James Lee Burke
Encyclopedia
James Lee Burke is an American
author
of mysteries
, best known for his Dave Robicheaux
series. He has won an Edgar Award
for Black Cherry Blues (1990
) and Cimarron Rose (1998
). The Robicheaux character has been portrayed twice on screen, first by Alec Baldwin
(Heaven's Prisoners
) and then Tommy Lee Jones
(In the Electric Mist
). Burke has also written seven miscellaneous crime novels, two short story anthologies, four books starring protagonist, Texas
attorney
Billy Bob Holland, and three books starring Billy Bob's cousin Texas sheriff Hackberry Holland.
, but spent most of his childhood on the Texas-Louisiana
Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
and University of Missouri
, receiving a BA
and MA
from the latter. He has worked in a wide variety of industries over the years, including oil, journalism
and social care
. He taught for the creative writing program at Wichita State University
during the '80s, shortly before resettling in Montana
.
, and New Iberia, Louisiana
. They have four children, including their daughter Alafair Burke
, who is also a prominent crime writer. They also have four grandchildren. Burke is the cousin of short story writer Andre Dubus II
.
Hackberry Holland
, on November 2, 2002, at a ceremony held at the inaugural Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge, LA.
James Lee Burke has been recognized three times by the Mystery Writers of America
(MWA). The MWA awarded its Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel of the year in 1990 for Black Cherry Blues. In 1998 the MWA again awarded its “Edgar” for Best Novel of the year for Burke’s Cimarron Rose. Then in 2009 James Lee Burke received the MWA’s Grand Master Award.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
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:...
of mysteries
Mystery fiction
Mystery fiction is a loosely-defined term.1.It is often used as a synonym for detective fiction or crime fiction— in other words a novel or short story in which a detective investigates and solves a crime mystery. Sometimes mystery books are nonfiction...
, best known for his Dave Robicheaux
Dave Robicheaux
Dave Robicheaux is a fictional character in a series of mystery novels by American crime writer James Lee Burke.-About Robicheaux:Once an officer for the New Orleans police department, Robicheaux constantly breaches the ethical code over the course of just about every case he works on - seemingly...
series. He has won an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Black Cherry Blues (1990
1990 in literature
The year 1990 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*J. K. Rowling gets the idea for Harry Potter while on a train ride from Manchester to London. She says "I was staring out the window, and the idea for Harry just came. He appeared in my mind's eye, very fully formed...
) and Cimarron Rose (1998
1998 in literature
The year 1998 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*March 5 - Tennessee Williams' 1938 play, Not About Nightingales, receives its stage première....
). The Robicheaux character has been portrayed twice on screen, first by Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin
Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons before his character was killed off...
(Heaven's Prisoners
Heaven's Prisoners
Heaven's Prisoners is a 1996 feature film drama starring Alec Baldwin, Kelly Lynch, Mary Stuart Masterson, Teri Hatcher and Eric Roberts. It is based on a Dave Robicheaux novel of the same name by James Lee Burke. The film was directed by Phil Joanou...
) and then Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive....
(In the Electric Mist
In the Electric Mist
In the Electric Mist is a 2009 Franco-American drama/mystical film based on the novel In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke...
). Burke has also written seven miscellaneous crime novels, two short story anthologies, four books starring protagonist, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Billy Bob Holland, and three books starring Billy Bob's cousin Texas sheriff Hackberry Holland.
Biography
Burke was born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, but spent most of his childhood on the Texas-Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Gulf Coast. He attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
and University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, receiving a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from the latter. He has worked in a wide variety of industries over the years, including oil, journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and social care
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
. He taught for the creative writing program at Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
during the '80s, shortly before resettling in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
Personal life
Burke owns homes with his wife, Pearl, in Lolo, MontanaLolo, Montana
Lolo is a census-designated place in Missoula County, Montana, United States. It is part of the 'Missoula, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 3,388 at the 2000 census. It is home to Travelers' Rest State Park, a site where Lewis and Clark camped in 1805 and again in 1806...
, and New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia, Louisiana
New Iberia is a city in and the parish seat of Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States, 30 miles southeast of Lafayette. In 1900, 6,815 people lived in New Iberia; in 1910, 7,499; and in 1940, 13,747...
. They have four children, including their daughter Alafair Burke
Alafair Burke
Alafair S. Burke is an American author, professor of law, and legal commentator. She is the author of two series of crime novels, one featuring NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher, the other featuring Portland prosecutor Samantha Kincaid...
, who is also a prominent crime writer. They also have four grandchildren. Burke is the cousin of short story writer Andre Dubus II
Andre Dubus
Andre Dubus, II was an American short story writer, essayist, and autobiographer. Dubus is recognized as one of the most prolific American short-story writers in the 20th century.-Early life and education:...
.
Dave Robicheaux
- The Neon Rain (1987)
- Heaven's Prisoners (1988)
- Black Cherry Blues (1989)
- A Morning for Flamingos (1990)
- A Stained White Radiance (1992)
- In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993)
- Dixie City Jam (1994)
- Burning Angel (1995)
- Cadillac Jukebox (1996)
- Sunset Limited (1998)
- Purple Cane Road (2000)
- Jolie Blon's Bounce (2002)
- Last Car to Elysian Fields (2003)
- Crusader's Cross (2005)
- Pegasus Descending (2006)
- The Tin Roof BlowdownThe Tin Roof BlowdownThe Tin Roof Blowdown is a crime novel by American author James Lee Burke. -Synopsis:After Hurricane Katrina devastates his beloved city of New Orleans, Dave Robicheaux is drawn into the fatal shooting of two young black looters, and the subsequent torture murder of a third...
(2007) - Swan Peak (2008)
- The Glass Rainbow (2010)
- Creole Belle (2012)
Billy Bob Holland
- Cimarron Rose (1997)
- Heartwood (1999)
- Bitterroot (2001)
- In the Moon of Red Ponies (2004)
Miscellaneous
- Half of Paradise (1965)
- To The Bright and Shining Sun
- Two for Texas (1982)
- The Lost Get-Back Boogie (1986)
- White Doves at Morning (2002)
Hackberry Holland
- Lay Down My Sword and Shield (1971)
- Rain Gods (2009)
- Feast Day of Fools (2011)
Awards
Burke received the 2002 Louisiana Writer Award for his enduring contribution to the "literary intellectual heritage of Louisiana." The award was presented to him by then Lt. Governor of Louisiana, Kathleen BlancoKathleen Blanco
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco was the 54th Governor of Louisiana, having served from January 2004 until January 2008. She was the first woman to be elected to the office of governor of Louisiana....
, on November 2, 2002, at a ceremony held at the inaugural Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge, LA.
James Lee Burke has been recognized three times by the Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America
Mystery Writers of America is an organization for mystery writers, based in New York.The organization was founded in 1945 by Clayton Rawson, Anthony Boucher, Lawrence Treat, and Brett Halliday....
(MWA). The MWA awarded its Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel of the year in 1990 for Black Cherry Blues. In 1998 the MWA again awarded its “Edgar” for Best Novel of the year for Burke’s Cimarron Rose. Then in 2009 James Lee Burke received the MWA’s Grand Master Award.
External links
- James Lee Burke's Official Website
- "Why Bugsy Siegel Was a Friend of Mine", short story by James Lee Burke, The Southern Review, Winter 2005
- "The Man Behind Dave Robicheaux", James Lee Burke talks about violence, writing, littering, alcoholism, liberalism and bestsellers.