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Lawrence Block

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Lawrence Block

Aliases: Lesley Evans / Jill Emerson / Chip Harrison / Paul Kavanagh / Lee Duncan / Sheldon Lord
Pen Names: Chip Harrison（Used for some early novels and short stories, notably youthful/coming‑of‑age works）, Paul Kavanagh（Used on some early soft‑porn mass market paperbacks）, Lesley Evans（Feminine pen name used for an early lesbian fiction novel）, Jill Emerson（Used later for reissuing an early novel under a female pen name）, Lee Duncan（Alternate pseudonym used on some early paperbacks）, Sheldon Lord（One of several pseudonyms used in early commercial work）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1938-06-24 （Buffalo, New York, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Buffalo (birth and upbringing) → New York City (longtime residence)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Novelist, Short story writer
Active Years
1958-2025
Influenced By
Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Donald E. Westlake

Education

Antioch College
Period: 1950年代
Country: United States
Attended but left before graduating

Awards

Grand Master Award
1994
Organization: Mystery Writers of America
Result: Won
Cartier Diamond Dagger
2004
Organization: Crime Writers' Association
Result: Won
Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award
2005
Organization: Gumshoe Awards
Result: Won
Shamus Award (Best P.I. Hardcover Novel)
1983
Work: Eight Million Ways to Die
Category: P. I. Hardcover Novel
Organization: Private Eye Writers of America (PWA)
Result: Won
Edgar Award (Best Novel)
1992
Work: A Dance at the Slaughterhouse
Category: Novel
Organization: Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards)
Result: Won
Edgar Award (Best Short Story)
1985
Work: "By Dawn's Early Light"
Category: Short Story
Organization: Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards)
Result: Won
Edgar Award (Best Short Story)
1994
Work: "Keller's Therapy"
Category: Short Story
Organization: Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards)
Result: Won
Edgar Award (Best Short Story)
1998
Work: "Keller on the Spot"
Category: Short Story
Organization: Mystery Writers of America (Edgar Awards)
Result: Won
Nero Award
1979
Work: The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling
Organization: Nero Award committee
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Sins of the Fathers

1976 Hardboiled / P.I. fiction

Introduces Matthew Scudder, an alcoholic ex-cop turned unlicensed private investigator; the book launched Block's long‑running Scudder series.

crimelonelinessredemptionalcoholism
Adaptations
  • [Film]

Eight Million Ways to Die

1982 Crime fiction

A Matthew Scudder novel later adapted into the 1986 film directed by Hal Ashby.

alcoholismrevengeurban crime
Adaptations
  • [Film] Eight Million Ways to Die / Hal Ashby (1986)

When the Sacred Ginmill Closes

1986 Mystery / Hardboiled

A literary entry in the Scudder series focusing on his drinking and recovery; often cited as a favorite by readers and the author.

introspectionredemptionNew York City

A Walk Among the Tombstones

1992 Crime fiction

A Matthew Scudder novel adapted into the 2014 film written and directed by Scott Frank, starring Liam Neeson.

private investigatorrevengemoral ambiguity
Adaptations
  • [Film] A Walk Among the Tombstones / Scott Frank (2014)

Bibliography

  • Grifter's Game
  • No Score
  • Chip Harrison Scores Again
  • Enough Rope
  • Hit and Run
  • Small Town

Adaptations

  • A Walk Among the Tombstones (film adaptation)
  • Burglar (film, 1987)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
hardboiled realismconcise, readable prosewitty dialogue
Recurring Motifs
alcohol and recoveryNew York City settingslonely male protagonistsmoral ambiguity

Legacy

Lawrence Block is a leading figure in contemporary American crime fiction, acclaimed for his long‑running series and short stories. He has won numerous awards, seen several film adaptations, and his creations such as Matthew Scudder and Bernie Rhodenbarr have had significant influence on the genre.

Academic Societies

  • Mystery Writers of America
  • Crime Writers' Association

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptation of A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
  • Stories and characters referenced in film and television adaptations or discussions

Quotes

  • When I created Scudder, I let him hang out in the same saloon where I spent a great deal of my own time. I was drinking pretty heavily around that time, and I made him a pretty heavy drinker, too.
    Source: Writer's Digest (column) (1981)

Trivia

  • Has published over 100 books across more than 50 years
  • Early career included writing many soft‑core mass‑market paperbacks, which helped develop prolific output
  • Avid traveler — has said he visited 135 countries
  • One of the few writers to win the Edgar Award for Best Short Story four times