Fellowship Program was established by the children of Thomas J. Watson, the founder of IBM....
(1989) - Michael Kelly award, finalist (2005)
- George Polk AwardsGeorge Polk AwardsThe George Polk Awards in Journalism are a series of American journalism awards presented annually by Long Island University in New York in the United States.-History:...
(2009) - Samuel Johnson PrizeSamuel Johnson PrizeThe Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction is one of the most prestigious prizes for non-fiction writing. It was founded in 1999 following the demise of the NCR Book Award and based on an anonymous donation. The prize is named after Samuel Johnson...
, shortlist (2009) - National Magazine Awards, finalist (2010)
External links
- David Grann, official website
- Murder, madness, obsession, Bookpod audio essay
- Articles by David Grann at The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...