Scott Anderson (writer)
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Scott Anderson (born 1959) is an American
writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short sto ...
,
novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living wage, living writing novels and other fiction, while other ...
,
non-fiction Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is any document or content (media), media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real life, real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. Non-fiction typically aims to pre ...
author, and
war correspondent A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories first-hand from a war, war zone. War correspondence stands as one of journalism's most important and impactful forms. War correspondents operate in the most conflict-ridden parts of the wor ...
. He has authored non-fiction books including ''Lawrence in Arabia'', ''The Man Who Tried to Save the World'', and ''War Zones'', as well as the novels ''
Triage In medicine, triage (, ; ) is a process by which care providers such as Health professional, medical professionals and those with first aid knowledge determine the order of priority for providing treatment to injured individuals and/or inform th ...
'' and ''Moonlight Hotel''. He is a frequent contributor to the ''
New York Times Magazine ''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors. The magazin ...
'', '' GQ'', ''
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
'', ''
Men's Journal ''Men's Journal'' was an American men's lifestyle magazine focused on outdoor recreation and comprising editorials on the outdoors, environmental issues, health and fitness, style and fashion, and gear. It was founded in 1992 by Jann Wenner of ...
'', '' Vanity Fair'' and other publications.


Early life and education

Anderson was born in
Sebastopol, California Sebastopol ( ) is a city in Sonoma County, California, with a recorded population of 7,521, per the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census. Sebastopol was once primarily a plum- and apple-growing region. Wine grapes are the predominant a ...
and he has a brother and three sister. His brother is the author Jon Lee Anderson, and his sister Michelle is also a writer. He grew up in
East Asia East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of Economy of China, China, Economy of Ja ...
, primarily in
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
and
Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...
, where his father was an agricultural advisor for the American government. When asked about his father's experience and how this relates to his own career, in a 2006 interview with ''
New York magazine ''New York'' is an American biweekly magazine concerned with life, culture, politics, and style generally, with a particular emphasis on New York City. Founded by Clay Felker and Milton Glaser in 1968 as a competitor to ''The New Yorker'' a ...
,'' Anderson said "I saw his frustrations with projects that were often just boondoggles mandated by the government." Anderson went to high school in Northern Florida and he received an M.F.A in Creative Writing from the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop.


Career

Anderson pursued a writing career at the age of nineteen. He was working in a governmental job in
Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...
and thinking about the possibility of attending college when, he describes, one weekend having an idea to write a novel. The next week he quit his job, ended his engagement to his then fiancée, and set out to become a writer. Anderson would do menial jobs like fruit-picking and bartending, to support himself financially until he gained success with his writing.


