213:, in 1951. It was a great success, and Williams spent the remainder of his professional career as an author, primarily of novels, with several screenplays also to his credit. The couple changed residences frequently and apparently spent considerable time in France, where Williams's work has an excellent reputation. After the death of his wife from cancer in 1972, Williams purchased property on the California-Oregon border where he lived alone for a time in a trailer. After relocating to Los Angeles, Williams committed suicide in his apartment in the
288:
from his own crimes. are variations on the same serviceable plot: boy meets money, boy gets money, boy loses money. Each of them hinges on a woman, and it is in the intricacies of the man-woman relationship that
Williams finds his real subject.... ften the woman is both more intelligent and—- even when she is a criminal—- more aware of moral complexities than the affectless hero.
1164:"sold an astonishing 2.5 million copies." This unsourced claim is almost certainly an overstatement, even if it includes foreign sales, which is not hinted at. The cover of the book's eighth Gold Medal printing, dated August 1957, states, "Now in its second million," meaning before the given printing—likely 100,000 or 200,000 copies—
387:
Of
Williams's 22 novels, 16 were paperback originals, and 11 of them Gold Medals; he is described by Gorman as "the best of all the Gold Medal writers." Historian Woody Haut calls Williams the "foremost practitioner" of the style of suspense that typified American crime literature from the mid-1950s
287:
a powerfully evoked natural setting, revelation of character through sexual attitudes and behavior, and a conversational narrative voice that makes the flimsiest tale seem worth telling.... His narrator is generally an ordinary, curiously amoral fellow fueled by greed and lust but curiously detached
1168:
had probably sold a total of 900,000 or 1 million copies. According to the edition's front matter, the first six printings all occurred between
December 1950 (though the novel is copyrighted 1951) and November 1951. The seventh took place in November 1954. That three-year gap and the one of nearly
1173:
wound up selling even as many as 1.5 million copies through Gold Medal. There is no evidence of it ever having been put out by another
American publisher. In his essay "What Is Noir?" (see above), George Tuttle, though he does not indicate the source of his figures, claims Gold Medal sales of
392:
cited him as one of the more undeservedly neglected writers of his generation. O'Brien, describing
Williams as being "overdue" for "wider appreciation," describes him as a stylist consistently faithful to "the narrative values which make his books so entertaining and his present neglect so
376:
279:(1958), outlines the essential elements that associate it with the noir fiction category: "a) a falsely accused man trying to elude police, b) a lonely woman as desperate in her way as the man on the run, c) enough atmospherics (night, rain, fog) to enshroud a hundred
217:
neighborhood in early April 1975. Williams had been depressed since the death of his wife, and his emotional state worsened as sales of his books declined when stand alone thrillers began to lose popularity in the early 70s. He was survived by a daughter, Alison.
44:
355:, wrote stories fueled by an "antipathy to state power, state crimes and the creation of social conditions leading to criminal activity. Relying on wit, humor and ingenious plotting, Williams's characters constantly attempt to outwit the system."
197:. He served for ten years before quitting to marry Lasca Foster. Having trained as a radioman during his seafaring career, Williams worked as an electronics inspector, first for RCA in Galveston, Texas, and later at
388:
through the early 1960s: "So prolific and accomplished a writer was
Charles Williams that he single-handedly made many subsequent pulp culture novels seem like little more than parodies." Fellow "hardboiled" author
1169:
three years that preceded the eighth printing indicate a substantial slowdown in what, by any standard, are still very impressive sales. Given this publishing record, it is hard to imagine
1225:
intriguing, highly speculative essay on the writer and novel by John Fraser, 1990/2001 (note that Fraser cites the widely circulated but incorrect story that
Williams drowned himself)
625:
Novels in publication order, with alternate titles in the US and the UK; original year of publication; publisher name; and, for Gold Medal and Dell books, initial publication number:
883:
State of
California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, California, USA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
1281:
292:
Lee
Horsley describes how Williams frequently satirizes his male protagonists' attitudes, while implicitly reassessing the traditional genre figure of the
1316:
1326:
1286:
903:
General biographical data: Gorman (1998a), Lynskey (2004). Date of death: Lynskey (2004)—"His body was recovered in his apartment on April 7, 1975."
