Hailey, Arthur

(Canadian, 1920– )

Arthur Hailey was born in Luton, England, and served with the RAF before turning to fiction. His best-known book is Airport (1968), a tense story about a routine flight beset by bad weather and the threat of a terrorist bombing (later filmed to enormous popular success). Hotel (1965) is the story of the romantic and business entanglements of staff and residents at a luxurious California hotel, The Moneychangers (1975) deals with high finance, and Overload (1979) describes a threatened electricity shortage. Detective (1997) is set in a Miami homicide division. Hailey's formula of meticulous research and subjecting a disparate group of characters to high drama has been much copied, and remains hugely popular.

Mario Puzo, Michael Crichton  WB