Richard Condon

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Richard Thomas Condon (born March 18, 1915 in New York, New York; died April 9, 1996 in Dallas, Texas), was a satirical novelist best known for conspiratorial tales such as The Manchurian Candidate.

After moderate success as an ad writer and Hollywood agent, Condon turned to writing in 1957. His second novel, The Manchurian Candidate (1959), and the movie made from it in 1962, made him famous. Prizzi's Honor (1982) was likewise made into a successful movie.

Condon's writing was known for its complex plotting, fascination with trivia, and loathing for those in power; at least two of his books featured thinly disguised versions of Richard Nixon. His characters tend to be driven by obsession, usually sexual or political, and by family loyalty. His plots often have elements of classical tragedy, with protagonists whose pride leads them to a place to destroy what they love. Some of his books, most notably Mile High (1969), are perhaps best described as secret history.

Though Condon's conspiratorial writings may seem tame and old-fashioned compared to the writings of Thomas Pynchon and Robert Anton Wilson, he doubtless blazed the trail they followed.