1291:
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1125:
271:. But Mr. Williams is individually himself in his sharp but unmannered prose style and in his refusal to indulge in sentimental compromises."
1331:
227:
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era. He and his wife then relocated to San
Francisco, where he worked for Mackay Radio company until the publication of his first novel,
364:
307:
type setting to heighten the sexual overtones of the story." Many of Williams's other novels are also of this "backwoods noir" type:
165:. He is regarded by some critics as one of the finest suspense novelists of the 1950s and 1960s. His 1951 debut, the paperback novel
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Between 1960 and 1990 twelve of Williams' novels were adapted for cinema or television in the United States, France, and Australia:
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263:. Boucher relates Williams to two of the most famous noir fiction writers: "The striking suspense technique...may remind you of
1321:
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in Washington State. He also worked as a wireless operator, radar technician and radio service engineer as a civilian with the
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303:(1951) is described by noir fiction expert George Tuttle as a "classic example of backwoods noir...us an
831:
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169:, sold more than a million copies. A dozen of his books have been adapted for movies, most popularly
331:. Williams also produced, particularly late in his career, what might be called "blue-water noir":
513:
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1051:, ed. Ed Gorman, Lee Server, and Martin H. Greenberg (New York: Carroll & Graf), 251–254.
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283:." Cultural critic Geoffrey O'Brien further details Williams's "chief characteristics":
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830:(1960; Magnet 309) is credited to "Charles Williams" but was actually written by
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1211:
survey by Bill Crider with bibliography by Steve Lewis, February 2005; part of
226:
862:
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871:, Newport News, Virginia, volume LX, number 301, November 6, 1955, page 4D.
280:
267:; the basic story, with its bitter blend of sex and criminality, may recall
193:. After attending school through tenth grade, in 1929 he enlisted with the
1061:
Gorman, Ed (1998b). "The Golden Harvest: Twenty-Five-Cent Paperbacks," in
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253:—-was the first paperback original to merit a review from renowned critic
214:
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excerpt from the novel: chapter 1; part of the Hard Case Crime website
1047:
Gorman, Ed (1998a). "Fifteen Impressions of Charles Williams," in
893:
Blowhard, Mike. "On Charles Williams." Retrieved February 10, 2017
374:
362:
225:
1128:
well-sourced essay by mystery writer; part of Allan Guthrie's
351:. Woody Haut argues that Williams, like fellow crime novelist
1156:, which appeared in the August 2003 issue of Allan Guthrie's
1105:
Hardboiled America: Lurid Paperbacks and the Masters of Noir
161:(August 13, 1909 – April 5, 1975) was an American author of
1040:
Boucher, Anthony (1953). "Report on Criminals at Large,"
1021:
Charles Williams (Pan and other UK Paperback Editions)
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Of the preceding, Williams wrote the screenplays for
738:; also condensed under that title) (1958; Dell A164)
249:—-published by the defining crime fiction company,
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1251:Bibliographie et filmographie de Charles Williams
1077:Pulp Culture: Hardboiled Fiction and the Cold War
1093:(Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press).
275:description of a characteristic Williams novel,
1243:review by Ed Gorman, January 29, 2006; part of
189:Williams was born in the central Texas town of
1253:detailed, well-illustrated French bibliography
1205:(2001), with analysis of three Williams novels
1139:essay and chronology by published noir critic.
1219:"A Philosophical Thriller: Charles Williams'
1154:"Charles Williams: More Than a Slight Return"
8:
1068:Gorman, Ed (1998c). "John D. MacDonald," in
1191:Williams's motion picture CV; part of the
42:
31:
1209:"The Gold Medal Corner: Charles Williams"
617:) (1964), adapting a novel by Day Keene.
