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Erle Stanley Gardner: The Case of the Real Perry Mason
An intriguing biography of an author who knew worldwide popularity thanks to the success of his Perry Mason stories, which, of course, became one of the best-known detective series on TV in the USA and in Great Britain. Erle Stanley Gardner was an unusual man who wrote 131 works of fiction, including 82 full-length Perry Masons.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
350 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1978
About the author
Dorothy B. Hughes
67 books309 followersDorothy B. Hughes (1904–1993) was a mystery author and literary critic. Born in Kansas City, she studied at Columbia University, and won an award from the Yale Series of Younger Poets for her first book, the poetry collection Dark Certainty (1931). After writing several unsuccessful manuscripts, she published The So Blue Marble in 1940. A New York–based mystery, it won praise for its hardboiled prose, which was due, in part, to Hughes’s editor, who demanded she cut 25,000 words from the book.
Hughes published thirteen more novels, the best known of which are In a Lonely Place (1947) and Ride the Pink Horse (1946). Both were made into successful films. In the early fifties, Hughes largely stopped writing fiction, preferring to focus on criticism, for which she would go on to win an Edgar Award. In 1978, the Mystery Writers of America presented Hughes with the Grand Master Award for literary achievement.
Hughes published thirteen more novels, the best known of which are In a Lonely Place (1947) and Ride the Pink Horse (1946). Both were made into successful films. In the early fifties, Hughes largely stopped writing fiction, preferring to focus on criticism, for which she would go on to win an Edgar Award. In 1978, the Mystery Writers of America presented Hughes with the Grand Master Award for literary achievement.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 7, 2011
The author is a fan of the Perry Mason book and greatly admires Erle Stanley Gardner. Despite this she did not persuade me that I would also admire or particularly like Gardner. I am amazed that he just decided to become a writer, slowly taught himself, consciously discovering and following rules he felt would result in a good tale. He did this learning writing for 'the pulps' which were a very popular source of short fiction. At some point he decided he was ready to write a complete book, did it, got it published and with the encouragement of his publisher set out to create a series based on the character in that book, Perry Mason. He did not write the screen plays for the Perry Mason TV series but he worked closely with the authors and approved every script. The volume of work he turned out puts all modern writers to shame. This quote is from a letter to Gardner from Raymond Chandler but it could easily have been the other way around as it seems to me to encapsulate Gardner's point of view.
"The reading public is intellectually adolescent at best, and it is obvious that what is called 'signigicant literature' will be sold to this public by exactly the same methods as are used to sell it toothpaste, cathartics and automobiles. It is equally obvious that since this public has been taught to read by brute force, it will, in between its bouts with the latest 'significant' bestseller, want to read books that are fun and excitement. So like all half-educated publics in all ages it turns with relief to the man who tells a story and nothing else. To say that what this man writes is not literature is just like saying that a book can't be any good if it makes you want to read it."
I will have to read an actual Perry Mason book.
"The reading public is intellectually adolescent at best, and it is obvious that what is called 'signigicant literature' will be sold to this public by exactly the same methods as are used to sell it toothpaste, cathartics and automobiles. It is equally obvious that since this public has been taught to read by brute force, it will, in between its bouts with the latest 'significant' bestseller, want to read books that are fun and excitement. So like all half-educated publics in all ages it turns with relief to the man who tells a story and nothing else. To say that what this man writes is not literature is just like saying that a book can't be any good if it makes you want to read it."
I will have to read an actual Perry Mason book.
August 20, 2019
Not an in-depth biography but a fascinating look at the extraordinary life of a most unusual man. Gardner was hyperactive, restless, sociable but a loner, dedicated both to justice and to writing, and deeply caring. He wrote a million-plus words a year--unbelievable! The only disappointment for me was that Hughes gave very short shrift to the TV series, which is, after all, the reason Perry Mason is remembered to this day.
January 29, 2019
Erle Stanley Gardner was pretty amazing. But this book wasn't. I don't insist a biography should relay events in strictly chronological order, but if you're going to be cycling back and forth in time, you should probably do a better job of making clear when events are happening. There was also a little bit of games with witholding information. For example, in an otherwise pretty interesting chapter on Gardner's friendship with Raymond Chandler, there's a bit where Hughes is quoting an exchange between the two men in which Chandler is trash talking another writer. Hughes doesn't tell us who though. If I had to guess, I'd say it was Ross Macdonald because I know from other sources that Chandler did badmouth him. But I'm too lazy to go track it down and work out if the timing matches up. Hughes also seems to avoid looking closely at Gardner's more intimate relationships. There's tons about his friends, but very little about his family or the three sisters who served as his lifelong secretaries, one of whom, Jean, he married after his wife's death.
