W.J.'s Fans (2)

W.J. Burley

Author profile

born

August 01, 1914 in Falmouth, The United Kingdom

died

November 15, 2002

gender

male

website

http://www.wjburley.com/index.php

genre

Mystery & Thrillers

About this author

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Burley was born in Falmouth, Cornwall. Before he began writing, he was employed in senior management with various gas companies, before giving it up after the Second World War when he obtained a scholarship to study zoology at Balliol College, Oxford. After obtaining an honours degree he became a teacher. Appointed head of biology, first at Richmond & East Sheen County Grammar School in 1953, then at Newquay Grammar School in 1955, he was well established as a writer by the time he retired at the age of 60 in 1974. He died at his home in Holywell, Cornwall, on 15 August 2002.

John Burley had his first novel published when he was in his early fifties. His second published novel, two years later, saw the appearance of Superintendent Charle...more Burley was born in Falmouth, Cornwall. Before he began writing, he was employed in senior management with various gas companies, before giving it up after the Second World War when he obtained a scholarship to study zoology at Balliol College, Oxford. After obtaining an honours degree he became a teacher. Appointed head of biology, first at Richmond & East Sheen County Grammar School in 1953, then at Newquay Grammar School in 1955, he was well established as a writer by the time he retired at the age of 60 in 1974. He died at his home in Holywell, Cornwall, on 15 August 2002.

John Burley had his first novel published when he was in his early fifties. His second published novel, two years later, saw the appearance of Superintendent Charles Wycliffe.

Over the next 25 years Burley produced another seventeen Wycliffe books and five other books.

Then, late in 1993, one of Burley's Wycliffe stories appeared on television in a pilot starring Jack Shepherd.

The pilot was followed by 37 episodes broadcast over a five year period.

By 1995 the author was, for the first time in his life, financially comfortable. He was over eighty.

But the success of the television series meant that John Burley found himself overshadowed by his creations. To the public, the name Wycliffe brought to mind the unsmiling face of Jack Shepherd, the actor. Even in the bookshops it was Shepherd's face that dominated the covers of Burley's paperbacks.

John Burley, however, continued to write and produced a further four Wycliffe titles. He was working on his 23rd Wycliffe novel, Wycliffe's Last Lap, when he died in 2002.

Recently a wish to restore the balance has emerged from amongst his readers. There is a feeling that we are neglecting a writer of quality, one who deserves to stand beside Simenon, the creator of Inspector Maigret.
Reading through John Burley's books in publication sequence, one notices how the author's voice gets stronger and his views more certain. And how his writing skills grow until, in the later books, a few words are all that it takes to pin down an image. These are the signs of a writer confident in his craft.(less)

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Books by W.J. Burley

Average rating: 3.26 · 456 ratings · 69 reviews · 34 distinct works

	Wycliffe and Death in a Salubrious Place 3.34 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 1973 — 6 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death 3.40 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 1990 — 8 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Quiet Virgin 3.20 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 1986 — 7 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Scapegoat 3.27 avg rating — 30 ratings — 9 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe in Paul's Court 3.08 avg rating — 25 ratings — 7 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Winsor Blue 3.32 avg rating — 22 ratings — 7 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Four Jacks 3.39 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 1985 — 8 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Guilt Edged Alibi 3.20 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 1971 — 7 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Beales 2.96 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 1983 — 7 editions	My rating:
	Wycliffe and the Three-Toed Pussy 3.35 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 1968 — 6 editions	My rating:

More books by W.J. Burley…

Series by W.J. Burley

Wycliffe (22 books)
by W.J. Burley

3.26 avg rating — 450 ratings

Henry Pym (2 books)
by W.J. Burley

3.29 avg rating — 7 ratings

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