1199:"Fatal Women in the Hard-Boiled Fifties"
591:. He is credited as co-screenwriter for
842:
237:Williams's work is identified with the
141: 1939; died 1972)
1011:Cosmopolitan, July 1963, pages 107–126
720:; based on 1957 novella titled either
425:
7:
1107:, expanded ed. (New York: Da Capo).
511:(uncredited) – The pilot episode of
1126:"The High Seas of Charles Williams"
599:. He also wrote the screenplay for
1282:20th-century American male writers
25:
1317:People from Van Nuys, Los Angeles
810:) (1966; New American Library hc)
233:(1953), one of Williams's novels.
245:" crime writing. His 1953 novel
1327:United States Merchant Mariners
1287:20th-century American novelists
1091:Twentieth-Century Crime Fiction
1002:O'Brien (1997), pages 142, 145.
138:
1292:American crime fiction writers
1178:, which is entirely plausible.
930:O'Brien (1997), pages 143–144.
18:Charles Williams (U.S. author)
1:
1312:People from San Angelo, Texas
1072:, ed. Gorman et al., 209–211.
1065:, ed. Gorman et al., 183–190.
796:(based on an earlier novella
1332:United States Navy civilians
762:Uncle Sagamore and His Girls
605:(1968), adapting a novel by
329:Uncle Sagamore and His Girls
1201:excerpt from Lee Horsley's
863:"Hi-Jinks On The High Seas"
850:Charles Williams, Biography
609:(no relation), and cowrote
27:American author (1909–1975)
1353:
1152:An article by Ed Lynskey,
1103:O'Brien, Geoffrey (1997).
1079:(London: Serpent's Tail).
1042:New York Times Book Review
790:) (1962; Gold Medal s1200)
502:Fantasia Among the Squares
993:Gorman (1998c), page 210.
966:Gorman (1998b), page 185.
939:Horsley (2005), page 244.
921:Gorman (1998a), page 251.
648:) (1951; Gold Medal G207)
525:The Man Who Would Not Die
41:
1337:Writers from Los Angeles
852:Retrieved July 14, 2022.
758:) (1958; Gold Medal 822)
684:) (1954; Gold Medal 434)
680:; based on 1953 novella
658:) (1953; Gold Medal 286)
497:Fantasia chez les ploucs
1297:American male novelists
1135:Tuttle, George (1997).
873:(subscription required)
780:The Long Saturday Night
764:(1959; Gold Medal s908)
710:(1956; Gold Medal s607)
698:) (1955; Macmillan hc )
585:Don't Just Stand There!
535:The Long Saturday Night
468:Don't Just Stand There!
1322:Suicides in California
1189:Charles Williams (III)
984:Haut (1995), page 170.
957:Haut (1995), page 168.
912:Boucher (1953), p. 38.
808:Don't Just Stand There
678:Mix Yourself a Redhead
670:(1954; Gold Medal 371)
664:(1953; Gold Medal 340)
638:(1951; Gold Medal 163)
632:(1951; Gold Medal 141)
587:and, with Nona Tyson,
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290:
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1302:American Noir writers
1241:, by Charles Wiliams"
1174:1,226,890 copies for
1160:webzine, claims that
1089:Horsley, Lee (2005).
975:Haut (1995), page 64.
832:James Lincoln Collier
814:And The Deep Blue Sea
746:The Concrete Flamingo
565:La Fille des collines
378:
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359:Historical notability
349:And The Deep Blue Sea
285:
229:
199:Puget Sound Navy Yard
97:electronics inspector
1307:Novelists from Texas
1124:Lynskey, Ed (2004).
1075:Haut, Woody (1995).
1070:The Big Book of Noir
1063:The Big Book of Noir
1049:The Big Book of Noir
861:Geller, Joanna May.