Still, there's a lot of interesting stuff here, and I enjoyed it.
Still, there's a lot of interesting stuff here, and I enjoyed it.
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April 1, 2015Awesome, and very lively - full of sarcasm story.
September 8, 2022
I grew up watching the very popular Perry Mason television series (1957-1966), and it played a significant role in my decision to become a lawyer. Later, while in law school, my Evidence professor recommended that we watch Perry Mason re-runs to practice our objections. He told us that Erle Stanley Gardner, the author and creator of Perry Mason, was actively involved in production of the television series, that he was an attorney himself, and that the courtroom scenes were accurate, at least insofar as procedure and objections (but not necessarily in the level of drama involved). Still later, as a practicing trial attorney, I referred to my best courtroom moments as "Perry Mason moments."
Despite the fact that I grew up with the product of his imagination, I have never really known much about Erle Stanley Gardner, so I decided to read a biography about him, and I was not disappointed. In this biography, Dorothy Hughes explores every aspect of Gardner's life, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Moreover, I came away from the book with not only an increased knowledge of Gardner's life, but a dramatically increased admiration of the man, who not only became the most read American author of all time, but also contributed to the enhancement of the criminal justice system through his Court of Last Resort and through his book about criminology, which apparently transformed police departments all over the country.
Although I had long known that Gardner's ranch was in Temecula, California, a short distance from the city in which I grew up, Riverside, but I did not know that his fatal cancer was treated at a hospital in Riverside and that his funeral service was held in Riverside! I also did not know that in his exploration of Baja California, Gardner found ancient Native American cave paintings, reported them to the Mexican authorities, and was praised by a prominent Mexican archaeologist for that discovery.
I recommend this biography to anyone who is an admirer of Erle Stanley Gardner or a fan of his fictional Perry Mason.
Despite the fact that I grew up with the product of his imagination, I have never really known much about Erle Stanley Gardner, so I decided to read a biography about him, and I was not disappointed. In this biography, Dorothy Hughes explores every aspect of Gardner's life, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Moreover, I came away from the book with not only an increased knowledge of Gardner's life, but a dramatically increased admiration of the man, who not only became the most read American author of all time, but also contributed to the enhancement of the criminal justice system through his Court of Last Resort and through his book about criminology, which apparently transformed police departments all over the country.
Although I had long known that Gardner's ranch was in Temecula, California, a short distance from the city in which I grew up, Riverside, but I did not know that his fatal cancer was treated at a hospital in Riverside and that his funeral service was held in Riverside! I also did not know that in his exploration of Baja California, Gardner found ancient Native American cave paintings, reported them to the Mexican authorities, and was praised by a prominent Mexican archaeologist for that discovery.
I recommend this biography to anyone who is an admirer of Erle Stanley Gardner or a fan of his fictional Perry Mason.
January 24, 2022
I've seen all the Perry Mason television episodes several times, they're as formulaic as writing gets, BUT the episodes based on ESG books always have a little something -- you don't even know what it is -- that the original episodes written for tv by a stable of writers lack. That is genius. (And that stable was relatively small -- few writers were up to it.)
A detail that says a lot: ESG was never much of a drinker, two drinks per evening outing. One night he was challenged to a drinking contest, which he handily won. But from then on it was only one drink per evening outing.
The man's output was truly astounding, makes Joyce Carol Oates look like Margaret Mitchell.
One reviewer makes the valid point that Hughes gives short shrift to the television series. A lot more time could have been spent on that -- the guest stars, the filming, that stable of writers -- Paul Drake, for god's sake.
A detail that says a lot: ESG was never much of a drinker, two drinks per evening outing. One night he was challenged to a drinking contest, which he handily won. But from then on it was only one drink per evening outing.
The man's output was truly astounding, makes Joyce Carol Oates look like Margaret Mitchell.
One reviewer makes the valid point that Hughes gives short shrift to the television series. A lot more time could have been spent on that -- the guest stars, the filming, that stable of writers -- Paul Drake, for god's sake.
February 2, 2018
Suffice to say I will not write a review of every ESG novel I have read. My Mother introduced me to Perry Mason when I read through the clearly mystery writers novels that she had kept through the years. She hatred ESG in the top 10 mystery writers of all time. I was just an insane avid reader. I read whatever I could get my hands on. DEH
August 19, 2020
I thought this was an interesting read. I agree there was not much on his wife or the television series. You had to read between the lines, but that most likely was in respect to the family and the show. I really enjoyed seeing the adventure of his life. If you are a fan of this complicated author, you will enjoy.
