Philip kerr is the author of eleven previous gunther novels. Bernie fought on the turkish front during world war i and was a cop before becoming a private eye in berlin before world war ii. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for his bernie gunther series of. Author philip kerrs complete list of books and series in order, with the latest. Since 1989, kerr has published seven of these thrillers, most recently field gray. He wrote two sequels over the next couple of years the pale criminal and a german requiem, but then abruptly discontinued the series, instead producing a succession of standalone thrillers. Philip kerr was born in edinburgh and read law and philosophy at birmingham university, subjects which drew him to germany. Bernard gunther series by philip kerr makes crowns it all. These novels are also considered noir, as kerr explains evil is everywhere and gunther is considered heroic despite questionable morals in those moments. Order in the next 30 hours 43 minutes and get it by wednesday, february 19.
A bernie gunther novel series philip kerr philip kerr has won an international reputation as a master of historical suspense with his noir detective bernie gunther tackling the dark underbelly of nazi and postwarera germany. Kerr paints a vivid picture of the tension that was rife at the time, this as hitlers party began to oppress the jewish populace even as germany struggled to keep its atrocities hidden. Furthermore, he has written various newspaper columns such as evening standard and the sunday times among others. In all the gunther novels, kerr uses real personages as characters. Joan acocella writes about the detective fiction of philip kerr, the author of the berlin noir trilogy, featuring the detective bernie gunther. Beginning in germany in the thirties, the seven gunther novels have reached beyond the horrors of the nazi regime, when the lunatics were running the asylum, through the viciousness of the eastern front, to the postwar world of starvation and exploitation, and on to the cold wars double dealing and ruthless disregard for morality or human life. Philip kerr became a published author in 1989 with the novel march violets, the beginning of his bernie gunther series. Our comprehensive guide to all 14 novels in philip kerrs excellent. Philip kerr has written the scott manson series, the bernie gunther series and some stand alone work. In 1989, firsttime british author philip kerr introduced the world to bernie gunther, his sardonic, toughtalking fictional detective who was as the new york. With his sure hand for pacing, his firm grasp of historical detail, and his explosively creative imagination about what might have been, philip kerr has fashioned a totally convincing thinking mans thriller in the great tradition of eric ambler and graham greene. Links are provided to more detailed information about each bernie gunther book the bernie gunther novels of philip kerr.
Philip kerr was synonymous with his series of novels featuring fictional detective bernie gunther. At his death he left behind a gunther manuscript titled metropolis. Bernard gunther is a former soldier he fought with the wehrmacht on the turkish front in the first world war and an excop an inspector for the kriminalpolizei now working as a private eye in the preworld war ii years of berlin, specializing in the missing persons. Philip kerr is the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of whichfield gray, the lady from zagreb, and prussian bluewere finalists for the edgar award for best novel. The most interesting legal philosophy is german, so naturally i went to germany, particularly to berlin, quite a bit. Bernie gunther is the name that philip kerr gave his series of hardboiled crime fiction novels. Jun 01, 2011 british novelist philip kerr is best known for his well regarded bernie gunther series featuring a berlin homicide detective operating in nazi germany and beyond. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime.
Jan 23, 2012 though in 1993 kerr was on grantas list of best young british novelists and has written a score of novels. Philip kerr is the author of nineteen previous novels, including a philosophical investigation, and five bestselling childrens books. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british novelist. Bernie gunther is the central character in a series of historical mysterythriller novels. In terms of narrative, plot, pace and characterization, kerrs in a league with john le carr. Quercus pays tribute to cherished author philip kerr the. Kerr wrote for the sunday times, the evening standard, and the new statesman. Discover the bernie books as well as kerrs impressive catalogue of nonbernie titles. Philip kerr books list of books by author philip kerr. Philip kerrs final bernie gunther novel announced with. The bernie gunther novels are historical literature.
His bernie gunther novels are extraordinary, a mix of great storytelling and brilliant research, with a believable. Apr 19, 2011 crime novels that make you want to rant. Berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. London, united kingdom scottish author philip kerr, the creator of the naziera thrillers featuring detective bernie gunther, has died at the. Salman rushdie philip kerr is the only bona fide heir to raymond chandler. Mar 27, 2018 philip kerr, a scottishborn writer whose popular novels feature a naziera detective named bernie gunther, whose hardboiled style made him literary kin to philip marlowe, raymond chandlers. He was best known for his bernie gunther series of historical thrillers and a childrens series, children of the lamp, under the name p.
Kerr, who passed away back in march after battling bladder cancer, was able to finish his next manuscript before his death. Philip kerr, the novelist who has died of cancer aged 62, was the creator of bernie gunther, a wisecracking private eye in the raymond chandler mould whose beat is hitlers germany. Over fourteen stories beginning with his classic berlin noir trilogy kerr brilliantly evokes a murky world of secrets, corruption and lies, taking gunther through time from naziera berlin to a nascent postwar europe. Home the books forum about bernie about philip kerr. Philip kerr, a scottishborn writer whose popular novels feature a naziera detective named bernie gunther, whose hardboiled style made him literary kin. Beginning in germany in the thirties, the seven gunther novels have reached beyond the horrors of the nazi regime, when the lunatics were running the asylum, through the viciousness of the eastern front, to the postwar world of starvation and exploitation, and on to the cold war s double dealing and ruthless disregard for morality or human life.
