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Erle Stanley Gardner

アール・スタンリー・ガードナー

Aru Sutanrī Gādona

Pen Names: A. A. Fair（Pen name used mainly for the Cool and Lam series）, Della Street（Used once as the name of a character for publication ('The Case of the Suspect Sweethearts')）, Carl Franklin Ruth（Used for various pulp and short fiction）, Other pen names (e.g. Carleton Kendrake, Charles M. Green, Robert Parr, etc.)（Used many pseudonyms to publish prolifically）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1889-07-17 （Malden, Massachusetts）
Died
1970-03-11 （Temecula, California） age 80
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Malden, Massachusetts (birth) → Palo Alto, California (education) → Ventura, California (law practice, early writing) → Temecula, California (later life) → Baja California peninsula (extensive travel)

Career

Occupations
Lawyer, Author, Travel writer
Active Years
1911-1970
Affiliations
Court of Last Resort (founder)
Memberships
Mystery Writers of America
Influenced By
Earl Rogers
Influenced
Writers of courtroom dramas and legal thrillers, Organizations and movements for wrongful-conviction review (indirect influence)

Education

Palo Alto High School
Period: 〜1909
Year of Graduation: 1909
Country: United States
After high school he studied law independently and passed the California bar exam
Valparaiso University School of Law (brief attendance)
Period: 約1か月
Country: United States (Indiana)
Suspended after about one month due to distractions including boxing; did not complete degree

Awards

Grand Master Award
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: 受賞
Edgar Award (Best Fact Crime)
Work: The Court of Last Resort
Category: Best Fact Crime
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Case of the Velvet Claws

1933 Detective fiction / Legal thriller

An early Perry Mason novel focusing on courtroom strategy and mystery-solving.

CourtroomJusticePuzzle/mystery
Adaptations
  • [Television] Perry Mason (TV series) (1957)

The Court of Last Resort

1952 Nonfiction / True crime

An account of investigations into possible wrongful convictions carried out by Gardner's Court of Last Resort.

Wrongful convictionForensic scienceJustice
Adaptations
  • [Television] The Court of Last Resort (TV series) (1957)

Cool and Lam series

1939 Detective fiction

A series featuring a private detective duo, known for its witty tone and plot-driven stories.

Private investigationDetective duoHumor

Bibliography

  • Perry Mason series (many novels, 1933–)
  • Cool and Lam series (as A. A. Fair)
  • Doug Selby series
  • Travel and nonfiction works (notably on Baja California)
  • Numerous short stories and pulp fiction

Adaptations

  • Perry Mason (TV series, 1957–, starring Raymond Burr)
  • 1930s Perry Mason feature films (several)
  • The Court of Last Resort (TV series adaptation)
  • Perry Mason radio program (1943–1955)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Plot-driven, pragmatic proseRealistic, courtroom-focused style emphasizing procedural detail
Recurring Motifs
Courtroom reversalsPursuit of justice and wrongful-conviction themesTravels in Baja California

Health

  • Cancer
    1960年代後半〜1970年（診断は1960年代後半）
    Limited activities in late life and was the cause of death

Legacy

One of the best-selling American authors of the 20th century. He established a model for courtroom dramas with the Perry Mason series and led wrongful-conviction review efforts via the Court of Last Resort. His manuscripts and personal effects are held at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Museums

  • Harry Ransom Center (holds Erle Stanley Gardner materials) Austin, Texas, United States Opened in 1972

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of America

Archives

  • Harry Ransom Center (Austin)

In Popular Culture

  • Best known to mass audiences through the long-running Perry Mason TV series (starring Raymond Burr)
  • Name is noted among crossword enthusiasts for its unusual and useful letter pattern

Quotes

  • "That's Perry Mason."
    Source: Gardner's remark when watching Raymond Burr's screen test (regarding the TV adaptation) (1957)

Trivia

  • Was one of the best-selling American authors at the time of his death.
  • His first name is popular in crosswords due to its letter pattern.