Z. M. BOOKS

Robert Leslie Carroll Conly, who wrote under the pseudonym Robert C. O'Brien, was an American journalist and novelist. Born in Brooklyn in 1918 to a wealthy Irish Catholic family, he pursued studies at Williams College and the University of Rochester, earning a degree in English. His early career included work in advertising and journalism for publications like Newsweek, the Washington Times-Herald, and Pathfinder. He joined National Geographic in 1951, eventually becoming a senior assistant editor. Concurrently, he developed glaucoma in the 1960s, which led him to relocate and, during the saved commute time, begin writing fiction. His writing career under the pen name Robert C. O'Brien, adopted to comply with his National Geographic contract, yielded notable children's books such as 'The Silver Crown' and the highly acclaimed 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH', which received the Newbery Medal in 1972. He also penned adult novels like 'A Report from Group 17' and 'Z for Zachariah', the latter completed posthumously by his family and recognized with an Edgar Award. Conly passed away in 1973.

Born Robert Leslie Carroll Conly in Brooklyn, New York, in 1918, he hailed from a prosperous Irish Catholic family. Initially drawn to music and literature, he attended Williams College before experiencing a period of personal difficulty. He eventually completed his Bachelor of Arts in English at the University of Rochester in 1940. Following a brief period in advertising, Conly embarked on a journalism career, working for Newsweek and later covering national and city news for the Washington Times-Herald and the Pathfinder magazine. His significant tenure began in 1951 at National Geographic, where he served as an editor and writer, traveling extensively and rising to the position of senior assistant editor until his death.

The development of glaucoma in the 1960s significantly impacted Conly's life, necessitating a move closer to his Washington D.C. office. This change provided him with more time, which he dedicated to writing children's stories. He adopted the pen name Robert C. O'Brien, derived from his mother's maiden name, a necessity due to a contractual clause with National Geographic that prohibited him from publishing with other entities. Under this pseudonym, he achieved renown for his children's novels, including 'The Silver Crown' (1968) and the celebrated 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH' (1971). The latter earned him the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1972. His later works, 'A Report from Group 17' (1972) and 'Z for Zachariah' (1974), were intended for an adult audience and were published posthumously, with 'Z for Zachariah' receiving an Edgar Award.