September 9, 2018
This book was a study of the career of Erle Stanley Gardner. I would have liked more biography for comparison, but it was interesting to see the evolution of the character of Perry Mason and Gardner as a writer.
March 7, 2019
A very interesting biography of the lawyer who wrote crime fiction. It's curious how often art imitates life!
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August 14, 2021Want to read now
August 30, 2016
This is, as at least one other reviewer noted, a dated biography of Erle Stanley Gardner, author of the Perry Mason mysteries among multiple other writings. Ms. Hughes has a utilitarian if not particularly engaging writing style, supplying lots of information about Gardner without seeming to have any real point of view other than he was an interesting person.
The accumulated facts do indeed present a fascinating individual, but I found myself wishing for more depth and detail to be spent on some parts of his life rather than on yet another list of people Gardner knew and became lifelong friends with. Ms. Hughes barely mentions Gardner's actual family (as opposed to his acquired friends-faux-family), notes his separation from his wife which extended some thirty years mainly in terms of the financial arrangements Gardner made for her, gives not the slightest indication that his secretary Jean who accompanied him everywhere for decades was ever more than just another of his constant troupe of camp followers (which frequently included her sisters) and simply matter-of-factly states that shortly after Gardner's wife dies he marries Jean. So much time was spent discussing all Gardner's male friends and the close bonds he developed with them while never mentioning any hint of romance during the decades long separation from his wife that I half wondered if his "confirmed bachelor" behavior included the frequently implied sexual orientation the phrase often connotes. While he seems to have been a man of action, he was also an introspective and self-analytical one, and I missed any sense of how he related to women in general or particular, especially all the ones who referred to him as Uncle Erle.
The letters to and from Gardner are quite revealing of his many aspects of his personality, and the details of some of the financial transactions related to his writing I found amazing. He was making the equivalent of millions in the 1940s while always worrying about making more and more money since he was supporting so many camps and so many camp followers.
Gardner's papers remain available for researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, but most of the primary sources have probably passed away by now. We may never have a more informative biography than this. It is serviceable, and presents lots to intrigue a reader of Gardner.
The accumulated facts do indeed present a fascinating individual, but I found myself wishing for more depth and detail to be spent on some parts of his life rather than on yet another list of people Gardner knew and became lifelong friends with. Ms. Hughes barely mentions Gardner's actual family (as opposed to his acquired friends-faux-family), notes his separation from his wife which extended some thirty years mainly in terms of the financial arrangements Gardner made for her, gives not the slightest indication that his secretary Jean who accompanied him everywhere for decades was ever more than just another of his constant troupe of camp followers (which frequently included her sisters) and simply matter-of-factly states that shortly after Gardner's wife dies he marries Jean. So much time was spent discussing all Gardner's male friends and the close bonds he developed with them while never mentioning any hint of romance during the decades long separation from his wife that I half wondered if his "confirmed bachelor" behavior included the frequently implied sexual orientation the phrase often connotes. While he seems to have been a man of action, he was also an introspective and self-analytical one, and I missed any sense of how he related to women in general or particular, especially all the ones who referred to him as Uncle Erle.
The letters to and from Gardner are quite revealing of his many aspects of his personality, and the details of some of the financial transactions related to his writing I found amazing. He was making the equivalent of millions in the 1940s while always worrying about making more and more money since he was supporting so many camps and so many camp followers.
Gardner's papers remain available for researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, but most of the primary sources have probably passed away by now. We may never have a more informative biography than this. It is serviceable, and presents lots to intrigue a reader of Gardner.
August 23, 2016
A dated (1978) biography of Erle Stanley Gardner, and I find it difficult to believe anyone beyond this point would tackle the subject again. You would think such an immensely popular mystery writer who's career spanned decades would still have his books easily accessible, but as I've been reading "all" of the Perry Masons since last year, I can tell you, at least from the earliest work of 1933 until about 1955, I always have to have a special interlibrary loan search and order done to even read these books. I have yet to find one in a local library, but then again, you might not even find Charles Dickens there these days.
Gardner, from a fairly young age, set up his life the way he wanted it to be. He surrounded his personal life with friends and multiple workers-secretaries who became permanent fixtures. His left his wife (never divorced her) and they lived apart until her death. Shortly after that even, he remarried one of his longstanding secretaries, but Gardner himself said he was a bachelor at heart. He preferred his adventures and wanderings in solitude (although after reading this book he always seemed to be hauling a caravan behind him.) In a way it seems a selfish egocentric life, and it was. Later, he wrote to his grown daughter stating he had been a rotten father in terms of neglecting her with his time and interest. So I have mixed feelings about the man. Hard working? Yes. Generous with what he bought his friends? Yes. Should they have been taking houses from him? No. He slithers away like a desert snake under a rock, and it's hard to say what he was really like as a man.
