John Vandercook

John Womack Vandercook (April 22, 1902 – January 6, 1963) was a British-born American writer of mystery and travel books as well as a radio commentator.

Personal life

Son of John Filkin Vandercook, who was the first president of the United Press Association and Margaret Vandercook, a well-known author of children's literature (most notably the Camp Fire Girls'' series). John W. Vandercook was born in London, where his father was working at the time, but grew up in Delaware County, New York. He graduated from St. Paul's School (New York) in Garden City, Long Island and attended Yale University. He died in Delhi, New York on January 6, 1963.

Professional life

In the 1920s, John W. Vandercook worked as a journalist with newspapers including the ''Columbus, Ohio Citizen,'' and the
''Baltimore Post''. He was later an assistant editor for Mcfadden Publications and feature editor for ''New York Graphic''.

Vandercook's radio career began in 1940, when he joined National Broadcasting Company. For NBC he covered World War II campaigns in North Africa and Italy. Three days after the D-Day invasion, Vandercook landed in France. He later worked for American Broadcasting Company radio for several years.

Vandercook's first book was published in 1926. He went to write a dozen more, many of them based on his world travels. Vandercook's 1933 novel ''Murder in Trinidad