Books


Non-fiction

Anderson has co-authored two non-fiction books with his brother Jon Lee Anderson. '' Inside the League'' was published in 1986 by Dodd Mead. The book tells the story of how
Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, totalitarian socio-political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Germany. During H ...
leaders, and other leaders of other international
fascist Fascism ( ) is a far-right, authoritarian, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural soci ...
organisations, switched allegiances to join the political
World Anti-Communist League The World League for Freedom and Democracy (WLFD) is an international non-governmental organization of anti-communist politicians and groups. It was founded in 1954 as the Asian Peoples' Anti-Communist League (APACL) under the initiative of C ...
. Anderson and Anderson write that the organisation, founded in 1952, developed warfare methods including "assassinations, death squads, and sabotage throughout the world" which were, they argue, adopted from the Nazis. Scott Anderson's second book, co-authored with Jon Lee Anderson, called '' War Zones'' was published in 1988 also by Dodd Mead. The authors provide anecdotal evidence, observations and protestations from those experiencing violent conflicts in
El Salvador El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is S ...
,
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
,
Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...
,
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
, and
Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
. Scott Anderson's first solo published book was '' The 4 O'clock Murders: The True Story of a Mormon Family's Vengeance'' in 1994 by Doubleday. In this book, Anderson tells the true story of four murders carried out in 1988 in
Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
by a self-proclaimed
Mormon Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...
prophet,
Heber LeBaron William Heber LeBaron is a convicted murderer who once led the cult Church of the Lamb of God. Early years William Heber LeBaron was one of 54 children sired by Ervil LeBaron, a member of a polygamous Mormon fundamentalist group. The LeBarons wer ...
of the Church of the Firstborn. Anderson's next book concerned the disappearance of Fred Cuny, entitled '' The Man Who Tried to Save the World: The Dangerous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Fred Cuny'', first published in 1999 by Doubleday. Anderson's next book was '' Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East'' first published in 2013 by Doubleday. It tells the story of the
Arab Revolt The Arab Revolt ( ), also known as the Great Arab Revolt ( ), was an armed uprising by the Hashemite-led Arabs of the Hejaz against the Ottoman Empire amidst the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. On the basis of the McMahon–Hussein Co ...
against the Turks in the
First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, and the role
T. E. Lawrence Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British Army officer, archaeologist, diplomat and writer known for his role during the Arab Revolt and Sinai and Palestine campaign against the Ottoman Empire in the First W ...
played, a British archaeologist, who became head of the Arab enemy and battled the
imperialist Imperialism is the maintaining and extending of power over foreign nations, particularly through expansionism, employing both hard power (military and economic power) and soft power ( diplomatic power and cultural imperialism). Imperialism fo ...
ambitions of his nation-state. In 2017, Anderson published the book ''Fractured Lands: How the Arab World Came Apart'' giving an account of the
Arab Spring The Arab Spring () was a series of Nonviolent resistance, anti-government protests, Rebellion, uprisings, and Insurgency, armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s. It began Tunisian revolution, in Tunisia ...
, and Anderson argues, the origins of which can be traced back to America's invasion of Iraq in 2003. Anderson's most recent non-fiction book is ''The Quiet Americans'', first published in 2020 by Doubleday, and explores the roles of four American spies ( Michael Burke,
Frank Wisner Frank Gardiner Wisner (June 23, 1909 – October 29, 1965) was one of the founding officers of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and played a major role in CIA operations throughout the 1950s. Wisner began his intelligence career in the Of ...
, Peter Sichel and
Edward Lansdale Edward Geary Lansdale (February 6, 1908 – February 23, 1987) was a United States Air Force officer until retiring in 1963 as a major general before continuing his work with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Lansdale was a pioneer in clande ...
) during the
Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
.


Fiction

Scott Anderson has published two fiction novels. The first is 1998 novel ''
Triage In medicine, triage (, ; ) is a process by which care providers such as Health professional, medical professionals and those with first aid knowledge determine the order of priority for providing treatment to injured individuals and/or inform th ...
'' telling the story of a war photographer Mark and the psychological effects of his work. His second novel ''Moonlight Hotel'', published in 2006, is about mid-level diplomat David Richards based in the Middle Eastern kingdom of Kutar in 1983. When civil war breaks out, Richards, along with fellow expatriates, holds up in Moonlight Hotel to survive the conflict.


