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Gary Jennings

ゲイリー・ジェニングス

Geirī Jenningusu

Pen Names: Gabriel Quyth（Pen name used for some works (e.g. The Lively Lives of Crispin Mobey)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1928-09-20 （Buena Vista, Virginia, USA）
Died
1999-02-13 （Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, USA） age 70
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Buena Vista, Virginia, USA → Paterson, New Jersey, USA → Mexico (lived ~12 years) → Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, USA

Career

Occupations
Author, Writer
Active Years
1950-1999

Education

Eastside High School (Paterson, New Jersey)
Country: United States
Mostly self-educated after high school

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Aztec

1980 Historical fiction

A historical novel depicting the Aztec Empire just before and during the arrival of the Spaniards. Noted for detailed research and occasionally graphic content.

colonialismcultural clashreligion and ritual

Aztec Autumn

1997 Historical fiction

A sequel in the Aztec series, dealing with the aftermath of the Spanish conquest.

aftermath of conquestsurvival and assimilation

The Journeyer

1984 Historical fiction / fictionalized biography

An account of Marco Polo's travels to the Far East, combining travel narrative with imaginative reconstructions based on historical sources.

travelcultural exchangeadventure

Spangle

1987 Historical fiction / ensemble drama

A chronicle of circus entertainers' lives; the author joined several circus troupes during research for the novel.

circuslives of itinerant performerssociety and entertainment
Adaptations

Raptor

1992 Historical fiction with fantastical elements

Set in a post-Roman world, following the adventures of Thorn, a hermaphrodite protagonist.

identitycivilizational changeadventure

Bibliography

  • Aztec (1980)
  • Aztec Autumn (1997)
  • The Journeyer (1984)
  • Spangle (1987)
  • Raptor (1992)
  • The Terrible Teague Bunch (1975)
  • Sow the Seeds of Hemp (1976)
  • Black Magic, White Magic (1975)
  • Various young-adult and nonfiction works

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed, research-based historical descriptionOccasionally graphic and vivid depictionsNarrative-driven, descriptive prose
Recurring Motifs
journeys and adventurecultural collisionreligion and ritual

Health

  • heart failure
    1999年2月
    Died of heart failure in 1999

Legacy

Known for large-scale, well-researched historical novels. His bestseller 'Aztec' cemented his reputation in historical fiction.

Quotes

  • Gary Jennings Is Dead at 70; Author of the Best Seller 'Aztec'.
    Source: The New York Times (obituary) (1999)

Trivia

  • Lived about 12 years in Mexico researching the Aztec novels
  • Joined nine circus troupes while researching/writing Spangle
  • Published some works under the pen name Gabriel Quyth
  • Also authored numerous young-adult and nonfiction titles
  • Died of heart failure in 1999