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Scott Anderson (born 1959) is an American writer, a novelist, non-fiction author, and war correspondent. He has authored non-fiction books including Lawrence in Arabia, The Man Who tried to Save the World, and War Zones, as well as the novels Triage and Moonlight Hotel. He is a frequent contributor to the New York Times Magazine, GQ, Esquire, Men's Journal, Vanity Fair and other publications.

Early life and education

Anderson was born in Sebastopol, California and he has three sisters and his brother is the author Jon Lee Anderson, his sister Michelle is also a writer. He grew up in East Asia, primarily in Taiwan and Korea, where his father was an agricultural advisor for the American government. [1] When asked about his father's experience and how this relates to his own career, in a 2006 interview with New York magazine, Anderson said "I saw his frustrations with projects that were often just boondoggles mandated by the government." [2] Anderson went to high school in Northern Florida and he received an M.F.A in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. [3]

Career

Writing

Anderson pursued a writing career at the age of nineteen. He was working in a governmental job in Washington and thinking about the possibility of attending college when, he describes, one weekend having an idea to write a novel. The next week he quit his job, ended his engagement to his then fiancée, and set out to become a writer. [4] Anderson would do menial jobs like fruit-picking and bartending, to support himself financially until he gained success with his writing.

Books

Non-fiction

Anderson has co-authored two non-fiction books with his brother Jon Lee Anderson. Inside the League was published in 1986 by Dodd Mead. The book tells the story of how Nazi leaders, and other leaders of other international fascist organisations, switched allegiances to join the political World Anti-Communist League. Anderson and Anderson write that the organisation, founded in 1952, developed warfare methods including "assassinations, death squads, and sabotage throughout the world" which were, they argue, adopted from the Nazis. [5] Scott Anderson's second book, co-authored with Jon Lee Anderson, called War Zones was published in 1988 also by Dodd Mead. The authors provide anecdotal evidence, observations and protestations from those experiencing violent conflicts in El Salvador, Northern Ireland, Uganda, Sri Lanka, and Israel. [6]

Scott Anderson's first solo published book was The 4 O'clock Murders: The True Story of a Mormon Family's Vengeance in 1994 by Doubleday. In this book, Anderson tells the true story of four murders carried out in 1988 in Texas by a self-proclaimed Mormon prophet, Heber LeBaron of the Church of the Firstborn. [7] Anderson's next book concerned the disappearance of Fred Cuny, entitled The Man Who Tried to Save the World: The Dangerous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Fred Cuny, first published in 1999 by Doubleday. [8] Anderson's next book was Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East first published in 2013 by Doubleday. It tells the story of the Arab Revolt against the Turks in the First World War, and the role T.E. Lawrence played, a British archaeologist, who became head of the Arab enemy and battled the imperialist ambitions of his nation-state. [9] In 2017, Anderson published the book Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart giving an account of the Arab Spring, and Anderson argues, the origins of which can be traced back to America's invasion of Iraq in 2003. [10] Anderson's most recent non-fiction book is The Quiet Americans, first published in 2020 by Doubleday, and explores the roles of four American spies (Michael Burke, Frank Wisner, Peter Sichel and Edward Lansdale) during the Cold War. [11]

Fiction

Scott Anderson has published two fiction novels. The first is 1998 novel Triage telling the story of a war photographer Mark and the psychological effects of his work. [12] His second novel Moonlight Hotel, published in 2006, is about mid-level diplomat David Richards based in the Middle Eastern kingdom of Kutar in 1983. When civil war breaks out, Richards, along with fellow expatriates, holds up in Moonlight Hotel to survive the conflict. [13]

War correspondence

He initially wanted to be an author of fiction, and he his first pursuit into war reporting occurred in 1983. Anderson had been travelling around Europe and had heard about stringers and wished to find out more, he was suggested by someone in an Associated Press office in Greece, to travel to Beirut. [4] The Mountain War, as part of the ongoing Lebanese Civil War, had broken out in the Summer of 1983 just before Anderson left for Beirut to report on events.