The complete series list for bernie gunther philip kerr. The novel is narrated by philip kerrs character bernard gunther. The novels title the one from the other is culled from a reinhold niebuhr quote about knowing the difference between the things in life we can change and those things that cannot be changed. British author philip kerr introduced his series character, world war iiera berlin private eye bernie gunther, in march violets.
Bernie gunther series in order philip kerr fictiondb. British novelist philip kerr is best known for his well regarded bernie gunther series featuring a berlin homicide detective operating in nazi germany and beyond. His series include bernie gunther and the children of. Bernard gunther is a former soldier he fought with the wehrmacht on the turkish front in the first world war and an excop an inspector for the krimin. Bernie gunther is the central character in a series of historical mysterythriller novels by british novelist philip kerr. Oct 06, 2016 joan acocella writes about the detective fiction of philip kerr, the author of the berlin noir trilogy, featuring the detective bernie gunther. Mar 25, 2018 philip kerr, the novelist who has died of cancer aged 62, was the creator of bernie gunther, a wisecracking private eye in the raymond chandler mould whose beat is hitlers germany. Discover the first crime novel in the late philip kerrs bernie gunther series berlin noir. His old buddy is now tracking gunther in order to kill him. This novel is set in 1949 in drab postwar germany and austria. Philip kerr simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. In order of publication, field gray, prague fatale, a man without breath, the lady from zagreb, and the other side of silence were all new york times bestsellers and field gray and the lady from zagreb were finalists for the edgar. The novel is narrated by philip kerr s character bernard gunther.
Bernie gunther is the kind of hero we probably wish we could be. The books followed the exploits of bernie gunther, a detective with a penchant for finding missing people. It turns out that, after some speculation, philip kerrs 14th bernie gunther novel will, in fact, be a prequel story. The publishing world lost one of its most distinguished modern thriller writers. It turns out that, after some speculation, philip kerr s 14th bernie gunther novel will, in fact, be a prequel story. The bernie gunther novels are set in nazi germany, but some are set after the fall of the nazis starting in the mid thirties. Every now and then i read a crime novel that makes me feel grumpy, usually because of the poor quality of the writing, plotting or characterisation. Philip kerr, the new york times and usa today bestselling author of the bernie gunther novels, died on friday, march 23 in london after an eightmonth battle with cancer. Has anyone done a list of the bg books in chronological order, rather.
He also has written nonfiction and novels that do not link to his bernie gunther series. Kerr has also won several shamus awards and more about philip kerr. Ive read each of the bernie gunther novels, but it all started with berlin noir. In 1989, firsttime british author philip kerr introduced the world to bernie gunther, his sardonic, toughtalking fictional detective who was as the new york times put it the right kind of hero for his time. Below is a list of philip kerrs bernie gunther books in order of when they. In order of publication, field gray, prague fatale, a man without breath, the lady from zagreb, and the other side of silence were all new york times bestsellers and field gray and. Philip kerr was the new york times bestselling author of the acclaimed bernie gunther novels, three of whichfield gray, the lady from zagreb, and prussian bluewere finalists for the edgar award for best novel. He has done about 20 fictional and nonfictional books.
From philip kerr, the new york times bestselling author of the bernie gunther novels, comes a breathtaking journey of survival in the dark days of wwii in ukraine, a country that remains tumultuous today. These novels are from the historical, crime, mystery, and thriller genres. When heydrich orders gunther to accompany him to prague, its an. Kerr questions how he would have acted if he were alive and living in germany during these dark times. Though in 1993 kerr was on grantas list of best young british novelists and has written a score of novels. Follow our twitter feed to keep up with the latest news that may be of interest to bernie. The author of over 30 books since his debut in 1989, kerr is best known for his 14 novels novels featuring excop turned private detective bernhard bernie gunther, who finds his progress up the ranks of the berlin kriminalpolizei interrupted by the rise of the national socialist german workers party. A guide to philip kerrs bernie gunther series crime fiction lover.
Philip kerr, 62, author of gunther crime novels, is dead philip kerr at his home in london in 2016. Mar 25, 2018 berlin held a great fascination for the author philip kerr, who has died aged 62 of cancer. Philip ballantyne kerr 22 february 1956 23 march 2018 was a british author, best known for his bernie gunther series of historical detective thrillers. Philip kerr was a british author of thriller novels and childrens books under the pen name of p. Philip kerr, new york times, 14 april 2016 the writer philip kerr, who has died at the age of 62, did what some great writers graham greene, john le carre, alan furst preeminent among them. Not unless you need yours clad in skintight lycra sporting a cape. The first three novels, now published in an omnibus berlin noir edition, were published in the. A bernie gunther novel by philip kerr july 27, 2004.
The groundbreaking trilogy by scottish author philip kerr that introduced the world to bernie gunther, an ordinary german soldier turned kripo cop turned private detective who just tries to do his job and keep his wits about him amidst the rising tide of naziism in 1930s berlin. The first few stories that philip kerr tells are actually set in berlin before the second world war. Kerr also won several shamus awards and the british crime writers association ellis peters award for historical crime fiction. Philip kerrs bernie gunther books in order fantastic fiction. Praise for philip kerr and the bernie gunther novels a brilliantly innovative thriller writer. Kerr got his masters in law from the university of birmingham before working as a copywriter and finally becoming a fulltime author in 1989. Philip kerr, 62, author of gunther crime novels, is dead. Free uk delivery on book orders dispatched by amazon over.
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