Helen Eustis, best known for the Edgar-winning academic mystery The Horizontal Man (1946), was born today in Cincinnati in 1916. She followed up The Horizontal Man with The Fool Killer (1954; film 1965), about an ax murderer, and a collection of short stories, The Captains and the Kings Depart (1949). One story, "A Winter's Tale," appeared in EQMM in April 1986. She also was known for her work as a translator and for a children's book, Mr. Death and the Redheaded Woman (1983).
Eustis was the second wife of Smith poet-professor Alfred Young Fisher (whose first wife was M.F.K. Fisher); versions of him and fellow professor Newton Arvin appear in The Horizontal Man.
6 comments:
Are you in touch with Ms. Eustis? A couple years ago I tracked her down. She was very kind, and inscribed my copy of the underrated story collection, The Captains and the Kings Depart, which included a couple of O. Henry award-winners.
I hope she is well. She was a very fine writer.
Helen Eustis is reported to have died in California in her mid-eighties.
I'm glad to hear of your high opinion of _The Captains and the Kings Depart_; that is one book that I would like to read.
Hello,
I'm a fan of Ms. Eustis and really wish to recreate her "The Fool Killer" in a graphic novel I'd like to produce. I'm a southern artist and really feel that her story is easily one of the best pieces of Southern Gothic ever written. My trouble is I don't know where to begin to contact the copyright holders of her works. Her works have been out of print for decades and I have no idea if her family has the rights or a publishing company someplace.
Any pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.
Alas, I am also very sorry to hear of her passing. I found a blog post earlier stating she was still alive. Sad to hear otherwise.
Anyways that's for the info in advance.
Helen Eustis's son is Adam Genkaku Fisher. His blog is here:
http://genkaku-again.blogspot.com
Helen Eustis is still alive. I know a neighbor of hers in New York.
Adam Genkaku Fisher, the son of Helen Eustis, confirms: Helen Eustis is still with us at age 91.
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