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Last edited by raybb
April 17, 2025 | History
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John D. MacDonald

John D. MacDonald was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania but dropped out to move to New York City, where he took menial to support himself. While attending the School of Management at Syracuse University, he met Dorothy Prentiss, and they married in 1937. He graduated from Syracuse the following year, and in 1939 he received an MBA from Harvard University. During World War II he served in the Office of Strategic Services in the Far East. In 1945, he wrote a short story for his wife and mailed it to her. She submitted it to the magazine Story, and it was published. When he returned home after the war, he wrote full-time, often working 14 hours every day. After five months without another success, he sold a story to the pulp magazine Dime Detective, and he continued to write for detective, mystery, adventure, sports, western and science fiction pulps. In 1950 his first novel, The Brass Cupcake, was published. In 1953, he began specializing in crime thrillers, producing some of the most-respected novels in the hardboiled style. Several of his novels have been made into films.

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American writer (1916–1986)

Born 24 July 1916
Died 28 December 1986

556 works Add another?

  • Cover of: Dead low tide

    First published in 1976 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Death Trap

    First published in 1957 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: The drowner

    First published in 1963 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: The house guests
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    First published in 1965 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Judge Me Not

    First published in 1978 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Man of Affairs

    First published in 1957 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: McGee
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    First published in 1975 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: More good old stuff
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    First published in 1984 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Nightmare in Pink (Travis McGee Mysteries (Audio))

    First published in 1964 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Five complete Travis McGee novels
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    First published in 1985 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: The only girl in the game

    First published in 1962 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Where is Janice Gantry?
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    First published in 1961 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: You live once
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    First published in 1976 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Isaac Asimov presents the golden years of science fiction: fifth series: 33 stories and novellas
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    First published in 1985 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Isaac Asimov presents the great SF stories #14 (1952)

    First published in 1986 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Isaac Asimov presents the golden age of science fiction. Sixth series: 33 stories and novellas
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    First published in 1988 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: The Scarlet Ruse
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    First published in 1975 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Empty Trap

    First published in 2013 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: A Purple Place for Dying

    First published in 1983 — 2 editions
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  • Cover of: Dress Her in Indigo

    First published in 1971 — 2 editions
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Photo of John D. MacDonald

American writer (1916–1986)

Born 24 July 1916
Died 28 December 1986

Subjects

Fiction, mystery & detective, general, Fiction, Travis McGee (Fictitious character), Mcgee, travis (fictitious character), fiction, Private investigators, fiction, Private investigators, Fort lauderdale (fla.), fiction, Fiction, general, Florida, fiction, Fiction, mystery & detective, hard-boiled, Large type books, Fiction, thrillers, suspense, Fiction, crime, Fiction in English, American Detective and mystery stories, Detective and mystery stories, Fiction, thrillers, general, Mystery and detective stories, American Science fiction, Detective and mystery stories, American, Open Library Staff Picks, Science fiction, Cady, max (fictitious character), fiction, Fiction, suspense, American Short stories

Places

Florida, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.), Fort Lauderdale, Amazon rainforest, California, Caribbean, Florida Keys, Florida; Ukiah, Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, Sarasota Florida, Ship-Trap Island, Stockholm, Sweden, Texas, The Florida Keys, Tibet, United States, West (U.S.)

People

Travis McGee, Meyer, John D. MacDonald (1916-1986), Carl A. Coppolino, Fictional main character Travis McGee and friends and enemies, General Zaroff, Ivan, John D. MacDonald, Meyee, Sanger Rainsford, The Great White Czar, Travis McGee (Fictional Character), Travis McGee (Fictitious character), Whitney, travis mcgee

Time

20th century, 1950-ish, 1960s Florida, 1964, 1970, 1970s, 1971, 1983, Mid 1900's

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Alternative names

  • John D. Mac Donald
  • John Dann MacDonald
  • John D. (John Dann) 1916- MacDonald

History

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April 17, 2025 Edited by raybb merge authors
January 13, 2025 Edited by raybb Edited without comment.
December 19, 2023 Edited by bitnapper Edited without comment.
December 19, 2023 Edited by bitnapper merge authors
February 14, 2011 Edited by AMillarBot clean up name