War correspondence

Scott Anderson initially wanted to be an author of fiction, and his first pursuit into war reporting occurred in 1983. Anderson had been travelling around
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
and had heard about stringers and wished to find out more, he was suggested by someone in an
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
office in
Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
, to travel to
Beirut Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
. The
Mountain War The Mountain War ( , ''Harb al-Jabal)'', also known as the War of the Mountain, was a subconflict between the Lebanese Civil War#Second phase of the war.2C 1982-1983, 1982–83 and the Lebanese Civil War#Third phase of the war.2C 1984-1989, 19 ...
, as part of the ongoing
Lebanese Civil War The Lebanese Civil War ( ) was a multifaceted armed conflict that took place from 1975 to 1990. It resulted in an estimated 150,000 fatalities and led to the exodus of almost one million people from Lebanon. The religious diversity of the ...
, had broken out in the Summer of 1983 just before Anderson left for Beirut to report on events. Anderson's career as a published war correspondent began in 1994 with an article in the ''
New York Times Magazine ''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors. The magazin ...
'' about violence as a result of
the Troubles The Troubles () were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed t ...
in
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ...
. For the article, Anderson travelled regularly, throughout the years before publication, to Northern Ireland to gain a glimpse into "the Belfast underworld" and met members of the
Provisional IRA The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provisional IRA), officially known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA; ) and informally known as the Provos, was an Irish republican paramilitary force that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland ...
, for instance. Anderson would go on to write another article for ''The New York Times Magazine'', and ''
Harper's Magazine ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States. ''Harper's Magazine'' has ...
'', in 1994 about the situation in Northern Ireland. During the 1990s, Anderson reported on Fred Cuny, an American humanitarian working in conflict and disaster zones who disappeared in 1995, as well as the
Bosnian War The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...
, and situation in Albania as a result of
war in Kosovo The Kosovo War (; sr-Cyrl-Latn, Косовски рат, Kosovski rat) was an armed conflict in Kosovo that lasted from 28 February 1998 until 11 June 1999. It ...
in 1999. In 2001, Anderson travelled to
Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
to report on the Turkish hunger strike in prisons which occurred within the backdrop of the Turkish economic crisis, for ''The New York Times Magazine''. During the 2000s, Anderson repeatedly reported on the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict Israelis (; ) are the citizens and nationals of the State of Israel. The country's populace is composed primarily of Jews and Arabs, who respectively account for 75 percent and 20 percent of the national figure, followed by other ethnic and ...
. He also covered tensions in the
Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
, including
War in Darfur The War in Darfur, also nicknamed the Land Cruiser War, was a major armed conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan that began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equalit ...
and the disarmament of Libya. In 2011, Anderson published an article for ''
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
'', detailing his experience (alongside
Sebastian Junger Sebastian Junger (born January 17, 1962) is an American journalist, author and filmmaker who has reported in-the-field on Dirty,_dangerous_and_demeaning, dirty, dangerous and demanding occupations and the experience of Light_infantry#United_Sta ...
and John Faulk) in Bosnia when the
CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA; ) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States tasked with advancing national security through collecting and analyzing intelligence from around the world and ...
were hunting for Ratko Mladic, a former Bosnian military officer and convicted war criminal. In a 2017 interview, Anderson describes becoming a parent as having affected his decision to limit active war reporting, saying he has a "moral responsibility" to stay safe for his child.


Journalism

Anderson's
investigative journalism Investigative journalism is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, such as serious crimes, racial injustice, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. An investigative journalist may spend m ...
has also covered other
socio-economic Economics () is a behavioral science that studies the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Economics focuses on the behaviour and interactions of economic agents and how economies work. Microeconomics analys ...
, cultural and political issues, outside of war and conflict. This focal shift is most notable in Anderson's published articles from the late 2000s onwards. Anderson continued to cover international issues, for instance, in 2007 he wrote about the experience of those living on the
Panama Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country in Latin America at the southern end of Central America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and ...
nian island of
Coiba Coiba () is the largest island in Central America, with an area of , off the Pacific coast of the Panamanian province of Veraguas. It is part of the Montijo District of that province. History Coiba separated from continental Panama between 1 ...
with high murder rates and gangs. In 2008, Anderson discussed the issue of
suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Risk factors for suicide include mental disorders, physical disorders, and substance abuse. Some suicides are impulsive acts driven by stress (such as from financial or ac ...
and poor mental health in
America The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, and a 2012 article featured his interview with Greg Ousley, who murdered his parents at the age of fourteen in 1993, and explored the debate around long prison sentences for juveniles. Anderson's journalism has covered the topics of
national security National security, or national defence (national defense in American English), is the security and Defence (military), defence of a sovereign state, including its Citizenship, citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of ...
, central intelligence (particularly the CIA's involvement in the
Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
),
law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of the government or other social institutions who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by investigating, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms gove ...
and migrant crossings.


Bar

Since 2000, Anderson co-owned bar-restaurant The Half King, in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, with wife Nanette Burstein and fellow journalist
Sebastian Junger Sebastian Junger (born January 17, 1962) is an American journalist, author and filmmaker who has reported in-the-field on Dirty,_dangerous_and_demeaning, dirty, dangerous and demanding occupations and the experience of Light_infantry#United_Sta ...
until it closed in January 2019. The Half King was known for hosting readings, screenings and photography exhibits to encourage people interested in writing, publishing and filmmaking.