Anderson's career as a published war correspondent began in 1994 with an article in the New York Times Magazine about violence as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. For the article, Anderson travelled regularly, throughout the years before publication, to Northern Ireland to gain a glimpse into "the Belfast underworld" and met members of the Provisional IRA, for instance. [14] Anderson would go on to write another article for The New York Times Magazine, and Harper's Magazine, in 1994 about the situation in Northern Ireland. [15] [16] During the 1990s, Anderson reported on Fred Cuny, an American humanitarian working in conflict and disaster zones who disappeared in 1995, as well as the Bosnian War, and situation in Albania as a result of war in Kosovo in 1999. [17] [18] [19] The 2007 movie The Hunting Party starring Richard Gere and Terrence Howard, is partially based on his work in Bosnia.[20]

In 2001, Anderson travelled to Turkey to report on the Turkish hunger strike in prisons which occurred within the backdrop of the Turkish economic crisis, for The New York Times Magazine. [21] During the 2000s, Anderson repeatedly reported on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. [22] [23] [24] [25] He also covered tensions in the Middle East, including War in Darfur and the disarmament of Libya. [26] [27] In 2011, Anderson published an article for Esquire, detailing his experience (alongside Sebastian Junger and John Faulk) in Bosnia when the CIA were hunting for Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian military officer and convicted war criminal. [28]

In a 2017 interview, Anderson describes becoming a parent as having affected his decision to limit active war reporting, saying he has a "moral responsibility" to stay safe for his child. [4]

Journalism

Anderson's investigative journalism has also covered other socio-economic, cultural and political issues, outside of war and conflict. This focal shift is most notable in Anderson's published articles from the late 2000s onwards. Anderson continued to cover international issues, for instance, in 2007 he wrote about the experience of those living on the Panamanian island of Coiba with high murder rates and gangs. [29] In 2008, Anderson discussed the issue of suicide and poor mental health in America [30], and a 2012 article featured his interview with Greg Ousley, who murdered his parents at the age of fourteen in 1993, and explored the debate around long prison sentences for juveniles. [31]

Anderson's journalism has covered the topics of national security, central intelligence (particularly the CIA's involvement in the Middle East), law enforcement and migrant crossings. [32] [33] [34] [35]

Broadcasting and media appearances

In a September 2009 issue of GQ, Anderson wrote an article supporting the theory of Putin's role in the Russian apartment bombings, based in part on his interviews with Mikhail Trepashkin.[36] The journal owner, Condé Nast, then took extreme measures to prevent an article by Anderson from appearing in the Russian media, both physically and in translation.[37] According to the NPR, Anderson was asked not to syndicate the article to any Russian publications, but told GQ he would refuse the request.

The 2009 drama film Triage starring Colin Farrell, Paz Vega and Sir Christopher Lee, is based on his novel. Lawrence in Arabia narrates the experiences of T. E. Lawrence in Arabia and explores the complexity of the Middle East. [38]

Other projects

Since 2000, Anderson co-owned bar-restaurant The Half King, in New York City, with wife Nanette Burstein and fellow journalist Sebastian Junger until it closed in January 2019. The Half King was known for hosting readings, screenings and photography exhibits to encourage people interested in writing, publishing and filmmaking. [39] [40]

Reception

Personal life

His brother is Jon Lee Anderson, an author and journalist, and they have co-authored two books. [41] Anderson is married to American film and television director Nanette Burstein. They currently live in Brooklyn, New York with their daughter.

Awards and recognition

Bibliography

Non-fiction

Select articles

Fiction

  • Triage (Scribner 1999 ISBN 9780684856537)
  • Moonlight Hotel (Doubleday 2006 ISBN 978-1400095636)

