John Douglass Wallop III (March 8, 1920 – April 1, 1985) was an American

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others asp ...

and playwright.

Early life

On March 8, 1920, Wallop was born as John Douglass Wallop III in Washington, D.C. to Marjorie Ellis Wallop and insurance agent John Douglass Wallop Jr.

Education

Wallop graduated from the

University of Maryland The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of M ...

in 1942, where he served as editor of "The Old Line", a student-run literary and humor magazine.

Career

His first novel, 1953's ''Night Light'', concerns a father's search into the background of his child's murderer. Anne Brooks of the '' New York Herald Tribune Book Review'' said he "created characters who are both real and colorful, and he has delved into a maniac's mind with considerable understanding." R.G. Peck wrote an article for the ''

Chicago Sunday Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television are ...

'' and said it was the "first novel that's well constructed, carefully written, and free of painful mannerisms." Al Hine of the Saturday Review said it's a "novel that is moving and tautly interesting from the first page to last. Mr. Wallop writes fluently and without affectation, even when he is exploring the subcellars of bop." He authored 13 works but is most famous for ''

The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant ''The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant'' is a 1954 novel by Douglass Wallop. It adapts the Faust theme of a deal with the Devil to the world of American baseball in the 1950s. Plot summary The novel's protagonist, mild-mannered, middle-aged J ...

'' (1954), which was adapted by Wallop and

George Abbott George Francis Abbott (June 25, 1887 – January 31, 1995) was an American theatre producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer whose career spanned eight decades. Early years Abbott was born in Forestville, New Yo ...

into the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

-winning musical ''

Damn Yankees ''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., dur ...

''.

Awards

*1956

'' *

Book of the Month Club Book of the Month (founded 1926) is a United States subscription-based e-commerce service that offers a selection of five to seven new hardcover books each month to its members. Books are selected and endorsed by a panel of judges, and members ...

**''

'' **''The Good Life'' *

Reader's Digest Condensed Books ''Reader's Digest Condensed Books'' was a series of hardcover anthology collections, published by the American general interest monthly family magazine ''Reader's Digest'' and distributed by direct mail. Most volumes contained five (although a ...

**''

'' **''So This Is What Happened to Charlie Moe''

Personal life

On January 6, 1949 Wallop married writer and actress

Lucille Fletcher Violet Lucille Fletcher (March 28, 1912August 31, 2000) was an American screenwriter of film, radio and television. Her credits include ''The Hitch-Hiker,'' an original radio play written for Orson Welles and adapted for a notable episode of ' ...

. They remained together until his death. Wallop’s interests included chess, sailing, music, and woodworking.

Bibliography

Novels

*''Night Light'' (1953) *''

'' (also published as ''Damn Yankees'') (1954) *''The Sunken Garden'' (also published as ''The Dangerous Years'') (1956) *''What Has Four Wheels and Flies? A Tale'' (1959) *''Ocean Front'' (1963) *''So This Is What Happened to Charles Moe'' (1965) *''The Mermaid in the Swimming Pool'' (1968) *''The Good Life'' (1969) *''Stone'' (1971) *''Howard's Bag'' (1973) *''Mixed Singles'' (1977) *''Regatta'' (1981) *''The Other Side of the River'' (1984)

Plays

*''

'' (musical, with George Abbott) (1955)

Nonfiction

*''Baseball: An Informal History'' (1969)

External links

''Washington Post'' story on Wallop and ''Damn Yankees''
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wallop, Douglass 20th-century American novelists American male novelists Novelists from Washington, D.C. University of Maryland, College Park alumni 1920 births 1985 deaths 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights American male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century American male writers Tony Award winners