Eugene Izzi
Eugene Izzi was an American author born around 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, known for his contributions to crime fiction. He faced numerous challenges throughout his early life, including a troubled family background characterized by his father's alcoholism and legal troubles. Despite these hardships, Izzi found refuge in literature, spending significant time at his local library and developing a passion for writing. After serving in the armed forces and struggling with personal issues, including alcohol dependency and frequent arrests, he turned to writing as a means of expression and survival. His first significant work, *The Take*, was published in 1987, leading to the release of additional novels like *Bad Guys* and *The Booster*. However, his career experienced ups and downs, with periods of underperformance and the need to write under a pseudonym. Tragically, Izzi's life came to an end when he died by suicide in Chicago, leaving behind a manuscript that echoed his complex and troubled experiences. His story reflects the struggles of a talented individual navigating personal demons while striving for literary acclaim.
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Subject Terms
Eugene Izzi
Writer
- Born: c. 1953
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois
- Died: December 7, 1996
- Place of death: Chicago, Illinois
Biography
Eugene Izzi was born around 1953 in Chicago, Illinois. He had a difficult childhood, with a father who drank often and was put in prison several times. Izzi found his solace in books. He practically lived in his local library, where he gave two speeches about writing. Sadly, after returning from a term in the armed forces, Izzi followed in his father’s footsteps. He spent most of his money on alcohol and was arrested many times. It was not until Izzi found himself out of options, as well as a job, that he decided to write his own crime stories.
He managed to write six novels in less than six years, but could not get any of them published until 1987, when St. Martin’s Press published The Take. This encouraged Izzi to write more. He was able to publish two more books, Bad Guys and The Booster, soon after.
Izzi’s writing career hit a slump with Tribal Secrets. He was forced to use a pseudonym so that his publisher would publish his works. After a few years, he began to regain respect for several good novels. Izzi had been working on a manuscript that was supposed to secure his place among the great crime authors of the world when he hanged himself in Chicago. His final literary work, which was found in his pants pocket, apparently mirrored the situation under which he had died, although the manuscript claimed that the main character died from attempted murder, whereas the police ruled Izzi’s death a suicide.