Gardner, from a fairly young age, set up his life the way he wanted it to be. He surrounded his personal life with friends and multiple workers-secretaries who became permanent fixtures. His left his wife (never divorced her) and they lived apart until her death. Shortly after that even, he remarried one of his longstanding secretaries, but Gardner himself said he was a bachelor at heart. He preferred his adventures and wanderings in solitude (although after reading this book he always seemed to be hauling a caravan behind him.) In a way it seems a selfish egocentric life, and it was. Later, he wrote to his grown daughter stating he had been a rotten father in terms of neglecting her with his time and interest. So I have mixed feelings about the man. Hard working? Yes. Generous with what he bought his friends? Yes. Should they have been taking houses from him? No. He slithers away like a desert snake under a rock, and it's hard to say what he was really like as a man.
April 25, 2016
Not the best-written book I've ever read, but it was interesting to learn about Erle Stanley Gardner.
When I was a kid, my family watched every episode of Perry Mason on tv. Lately I've been watching reruns and enjoying them a lot. When a friend mentioned this book, I thought it was time to find out something about the creator of the stories.
What a fascinating man he was! He was a free spirit who became a very successful lawyer and then turned to writing. He worked very hard at his craft. VERY hard--at times he wrote 3 novelettes in a week. I think I'm accomplishing something when I READ that much! In addition to his writing, he spent a lot of time camping, and traveling to Baja. He was also involved with The Court of Last Resort, reviewing cases of innocent people who'd been convicted of crimes. He was a champion of the underdog. He also had a special gift for friendship, with a huge circle of devoted friends from all walks of life.
I'll have to try some of his books and see how the written Perry Mason compares to the Raymond Burr version.
When I was a kid, my family watched every episode of Perry Mason on tv. Lately I've been watching reruns and enjoying them a lot. When a friend mentioned this book, I thought it was time to find out something about the creator of the stories.
What a fascinating man he was! He was a free spirit who became a very successful lawyer and then turned to writing. He worked very hard at his craft. VERY hard--at times he wrote 3 novelettes in a week. I think I'm accomplishing something when I READ that much! In addition to his writing, he spent a lot of time camping, and traveling to Baja. He was also involved with The Court of Last Resort, reviewing cases of innocent people who'd been convicted of crimes. He was a champion of the underdog. He also had a special gift for friendship, with a huge circle of devoted friends from all walks of life.
I'll have to try some of his books and see how the written Perry Mason compares to the Raymond Burr version.
October 2, 2016
I found this in the local library and decided to read it as I am a big fan of Gardner from the Perry Mason and Cool/Lam books as well as the iconic TV series. The book was written in 1978 and is somewhat dated but is worth reading. Gardner's productivity and quality are unsurpassed - he wrote every single word in all of his books.
This biography could have a better focus. It spends a lot of time introducing dozens of friends that spent time with Gardner, but gives the TV show a very cursory overview. Ryamond Burr gets a lot less space in the book than the ranch that Gardner bought. The book does highlight the work that Gardner and others did in reviewing criminal cases and helping innocent people get released from jail.
To summarize, it's worth reading, but drags in a few spots.
This biography could have a better focus. It spends a lot of time introducing dozens of friends that spent time with Gardner, but gives the TV show a very cursory overview. Ryamond Burr gets a lot less space in the book than the ranch that Gardner bought. The book does highlight the work that Gardner and others did in reviewing criminal cases and helping innocent people get released from jail.
To summarize, it's worth reading, but drags in a few spots.
October 16, 2015
For those who love Perry Mason, and who now worship his creator, Erle Stanley Gardner, this book is abolute GOLD. Including photos, the author keeps the pace moving throughout, She relates the good and difficult of Gardner - the honest truth, I think. I have read several books on Gardner's life and writings (much more than just P.M.) and learn something new with each one.
I checked the book out of the library. And I keep hoping that the libraries will not 'withdraw' or 'discard' excellent books such as this one to make room for alleged best sellers of today's ilk!
I checked the book out of the library. And I keep hoping that the libraries will not 'withdraw' or 'discard' excellent books such as this one to make room for alleged best sellers of today's ilk!
June 16, 2018
I LOVE the Perry Mason novels and the TV series! I read this book a few years ago, but I wanted to reread it because I recently purchased the complete DVD collection of the Perry Mason TV series, and I wanted to refresh my recollection about the creator of Perry Mason. Although there are some good anecdotes in this book, it is choppy and unorganized and lacks a thesis and a compelling narrative. Gardner was a very influential and successful writer. He deserves a better biography!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews