Thunder Point

Jack Higgins

Jack Higgins is, like James Graham, Martin Fallon and Hugh Marlowe, a round and pseudonym for his real name: Harry Patterson. Jack Higgins is nowadays a multi-millionaire who lives on Jersey (one of the Channel Islands) with his wife.

Jack Higgins was born July 27th 1929 and raised in Belfast in a family with a political background and frequently experienced the worst aspect of the troubles during his youth. He later moved to Leeds, left school with no qualification at an early age and had a succession of jobs, including two years as an NCO in the Royal House of Guards serving on the East German border during the Cold War.

He was then accepted as an external student at London University while working as a circus tent-hand, a tram conductor and most things in between, and a degree in sociology took him into teaching before he became a full-time author. He was already a writer of adventure stories when he, in his forties, wrote "The eagle has landed" but this highly original war novel turned him into an international bestselling author. His novels have been translated into more than forty languages. He is also the Patron of the Jersey Film Society.

He now holds a honorary award at Leeds Metropolitan university and is a professor a Manchester University.

What genres does Jack Higgins write in?

Higgins is best known for fast-paced thrillers with strong elements of military action, espionage, wartime fiction and adventure.

Which book should I start with if I'm new to his work?

For a single, widely acclaimed novel start with The Eagle Has Landed. If you prefer a continuing storyline, begin with the first book in the Sean Dillon series and read that series in publication order.

What recurring series has he written?

He has written several recurring series, including the Sean Dillon series, the Liam Devlin series, the Simon Vaughn books, Paul Chavasse titles, the Nick Miller books, the Rich and Jade books, and the Dougal Munro and Jack Carter series.

How should I read his series and how many Sean Dillon books are there?

Read each series in publication order for best continuity. The Sean Dillon series comprises 18 books; other series vary in length.

Has Jack Higgins received notable recognition for his writing?

He became an international bestselling author with many novels translated into more than forty languages and has received academic honors and public recognition for his work.