Peter's Fans (7)

Peter Haining

Author profile

born

in Enfield, Middlesex, The United Kingdom

April 02, 1940

died

November 19, 2007

gender

male

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Peter Alexander Haining (April 2, 1940 – November 19, 2007) was a British journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk. Born in Enfield, Middlesex, he began his career as a reporter in Essex and then moved to London where he worked on a trade magazine before joining the publishing house of New English Library.

Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wr...more Peter Alexander Haining (April 2, 1940 – November 19, 2007) was a British journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk. Born in Enfield, Middlesex, he began his career as a reporter in Essex and then moved to London where he worked on a trade magazine before joining the publishing house of New English Library.

Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.

In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).

He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.(less)

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Average rating: 3.75 · 4,534 ratings · 331 reviews · 258 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Flying Sorcerers by Peter Haining (Editor), Roald Dahl, Terry Pratchett 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 1,153 ratings — published 1997 — 7 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wizards of Odd 3.62 of 5 stars 3.62 avg rating — 717 ratings — published 1997 — 7 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mammoth Book of Haunted House Stories by Peter Haining (Editor), Elizabeth Albright, Thorp McClusky 3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 245 ratings — published 2005 — 4 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sweeney Todd: The Real Story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street 3.32 of 5 stars 3.32 avg rating — 118 ratings — published 2008 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Doctor Who, A Celebration: Two Decades Through Time And Space 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 87 ratings — published 1983 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mammoth Book of Modern Ghost Stories by Peter Haining (Editor), M.R. James (Contributor), Vladimir Nabokov (Contributor) 3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 avg rating — 95 ratings — published 2007 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Great Irish Tales of Horror: A Treasury of Fear 3.26 of 5 stars 3.26 avg rating — 90 ratings — published 1995 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cannibal Killers: The Real Life Flesh Eaters and Blood Drinkers 3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 avg rating — 72 ratings — published 1972 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Knights Of Madness 3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 avg rating — 96 ratings — published 1998 — 6 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Irish Tales of Terror by Peter Haining (Editor), Ray Bradbury (contributor, Forward), Jane Wilde (contributor) 3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 avg rating — 57 ratings — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Peter's Fans (7)

Peter Haining

Author profile

combine editionsPeter Haining's Books

Topics Mentioning This Author

combine editions
Peter Haining's Books