Reception

In a review of ''Inside the League'', Larry Ceplair for ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', criticised the authors saying that they did not the give the subject matter "the treatment it merits." In his negative review, Ceplair opines "the title is misleading, the subtitle naïve, and the narrative structure dubious. Their nderson and Andersondisconnected, anecdotal, and largely undocumented indictment of the World Anti-Communist League does not support their claim." ''
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' described Anderson as providing "a riveting, dark history ..in copious, sometimes numbing detail, but always with a tart tongue" in ''The 4 O'clock Murders''. Reviews for ''The Man Who Tried to Save the World: The Dangerous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Fred Cuny'' were mainly positive. ''
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' said that "Anderson does an admirable job of searching for the truth in a land that truth forgot" and whilst the review remarked that "not even Anderson's intrepid reporting and formidable storytelling skills can bring clarity to the case of Fred Cuny" it says "this is the fault of circumstances rather than of the author." ''
The New York Times Book Review ''The New York Times Book Review'' (''NYTBR'') is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times'' in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely rea ...
'' said it was "a mystery story, straight out of a plot from John LeCarré." ''
The New York Observer ''The New York Observer'' was a weekly newspaper established in 1987. In 2016, it ceased print publication and became the online-only newspaper ''Observer''. The media site focuses on culture, real estate, media, politics and the entertainment ...
'' wrote "One of the most important books to be published since the fall of the Berlin Wall...A great, epic mystery of our day." Anderson's novel ''
Triage In medicine, triage (, ; ) is a process by which care providers such as Health professional, medical professionals and those with first aid knowledge determine the order of priority for providing treatment to injured individuals and/or inform th ...
'' received positive critical reception. Christopher Dickey ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' described it as "haunting" with "Hemingwayesque" landscapes and characters with consciences "straight out of
Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a re ...
", but Dickey adds "I wish Anderson's design for this novel were a little less schematic." Susan Salter Reynolds, for the ''
Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...
'', said the novel is "thrilling" but found the main character Mark irritating, "one of those cowboys addicted to war zones" and found some of plot "a romantic idea, found only in books." ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', in a review by David Nicholson, said this is "a serious book about a serious subject" and that Anderson "understands the seriousness of love and life" in the novel. ''Moonlight Hotel'' was described by Alan Furst, in a review for ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', as a "sharp and finely observed political novel" and Furst opines "dire authenticity in every tactical move in this novel — Anderson knows exactly what he's talking about." ''
Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' said "Though Anderson demonstrates more skill with plot and geopolitical analysis than characterization, he has produced a smart, polished, proto-Syriana page-turner." A review by ''
The Washington Post Book World ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'' said it is "A tour de force, variously satire, allegory, romance, ndwar novel. . . . Elegantly written, ferociously imagined." ''Lawrence in Arabia'' was a national bestseller and met with positive critical reception. Alex von Tunzelmann, writing for The New York Times, said that Anderson "gives Lawrence's story a new spin by contextualising him in a group biography." Tunzelmann also writes "a fine storyteller, Anderson does his best to drum up a narrative for his American character but is ultimately defeated by the modesty of the man's achievements."
Christopher de Bellaigue Christopher George Lowther de Bellaigue de Bughas (born 23 September 1971 in London) is a British author and journalist who is known for his long-form reporting and works of history. De Bellaigue was formerly the correspondent for The Economis ...
wrote for The Guardian that "Anderson is a bleak but fair-minded historian, alive to the cynicism and prejudice that decided actions on all sides." Bellaigue ends his review stating "In his well-constructed demolition of Britain's "amateurs", Anderson neglects the paradox that Lawrence, an archaeologist who never received a day's military training, a scholar and an aesthete amid the blood and guts, was the greatest amateur of them all." In a review Ian Thomson for ''
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...
'' said "Scott Anderson's account of the Arab revolt and the life of TE Lawrence is both scholarly and highly readable." Mahon Murphy, historian and research fellow, in a review for the ''
London School of Economics and Political Science The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public university, public research university in London, England, and a member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the University ...
'', said it is a "vivid attempt" to understand the conflict in the Middle East but questions Anderson's choice to focus on Lawrence. ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', in a review by
Janet Maslin Janet R. Maslin (born August 12, 1949) is an American journalist, who served as a film critic for ''The New York Times'' from 1977 to 1999, serving as chief critic for the last six years, and then a literary critic from 2000 to 2015. In 2000, M ...
, described the book as "richly detailed" and said it is "a fascinating book, the best work of military history in recent memory and an illuminating analysis of issues that still loom large today."
Michael Dirda Michael Dirda (born 1948) is an American book critic, working for the '' Washington Post''. He has been a Fulbright Fellow and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1993. Career Having studied at Oberlin College for his undergraduate degree in 1970, Dirda ea ...
, for ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', said it "Cuts through legend and speculation to offer perhaps the clearest account of Lawrence's often puzzling actions and personality." ''The Quiet Americans'' was met with mostly positive reviews. Kevin Peraino, for ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', described it as "enthralling" and said concludes "Anderson's narrative is certainly entertaining, but he is no confectioner, and the dark, poignant tale he tells is far the better for it." In a review for ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
'', Beverly Gage described Anderson as a "sympathetic" narrator and said it tells "a story at once sweeping in its scope and fascinating in its particulars."


