The creator of Inspector Rebus was born in 1960. In 1982, Ian Rankin first began writing short stories for magazines, with some critical success it seems. His first novel,The Flood, was published in 1986 by Polygon, an Edinburgh student press. It was never Rankin's intention for Rebus to become a series character, indeed not even a crime fiction character, hence it was three years and two books later before Rebus returned in Hide and Seek.
In 1991 Ian Rankin was awarded the prestigious Chandler-Fullbright prize in America. Despite a hectic writing schedule Ian Rankin still found time for a pseudonym, Jack Harvey, three novels were published by Headline between 1993 and 1995, Witch Hunt, Bleeding Hearts and Blood Hunt respectively. Once again these novels also had small print runs and are, consequently, uncommon.
1997 saw the publication of what is widely regarded as Ian Rankin's breakthrough novel: Black and Blue is a superbly crafted novel and was justly recognised as such by the Crime Writers Association who awarded it their coveted 'Gold Dagger'.
Ian Rankin's output continues to be prodigious and Rebus continues to date with ever inceasing popularity amongst both collectors and readers alike.
The author is the winner of the Noir in Festival's Raymond Chandler Award

Date:

8 December 2004

Venue:   Courmayeur

Circolo Napapijri

Information:

tel. 06 8603111
e-mail: noir@noirfest.com