Anna Katharine Green

Biography

Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1846, Anna Katharine Green would eventually be celebrated as 'the mother of the American detective novel.' Having graduated from Ripley Female College in Vermont at the age of 20, Green initially aspired to a career in poetry, an ambition perhaps kindled by her meeting with the eminent Ralph Waldo Emerson. Yet, her literary destiny took an unexpected turn. Her 1878 debut was not verse, but the groundbreaking detective thriller, 'The Leavenworth Case.' Hailed for its clever, meticulously constructed plot and a palpable authenticity rooted in criminal law – a detail undoubtedly informed by her father's profession as a lawyer – the book became an instant phenomenon, selling over 150,000 copies. This resounding success launched a prolific career, yielding numerous acclaimed detective thrillers, many of which featured her iconic character, detective Ebenezer Gryce. Although she later pursued her poetic leanings, publishing two volumes, they met with limited success. Consequently, Green chose to fully commit her extraordinary talents to the genre she had so brilliantly helped define. She passed away in Buffalo, NY, in 1935.