Daniel Hansen

Joseph Hansen, born in 1923, was an American author and poet recognized for his crime fiction, particularly the series featuring private investigator Dave Brandstetter. Hansen's early life included a move from South Dakota to California, and he began writing at a young age, with his first poem published in The New Yorker in 1952. He held various jobs and was involved in early gay activism, including hosting a radio show and helping organize the first Hollywood Gay Pride Parade. Hansen wrote under pseudonyms before publishing his first novel under his own name in 1970, introducing the groundbreaking character of Dave Brandstetter, an openly gay investigator.

Hansen authored eleven more Brandstetter novels, earning accolades such as a Lambda Literary Award and the Private Eye Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award. He also created the Hack Bohannon series. Beyond crime fiction, Hansen penned mainstream novels and suspense and gothic novels under pseudonyms. He was married to artist Jane Bancroft for 51 years, describing their relationship as a union of love between a gay man and a woman. Hansen passed away in 2004, leaving a significant literary legacy.

Joseph Hansen's literary career spanned poetry and crime fiction, with his most significant impact stemming from the Dave Brandstetter series. Published from 1970 to 1991, these novels introduced Dave Brandstetter, an openly gay insurance investigator who embodied the archetypal hardboiled detective. Brandstetter's character was revolutionary, offering a complex and tough protagonist within gay fiction and the broader crime genre. Hansen also developed the Hack Bohannon character, a former deputy sheriff with a strong moral compass. Through these characters, Hansen explored themes of identity, justice, and societal norms within the framework of compelling mystery narratives. His work earned him prestigious awards, acknowledging his skill in crafting engaging plots and memorable characters.

Born in South Dakota in 1923, Joseph Hansen's family relocated several times during his childhood, eventually settling in California. His writing journey began at age nine, and by the 1950s and 60s, he was actively involved in various creative and social endeavors. Hansen's early work included poetry published in magazines like ONE, recognized as the first pro-gay publication in the United States. He also engaged in activism, hosting a radio program titled 'Homosexuality Today' and participating in the organization of the inaugural Gay Pride Parade in Hollywood. This period highlights Hansen's commitment to both his artistic pursuits and the burgeoning gay rights movement.

Joseph Hansen maintained a lifelong marriage to artist Jane Bancroft, describing their union as one of mutual love between a gay man and a woman, lasting for 51 years until her death in 1994. They had one child, Barbara, who later transitioned and became Daniel James Hansen. Hansen personally preferred the term 'homosexual' over 'gay' to describe himself. His personal life, including his long-term relationship with Bancroft and his views on identity, provided a backdrop to his literary explorations, though he focused on his professional achievements and the characters he created.

“a gay man and a woman who happened to love each other.”