Post by Taxigirl on Nov 27, 2004 7:04:37 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4043647.stm
British-born author Arthur Hailey, who wrote 11 best-sellers, has died at his home in the Bahamas.
Hailey, who was 84, died in his sleep on Wednesday at his New Providence island home, his wife Sheila said.
Doctors believe the author of thrillers including Hotel, Airport and The Moneychangers had a stroke. He had already had a stroke two months ago.
Luton-born Hailey wrote 11 books which were published in 40 countries, with 170 million copies in print.
In his novels he often depicted ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations.
"I don't think I really invented anybody. I have drawn on real life," he told the AP news agency in 2001.
Born April 5, 1920, Hailey had to stop school at 14 because his parents couldn't afford to send him beyond England's free education system.
Screenplays
He served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War Two.
He left England in 1947 for Canada, where he later received citizenship.
Hailey worked as a sales promotion manager for a tractor-trailer manufacturer in Toronto. But he eventually left to write television screenplays.
His first novel, The Final Diagnosis, was published in 1959 and was about a hospital pathologist who causes an infant's death by mistake.
Hailey and his wife settled in the Bahamas in 1969. In later years, he stopped writing for the mass market, although he continued writing as a hobby.
Mrs Hailey said: "Arthur was a very humble man but was delighted with the letters he used to get from readers praising his books.
"He was incredibly proud of them."
Mrs Hailey said her husband's memory began deteriorating after two heart surgeries in recent years and a stroke two months ago.
She said her husband's body would be cremated in a private ceremony in Nassau this weekend.
Hailey had four sons and two daughters from two marriages.
Mrs Hailey said she and the children will plan a party to celebrate his life in January, which was his wish.
British-born author Arthur Hailey, who wrote 11 best-sellers, has died at his home in the Bahamas.
Hailey, who was 84, died in his sleep on Wednesday at his New Providence island home, his wife Sheila said.
Doctors believe the author of thrillers including Hotel, Airport and The Moneychangers had a stroke. He had already had a stroke two months ago.
Luton-born Hailey wrote 11 books which were published in 40 countries, with 170 million copies in print.
In his novels he often depicted ordinary people thrown into extraordinary situations.
"I don't think I really invented anybody. I have drawn on real life," he told the AP news agency in 2001.
Born April 5, 1920, Hailey had to stop school at 14 because his parents couldn't afford to send him beyond England's free education system.
Screenplays
He served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War Two.
He left England in 1947 for Canada, where he later received citizenship.
Hailey worked as a sales promotion manager for a tractor-trailer manufacturer in Toronto. But he eventually left to write television screenplays.
His first novel, The Final Diagnosis, was published in 1959 and was about a hospital pathologist who causes an infant's death by mistake.
Hailey and his wife settled in the Bahamas in 1969. In later years, he stopped writing for the mass market, although he continued writing as a hobby.
Mrs Hailey said: "Arthur was a very humble man but was delighted with the letters he used to get from readers praising his books.
"He was incredibly proud of them."
Mrs Hailey said her husband's memory began deteriorating after two heart surgeries in recent years and a stroke two months ago.
She said her husband's body would be cremated in a private ceremony in Nassau this weekend.
Hailey had four sons and two daughters from two marriages.
Mrs Hailey said she and the children will plan a party to celebrate his life in January, which was his wish.