36 Facts About Alistair MacLean

Alistair Stuart MacLean was a Scottish novelist who wrote popular thrillers and adventure stories.

Alistair MacLean's books are estimated to have sold over 150 million copies, making him one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time.

In 1941, at the age of 19, Alistair MacLean was called up to fight in the Second World War with the Royal Navy, serving with the ranks of ordinary seaman, able seaman, and leading torpedo operator.

Alistair MacLean was first assigned to PS Bournemouth Queen, a converted excursion ship fitted for antiaircraft guns, on duty off the coasts of England and Scotland.

Alistair MacLean took part in Convoy PQ 17 on Royalist.

Alistair MacLean then studied English at the University of Glasgow, working at the post office and as a street sweeper.

Alistair MacLean lived with his mother at 26 Carrington Street, at St Georges Cross, Glasgow while attending the university.

Whilst a university student, Alistair MacLean began writing short stories for extra income, winning a competition in 1954 with the maritime story "Dileas".

Alistair MacLean sold stories to the Daily Mirror and The Evening News.

The wife of Ian Chapman, editor at the publishing company Collins, had been particularly moved by "Dileas" and the Chapmans arranged to meet with Alistair MacLean, suggesting he write a novel.

Alistair MacLean responded three months later with HMS Ulysses, based on his own war experiences and credited insight from his brother Ian, a master mariner.

Alistair MacLean was paid a large advance of $50,000, which made the headlines.

Alistair MacLean was unhappy at the tax paid on earnings for his first two novels, so he moved to Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, where he would pay less tax.

Alistair MacLean followed it with South by Java Head, based on his experiences in the seas off Southeast Asia in World War Two.

The Ian Stuart books sold well, and Alistair MacLean made no attempt to change his writing style.

Alistair MacLean continued to publish novels under his own name such as The Golden Rendezvous and Ice Station Zebra.

In 1963, Alistair MacLean decided to retire from writing, saying he never enjoyed it and only did it to make money.

Alistair MacLean decided to become a hotelier and bought the Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor and then bought two more hotels, the Bank House near Worcester and the Bean Bridge at Wellington in Somerset.

Alistair MacLean returned to writing with When Eight Bells Toll.

Cinema producer Elliot Kastner admired Alistair MacLean, and asked him if he would be interested in writing an original screenplay.

Alistair MacLean agreed to the proposition, and Kastner sent the writer two scripts, one by William Goldman and one by Robert and Jane Howard-Carrington, to familiarize himself with the format.

Alistair MacLean agreed to write it for an initial $10,000 with $100,000 to come later.

In 1967, Alistair MacLean formed a partnership with Geoffrey Reeve and Lewis Jenkins to make films for Alistair MacLean to write and Reeves to direct.

Alistair MacLean then wrote Bear Island, the last of his first-person narratives.

Alistair MacLean moved to Switzerland in 1970 as a tax exile.

Alistair MacLean planned to produce three films based on his books, but the box-office failure of the last three MacLean adaptations put these on hold.

Alistair MacLean considered moving to Ireland, but decided to stay in Switzerland.

Alistair MacLean wrote a biography of Captain James Cook, which was published in 1972.

Alistair MacLean wrote Breakheart Pass, Circus, The Golden Gate, Seawitch, Goodbye California and Athabasca.

In 1978, Alistair MacLean said he "just can't understand" why people bought his novels.

Alistair MacLean decided to focus on American television, writing a novella titled Air Force One is Down, which was turned down by the American television network NBC.

Alistair MacLean died of heart failure at the age of 64 in Munich on 2 February 1987; his last years were affected by alcoholism.

Alistair MacLean was married twice and had three sons by his first wife, Gisela.

Alistair MacLean married for a second time in 1972; that marriage ended in divorce in 1977.

Alistair MacLean was awarded a doctor of letters by the University of Glasgow in 1983.

Writer Algis Budrys described Alistair MacLean's writing style as - "hit 'em with everything but the kitchen sink, then give 'em the sink, and when they raise their heads, drop the plumber on 'em".