Anthony Martin

Anthony Horowitz is an accomplished English novelist and screenwriter, born in 1955, who has built a prolific career writing in the mystery and suspense genres. He is widely recognized for his contributions to young adult literature, most notably the highly successful Alex Rider series, which features a teenage spy. His extensive bibliography also includes other popular series for younger readers, such as The Power of Five and The Diamond Brothers.

Beyond his young adult works, Horowitz has also penned a number of acclaimed novels for adult audiences. These include authorized Sherlock Holmes novels, as well as a series featuring his original detectives, Atticus Pünd and Susan Ryeland. Furthermore, he has been entrusted by the estate of Ian Fleming to write new James Bond novels, continuing the legacy of the iconic spy. Horowitz's versatility extends to television, where he has written and created numerous series, demonstrating a consistent talent for crafting engaging narratives across different mediums.

Born in 1955, Anthony Horowitz's early life was marked by an upper-middle-class upbringing. He discovered a passion for writing at a young age, around eight or nine, and by thirteen, he was attending Rugby School. His academic path led him to the University of York, where he earned a degree in English literature and art history. A significant influence in his childhood was his mother, who introduced him to classic horror literature like Frankenstein and Dracula and even gifted him a human skull for his thirteenth birthday, a memento he later associated with the drive to complete his stories. His father's involvement in politics led to financial difficulties, including bankruptcy, which significantly impacted the family during Horowitz's youth.

Horowitz's literary career began in 1979 with a children's adventure novel. He went on to create the Pentagram series and later achieved significant success with The Diamond Brothers series, starting in 1986. The 1990s saw him publish several standalone novels for young readers, including "Granny" and "The Switch." His most impactful contribution to children's literature is the Alex Rider series, launched in 2000. This series, centered on a teenage MI6 agent, has achieved international acclaim and spawned numerous installments, solidifying Horowitz's reputation as a master of young adult suspense. He also continued to explore darker themes with collections like "Horowitz Horror" and its sequels.

In addition to his successful young adult novels, Horowitz has actively written for an adult readership. This includes the creation of his own detective characters, Atticus Pünd and Susan Ryeland, featured in novels like "Magpie Murders." He has also been commissioned to write official Sherlock Holmes novels, such as "The House of Silk," and has penned new James Bond novels based on unpublished material by Ian Fleming. Horowitz's talent is not confined to novels; he has also had a significant career in television, writing scripts for adaptations like "Agatha Christie's Poirot" and "Midsomer Murders," and creating original series such as "Foyle's War" and "Collision."

“I was quite certain, from my earliest memory, that I would be a professional writer and nothing but.”

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