Walter Mosley - 1952
|
San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California
I. Biography
Walter Mosley was born in South Central Los Angeles in 1952. He attended Goddard College and received his B.A. from Johnson State College in Vermont. After an unsuccessful string of jobs, he began working days as a freelance computer programmer while studying at the Writing Program of the City University of New York during the nights.
II. Literary Works
Devil in a Blue Dress (1990) was Mosley's first novel. Published by W.W. Norton, it tells a tale of a missing, mysterious beauty and the powerful politicians who have hired Easy Rawlins to find her. This novel was nominated for an Edgar for best mystery of the year and won a John Creasey award in Great Britain for best first novel. It was also turned into a feature film starring Denzel Washington as Easy Rawlins, released in 1998.
A Red Death (1991) was a follow-up to Mosley's Devil in a Blue Dress set five years later. It begins with Easy as a small-scale real estate mogul, owning several properties in Watts. Eventually, he runs into some trouble with the IRS in which he is offered a way out if he decides to cooperate with the FBI by becoming a spy. The novel unfolds to show the corruption deeply rooted in the government.
White Butterfly (1992) In this novel Easy is looking for a kinky serial killer after the gruesome deaths of five college-age girls. One of which was the daughter of an upper-class family, who had been leading a double life as a stripper named "White Butterfly." This story explores on many levels how families, with the best intentions, can destroy one another.
Black Betty (1994) In this novel, Easy agrees to search for a black woman he used to know in Houston named Black Betty. Betty was nothing but trouble before and proves to be no less now. Easy also runs into money troubles, and it seems that everything is falling apart for him. This book has been called "a sizzling addition to the color-coded series."
III. Los Angeles, California, and Walter Mosley
Foothill Boulevard - a main street in California that runs along the base of the mountains from Pomona to the San Fernando Valley. (Referred to as Route 66 in the book.)
Compton, California -a small, socially deprived, predominantly black community found in southwest Los Angeles.
Watts, California -a south central community, best known for the rioting that occurred in 1965 due to racial tension.
Avalon Boulevard -a main street in California, it runs from Wilmington to Downtown Los Angeles.
Central Avenue - located in South Central Los Angeles, a place where many famous jazz performers used to hang out, during the late 40's and 50's, when jazz music was popular.
IV. Works by Walter Mosley
Devil in a Blue Dress (1990)
A Red Death (1991)
White Butterfly (1992)
Black Betty (1994)
RL's Dream (1995)
A Little Yellow Dog (1996)
V. Sources
Barnes and Noble.com-Author Biography
The Whole Wired World: Colette's Archive: Walter Mosley
Oddysey: The City 1996-97
http://www.csulb.edu/~acaproj/city/bios.html
This essay was submitted by a student of Grant Farley, a teacher at San Pedro High School in San Pedro, California.