Fun Facts Friday: Hammond Innes

Hammond Innes (15 July 1913 – 10 June 1998) was an English novelist writing over 30 novels, travel books, and children’s books.

Books by Hammond Innes*

Fun Facts about Hammond Innes:

1. Ralph Hammond Innes was born in Horsham, Sussex.
2. One of his first jobs was as a journalist with the Financial News.
3. In 1937, Mr. Innes published his first novel, The Doppelganger.
4. In the same year, he married Dorothy Mary Lang, an actress. The couple was married until her death in 1989.
5. During World War II, Hammond Innes served in the Royal Artillery. Eventually, he rose to the rank of Major.
6. The author had several books published during the war. Notably was Attack Alarm, published in 1941 and based on his experience during the Battle of Britain, where he acted as an ant-aircraft gunner.
7. After the war, Mr. Innes worked as a writer full-time. Hallmarks of his novels were their fine attention to detail when he describes places.
8. The way Hammond Innes wrote his books followed a pattern of six months of travel, followed by six months of writing.
9. Hammond Innes was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1978 for his services to literature.
10. The author loved the sea, a hobby reflected in many of his novels. After his death the estate and most of the family’s belonging were left to associations focusing on training young people in sailing.

Books by Hammond Innes*

Zohar — Man of la Book
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account, the money is usually spent on books