William Wright

William Wright (1930-2016) was an American author, editor, and playwright whose career spanned a wide array of subjects. His non-fiction writing covered topics as varied as social events, genetics, behavior, true crime, and grand opera. He authored several books, including biographies and explorations of human behavior and history. Naturalist E. O. Wilson praised Wright's book 'Born that Way, Genes, Behavior, Personality' for its straightforward narrative on genetics and behavior.

Wright's career included editorial roles at Holiday and Chicago magazines, as well as a stint managing the Spoleto Festival in Italy. After his editorial positions ended, he dedicated himself to full-time writing, producing numerous non-fiction books until shortly before his death. He also wrote plays and worked on television specials. He was a graduate of Yale College and served in the U.S. Army as a translator in Asia.

Following his military service, William Wright embarked on a career in publishing, starting as an editor at Holiday magazine. During his time there, the magazine featured prominent writers like John Steinbeck and Lawrence Durrell. When Holiday ceased publication, Wright took on an unusual role as manager for composer Gian Carlo Menotti's Spoleto Festival in Italy, overseeing the production of ten events. Although his productions were successful, the festival faced financial difficulties, leading to his resignation. He then spent five years writing magazine articles before becoming the editor of Chicago magazine from 1969 to 1971. His tenure was cut short when the magazine was shut down due to its critical stance towards Mayor Richard Daley. After declining other editorial offers, Wright transitioned to full-time authorship, focusing primarily on non-fiction until a few years before his passing.

William Wright's body of work is characterized by its broad scope, touching upon subjects ranging from high society events like the April in Paris Ball to complex scientific fields such as genetics and behavior. He also delved into the genre of true crime with books like 'The Von Bulow Affair' and 'All the Pain Money Can Buy: The Life of Christina Onassis.' Wright made significant contributions to the understanding of opera through his collaborations with Luciano Pavarotti, authoring 'Pavarotti, My Own Story' and 'Pavarotti, My World.' His work 'Born that Way, Genes, Behavior, Personality' was recognized by E. O. Wilson for its clear presentation of genetic and behavioral topics. Wright also explored historical and social issues, evidenced by his book 'Harvard's Secret Court: The Savage 1920 Purge of Campus Homosexuals,' which examined a significant event in the university's history.

“It takes an independent writer and free spirit to tell the story straight, and thank God Wright has done it.”