David Gurr
Encyclopedia
David Hugh Courtney Gurr is a Canadian
writer and author of literary novels and political thrillers. He was born William Le Breton Harvey Brisbane-Bedwell in 1936 in London
, England
but his name was changed by adoption in 1941. He was educated at Sherborne Prep and University College
in England before emigrating with his family to Canada. He attended Belmont High School
in Victoria, British Columbia
, the Royal Canadian Naval College, and the University of Victoria
. Gurr served with the Royal Canadian Navy
from 1954-1970 as an executive officer and computer systems analyst. His first interest was in the theatre, and he received a scholarship to "tread the boards" at UBC in the summer of 1952. His name can still be seen painted on the backstage wall of the Old Auditorium.
From 1971-1980 he designed and built homes on Vancouver Island
.
He has been a writer since 1976. His works include: Troika (1979), A Woman Called Scylla (1981), The Action of the Tiger (1984), An American Spy Story (1984), On the Endangered List (1985), The Ring Master (1987) plus various thrillers under pseudonyms; two stage plays: Leonora (1984) and The Ring Play: An Evening with Hitler (1991); and he was co-author for two screen plays (with George Cosmatos).
Troika was short-listed for the John Creasey Memorial Award
. The Ring Master was nominated for the Governor General's Award
. The Voice of the Crane was short-listed for the Commonwealth Prize (Canadian-Caribbean Division).
He currently resides in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer and author of literary novels and political thrillers. He was born William Le Breton Harvey Brisbane-Bedwell in 1936 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
but his name was changed by adoption in 1941. He was educated at Sherborne Prep and University College
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in England before emigrating with his family to Canada. He attended Belmont High School
Belmont Secondary School
Belmont Secondary School is located in Langford, a western suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of three secondary schools in School District 62 Sooke...
in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, the Royal Canadian Naval College, and the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
. Gurr served with the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
from 1954-1970 as an executive officer and computer systems analyst. His first interest was in the theatre, and he received a scholarship to "tread the boards" at UBC in the summer of 1952. His name can still be seen painted on the backstage wall of the Old Auditorium.
From 1971-1980 he designed and built homes on Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
.
He has been a writer since 1976. His works include: Troika (1979), A Woman Called Scylla (1981), The Action of the Tiger (1984), An American Spy Story (1984), On the Endangered List (1985), The Ring Master (1987) plus various thrillers under pseudonyms; two stage plays: Leonora (1984) and The Ring Play: An Evening with Hitler (1991); and he was co-author for two screen plays (with George Cosmatos).
Troika was short-listed for the John Creasey Memorial Award
CWA New Blood Dagger
The CWA New Blood Dagger is an annual award given by the British Crime Writers' Association for first books by previously unpublished writers. It is given in memory of CWA founder John Creasey and was previously known as The John Creasey Memorial Award. The award is voted on by past winners and...
. The Ring Master was nominated for the Governor General's Award
Governor General's Award
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor...
. The Voice of the Crane was short-listed for the Commonwealth Prize (Canadian-Caribbean Division).
He currently resides in Victoria, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada.