Gary Jennings
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Gary Jennings (September 20, 1928 – February 13, 1999) was a U.S. author noted for several historical fiction novels: Aztec, a story of the Aztec empire just before and during the arrival of the Spanish; Aztec Autumn, a story of the Aztecs following the Spanish conquest; The Journeyer, an account of the travels of Marco Polo to the Far East; and Spangle, a chronicle of the lives of carnival entertainers.
[edit] Overview
Born September 20, 1928 in Buena Vista, Virginia, to Glen Edward and Vaughnye May Jennings, Gary Jennings attended little formal school after graduating from Eastside High School (of Lean on Me fame) in Paterson, New Jersey, and was mostly self-educated thereafter.
His novels were known for their historical detail and occasionally graphic content. Jennings' novels are well-researched: he lived for 12 years in Mexico to research the Aztec novels, traveled the Balkans while researching Raptor, and joined nine circus troupes during the writing of Spangle. He also produced a number of novels for younger readers, such as A Rope in the Jungle and Black Magic, White Magic.
| Quotation |
| I'm a writer. I write not only for a living, I write because I'm a writer. |
| Gary Jennings - 1993 |
A third Aztec novel, Aztec Blood, was released after his death. This novel was based on his ideas, approved by his estate and by his editor, but written by Junius Podrug[verification needed], and the novel credited to Jennings.
Gary Jennings died on Friday the 13th of February 1999 in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, aged 70, from undisclosed causes.
