John Harris
John Harris, born in Britain in 1916, was a versatile author known primarily under his pen name, Mark Hebden. He gained prominence for his Inspector Pel mystery series, which features a distinctive detective set in the picturesque landscape of Burgundy, France. Prior to his writing career, Harris had a diverse array of occupations, including sailor, airman, journalist, and history teacher, experiences that enriched his storytelling. His journey into writing began post-World War II, with notable success stemming from his novel "The Sea Shall Not Have Them" in 1953.
Harris adopted the pseudonym Mark Hebden in 1965, launching the lighthearted caper "What Changed Charley Farthing," which was later adapted into a film. Subsequently, he delved into more serious political thrillers and established the beloved character Inspector Pel, known for his sharp mind and quirky personality traits. Following Harris's death in 1991, his literary legacy continued with the posthumous publication of the seventeenth Pel novel, completed by Anthony Masters, and further contributions from his daughter, Juliet Harris, who continued the series under the name Juliet Hebden. The Inspector Pel novels remain cherished for their engaging plots and rich character development, appealing to mystery enthusiasts worldwide.
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John Harris
Writer
- Born: October 18, 1916
- Birthplace: Kimberworth, England
- Died: March 7, 1991
- Place of death: Redhill, England
Biography
Mark Hebden is the pseudonym of John Harris, born in Britain in 1916. Harris also published books under his own name and the pen name Max Hennessy, but it was as Mark Hebden that he became well-known, particularly for his Inspector Pel mystery series. The author had a variety of jobs during his lifetime: sailor, airman, journalist, travel courier, cartoonist, and history teacher. He worked as a merchant seaman before World War II, and during the war served with two air forces and two navies.
After the war, in the late 1940’s, Harris turned to writing. His first big success was his third novel, The Sea Shall Not Have Them, in 1953, which tells the story of a fight for survival after a plane is shot down over the ocean. In 1965, he began using the name Mark Hebden for his crime and mystery fiction. The first book was What Changed Charley Farthing, a lighthearted caper novel about an incompetent gunrunner. It was made into a feature film titled The Bananas Boat (1970).
After that, he turned to more serious works, most of which were political thrillers, including his novels and short stories about Colonel Mostyn of Intelligence. He then moved into a new type of mystery and began his long-running series of novels featuring Inspector (later Chief Inspector) Evariste Clovis Desire Pel of the French police. Pel is based in Burgundy, and the novels include the French provincial ambiance as well as a wide variety of crimes to be solved.
Pel is an excellent detective, always determined to identify and apprehend the criminal. He feels he cannot be left in peace if there are loose ends. He has several personal quirks, starting with hating his name. He is a chain-smoking hypochondriac. He is laconic and acerbic in his comments. He does not get along well with his housekeeper, not even when she becomes his wife. Although he forms workable teams with Inspector Darcy or Sergeant Nosjean and the police squad, he does not particularly get along with his colleagues. It could be said, however, that Pel gets along very well with his many readers.
After Hebden died in 1991, British novelist Anthony Masters completed his manuscript for the seventeenth novel in the series, Pel and the Sepulchre Job, and it was published in 1992. It was not to be the final book in the Pel series, however. After that, his daughter, Juliet Harris, writing as Juliet Hebden, continued the series with several more Pel novels, starting with Pel Picks Up the Pieces (1993).