References

  1. ^ Scott Anderson, the coolest man in journalism, an interview by Sasha Sanchez.
  2. ^ Kachka, Boris (2006-05-18). "War Novelist: Scott Anderson". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  3. ^ "Scott Anderson - The New York Times". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  4. ^ a b c "Episode 1: Scott Anderson". Detours Podcast. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  5. ^ Anderson, Scott; Anderson, Jon Lee (1 June 1986). Inside the League: the shocking expose of how terrorists, Nazis, and Latin American death squads have infiltrated the world Anti-Communist League (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-396-08517-1.
  6. ^ Anderson, Jon Lee; Anderson, Scott (1 July 1988). War Zones (1 ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead & Co. ISBN 978-0-396-08915-5.
  7. ^ Anderson, Scott (1 December 1992). The 4 o'clock murders: the true story of a Mormon family's vengeance (1 ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-41904-8.
  8. ^ Anderson, Scott (1 May 1999). The man who tried to save the world: the dangerous life and mysterious disappearance of Fred Cuny (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-48665-1.
  9. ^ Anderson, Scott (2013). Lawrence in Arabia: war, deceit, imperial folly and the making of the modern Middle East (1st ed.). New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-53292-1.
  10. ^ Anderson, Scott (2017). Fractured lands: how the Arab world came apart. New York: Anchor Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. ISBN 978-0-525-43443-6.
  11. ^ Anderson, Scott (2020). The quiet Americans: four CIA spies at the dawn of the Cold War -- a tragedy in three acts (1st ed.). New York City: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-385-54046-9.
  12. ^ Anderson, Scott (1998). Triage. New York: Scribner. ISBN 978-0-684-84695-8.
  13. ^ Anderson, Scott (16 May 2006). Moonlight Hotel (1st ed.). Doubleday. ISBN 978-0385515566.
  14. ^ Anderson, Scott (1994-01-18). "Opinion | The Price of Peace in Ulster". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  15. ^ Anderson, Scott (February 1994). "Making a killing: the high cost of peace in Northern Ireland". Harper's Magazine. National Library of Ireland. pp. 45–54.
  16. ^ Anderson, Scott (1994-09-02). "Opinion | In Ulster, Just the End Of the Beginning". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  17. ^ Anderson, Scott (1996-02-25). "What Happened to Fred Cuny?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  18. ^ Anderson, Scott (1996-09-08). "Bosnia's Last Best Hope". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  19. ^ Anderson, Scott (1999-12-26). "The Curse Of Blood and Vengeance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  20. ^ "Scott Anderson". thehalfking.com. September 22, 2020.
  21. ^ Anderson, Scott (2001-10-21). "The Hunger Warriors". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  22. ^ Anderson, Scott (2002-04-14). "The Cleanup". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  23. ^ Anderson, Scott (2002-12-29). "THE LIVES THEY LIVED; The Target". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  24. ^ Anderson, Scott. "Gaza's Grand Delusion | Vanity Fair". Vanity Fair | The Complete Archive. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  25. ^ Anderson, Scott (2006-09-03). "Besieged". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  26. ^ Anderson, Scott (2003-01-17). "The Makeover". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  27. ^ Anderson, Scott (2004-10-17). "How Did Darfur Happen?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
  28. ^ Anderson, Scott (2011-05-26). "Inside the Hunt for Earth'sMost-Wanted War Criminal". Esquire. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  29. ^ Anderson, Scott (2007-01-29). "The Last Penal Colony". Esquire. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  30. ^ Anderson, Scott (2008-07-06). "The Urge to End It All". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  31. ^ Anderson, Scott (2012-07-19). "Greg Ousley Is Sorry for Killing His Parents. Is That Enough?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  32. ^ Anderson, Scott (2013-12-13). "Playing Both Sides". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  33. ^ Magazine, Smithsonian; Anderson, Scott. "The Disintegration of the Iraqi State Has Its Roots in World War I". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  34. ^ Anderson, Scott; Pellegrin, Paolo (2015-09-03). "Desperate Crossing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  35. ^ Anderson, Scott (2017-09-05). "Life in a Police State, Through the Searing Story of a Refugee's Disappearance". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
  36. ^ Who was behind the 1999 Moscow apartment bombings that accelerated Vladimir Putin's rise to power? by Scott Anderson, GQ Magazine, March 30, 2017
  37. ^ Why 'GQ' Doesn't Want Russians To Read Its Story, by David Folkenflik, NPR, September 4, 2009.
  38. ^ Anderson, Scott (August 8, 2013). "review of Lawrence in Arabia". The New York Times. NY Times.
  39. ^ "The Half King's Reign in Chelsea is Over". ny1.com. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  40. ^ Norman, Derek M. (2019-01-25). "The Half King Is Dead. Long Live the Half King". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
  41. ^ "Author Interview: Scott Anderson, Author Of 'Lawrence In Arabia'". NPR.org. August 19, 2013.
  42. ^ Kirsten Reach (January 14, 2014). "NBCC finalists announced". Melville House Publishing. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  43. ^ "Announcing the National Book Critics Awards Finalists for Publishing Year 2013". National Book Critics Circle. January 14, 2014. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2014.

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