784:Confidentially Yours
768:The Sailcloth Shroud
544:Confidentially Yours
521:The Sailcloth Shroud
483:(1970; unfinished);
337:The Sailcloth Shroud
800:) (1963; Viking hc)
748:) (1958; Dell A165)
728:) (1958; Dell B114)
694:; based on novella
456:The Dictator's Guns
159:Charles K. Williams
36:Charles K. Williams
1144:On the success of
770:(1960; Viking hc )
736:Stain of Suspicion
708:The Diamond Bikini
662:Nothing in Her Way
646:The Catfish Tangle
539:Vivement dimanche!
493:The Diamond Bikini
418:Nothing in Her Way
397:Williams on screen
385:
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321:The Diamond Bikini
260:The New York Times
235:
195:US Merchant Marine
83:, California, U.S.
1203:The Noir Thriller
822:(1973; Putnam hc)
816:(1971; Signet pb)
798:Pacific Honeymoon
776:(1960; Viking hc)
704:(1956; Dell A114)
696:Flight to Nowhere
668:Go Home, Stranger
652:Hell Hath No Fury
571:Hell Hath No Fury
555:Mieux vaut courir
529:Target in the Sun
390:John D. MacDonald
353:Charles Willeford
317:Go Home, Stranger
299:Williams's novel
247:Hell Hath No Fury
231:Hell Hath No Fury
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64:San Angelo, Texas
16:(Redirected from
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1230:A Touch of Death
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332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
300:
298:
294:femme fatale
291:
286:
276:
258:
246:
239:noir fiction
236:
230:
210:
207:World War II
188:
178:The Hot Spot
176:
170:
166:
158:
157:
128:Lasca Foster
76:(1975-04-05)
29:
1277:1975 deaths
1267:1909 births
868:Daily Press
742:All the Way
430:Banana Peel
406:All the Way
273:Ed Gorman's
205:during the
81:Los Angeles
1261:Categories
838:References
642:River Girl
611:Les Félins
301:River Girl
281:films noir
243:hardboiled
191:San Angelo
88:Occupation
57:1909-08-13
1221:Dead Calm
1176:Hill Girl
1171:Hill Girl
1166:Hill Girl
1162:Hill Girl
1146:Hill Girl
1035:Published
794:Dead Calm
726:Operation
630:Hill Girl
615:Joy House
561:Hill Girl
541:, a.k.a.
527:, a.k.a.
499:, a.k.a.
486:Dead Calm
475:Dead Calm
453:, a.k.a.
379:Cover of
367:Cover of
345:Dead Calm
309:Hill Girl
211:Hill Girl
203:U.S. Navy
172:Dead Calm
167:Hill Girl
108:1951–1975
1245:Gormania
1132:webzine.
806:(a.k.a.
782:(a.k.a.
754:(a.k.a.
744:(a.k.a.
734:(a.k.a.
722:Operator
718:Operator
716:(a.k.a.
690:(a.k.a.
676:(a.k.a.
654:(a.k.a.
644:(a.k.a.
480:The Deep
265:Woolrich
215:Van Nuys
149:Children
94:Novelist
1215:website
1195:website
1030:Sources
774:Aground
447:Aground
341:Aground
143:
135:
131:
1247:weblog
1119:Online
1111:
1097:
1083:
1055:
579:(1990)
567:(1990)
557:(1989)
547:(1983)
531:(1975)
517:(1971)
514:Cannon
505:(1971)
489:(1989)
471:(1968)
459:(1965)
443:(1964)
433:(1963)
426:a.k.a.
414:(1960)
383:(1958)
371:(1951)
347:, and
327:; and
123:Spouse
113:Genres
105:Period
66:, U.S.
137:(
133:
1193:IMDb
1109:ISBN
1095:ISBN
1081:ISBN
1053:ISBN
595:and
185:Life
175:and
117:Noir
71:Died
51:Born
724:or
257:of
1263::
865:,
834:.
786:;
573:–
563:–
553:–
537:–
523:–
495:–
477:–
465:–
449:–
439:–
424:,
420:–
408:–
343:,
339:,
335:,
323:;
319:;
315:;
311:;
296:.
181:.
139:m.
1237:"
1223:"
1023:.
613:(
152:1
59:)
55:(
20:)
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