Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Arthur Hailey

Role / Field:

Plot-driven novelist known for stories set against various industries.

Born:

1920-04-05

Died:

2004-11-24

Century / Era:

1920s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Arthur Frederick Hailey, AE (5 April 1920 – 24 November 2004) was a British-Canadian novelist whose plot-driven storylines were set against the backdrops of various industries. His books, which include such best sellers as Hotel (1965), Airport (1968), Wheels (1971), The Moneychangers (1975), and Overload (1979), have sold 170 million copies in 38 languages. Arthur Frederick Hailey was born on 5 April 1920, in Luton, Bedfordshire, England, the only child of George Wellington Hailey, a factory worker, and Elsie Wright Hailey. An avid reader, Hailey began to write poems, plays and stories at a young age.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He once said, "My mother left me off chores so I could write." Elsie encouraged her son to learn typing and shorthand so that he might become a clerk instead of a factory worker. At fourteen, Hailey failed to win a scholarship which would have enabled him to continue his schooling. From 1934 to 1939 he was an office boy and clerk in London. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1939, and served as a pilot during World War II, eventually rising to the rank of flight lieutenant. In 1947, unhappy with the post-war Labour government, he emigrated to Canada, becoming a dual citizen...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alberto Sordi — Contemporary (Born in 1920) (1920): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Alf Ramsey — Contemporary (Born in 1920) (1920): Legendary English footballer and manager, best known for the 1966 World Cup victory.
• Alfred Peet — Contemporary (Born in 1920) (1920): Dutch-American founder credited with starting the US specialty coffee revolution.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Alicia Markova — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pioneering British ballerina, choreographer, and founder of major ballet institutions.
• Ancel Keys — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pioneering physiologist who studied diet's influence on health, notably fat replacement.
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller — Shared historical date (04-05 · Died) (1948): American socialite and influential philanthropist, key patron of modern art.
• Akira Toriyama — Shared historical date (04-05 · Born) (1955): Pioneering manga artist, creator of Dr. Slump and the global phenomenon, Dragon Ball.
• Arundhati Roy — Shared historical date (11-24 · Born) (1961): Acclaimed Indian author and fierce political activist known for human rights advocacy.
• Baruch Spinoza — Shared historical date (11-24 · Born) (1632): Radical philosopher of the Dutch Golden Age, known for his pantheistic metaphysics.
• 1920 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1920
• April 5 (04-05) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 5
• 2004 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2004
• November 24 (11-24) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 24

Frequently Asked Questions about Arthur Hailey