Film adaptations

The 2009
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...
''
Triage In medicine, triage (, ; ) is a process by which care providers such as Health professional, medical professionals and those with first aid knowledge determine the order of priority for providing treatment to injured individuals and/or inform th ...
'' starring
Colin Farrell Colin James Farrell (; born 31 May 1976) is an Irish actor. A Leading actor, leading man in blockbuster (entertainment), blockbusters and independent films since the 2000s, he has received various List of awards and nominations received by Col ...
,
Paz Vega María de la Paz Campos Trigo (born 2 January 1976), known professionally as Paz Vega (), is a Spanish actress. She became popular for her performance in comedy television series ''7 vidas''. Her film credits include ''Sex and Lucia'' (2001), ' ...
and
Sir Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a career spanning more than sixty years, Lee became known as an actor with a deep and commanding voice who often portrayed villains in horr ...
, is based on his novel. The 2007 movie '' The Hunting Party'' starring
Richard Gere Richard Tiffany Gere ( ; born August 31, 1949) is an American actor. He began appearing in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in ''Looking for Mr. Goodbar (film), Looking for Mr. Goodbar'' (1977) and a starring role in ''Days of Hea ...
and
Terrence Howard Terrence Dashon Howard (born March 11, 1969) is an American actor performing on film and television. He has received a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for an Academy Awards, Academy Award, a Golden ...
, is partially based on his work in
Bosnia Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...
.


Controversy

In a September 2009 issue of ''GQ'', Anderson wrote an article supporting the theory of
Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...
's role in the
Russian apartment bombings In September 1999, a series of explosions hit four apartment blocks in the Russian cities of Buynaksk, Moscow, and Volgodonsk, killing more than 300, injuring more than 1,000, and spreading a wave of fear across the country. The bombings, toget ...
, based in part on his interviews with
Mikhail Trepashkin Mikhail Ivanovich Trepashkin (; born 7 April 1957) is a Russian attorney and former Federal Security Service (FSB) colonel who was invited by MP Sergei Kovalev to assist in an independent inquiry of the Russian apartment bombings in September ...
. The journal owner,
Condé Nast Condé Nast () is a global mass media company founded in 1909 by Condé Nast (businessman), Condé Montrose Nast (1873–1942) and owned by Advance Publications. Its headquarters are located at One World Trade Center in the FiDi, Financial Dis ...
, then took extreme measures to prevent an article by Anderson from appearing in the Russian media, both physically and in translation. According to the ''
NPR National Public Radio (NPR) is an American public broadcasting organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It serves as a national Radio syndication, syndicator to a network of more ...
'', Anderson was asked not to syndicate the article to any Russian publications, but told ''GQ'' he would refuse the request.


Personal life

His brother is Jon Lee Anderson, an author and journalist, and they have co-authored two books. Anderson is married to American film and television director Nanette Burstein. They currently live in
Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
with their daughter.


Awards and recognition

*2013
National Book Critics Circle Award The National Book Critics Circle Awards are a set of annual American literary awards by the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) to promote "the finest books and reviews published in English".Inside the League
'. With Jon Lee Anderson (Dodd Mead, 1986 ) * '' War Zones''. With Jon Lee Anderson (Dodd Mead, 1988 ) * '' The 4 O'clock Murders'' (Doubleday, 1992 ) * '' The Man who Tried to Save the World'' (Doubleday, 1999 ) * ''Lawrence in Arabia''. (Doubleday, 2013 ) * ''Fractured Lands''. (Anchor, 2017 ) * ''The Quiet Americans''. (Penguin Random House, 2020 )


Fiction

* ''
Triage In medicine, triage (, ; ) is a process by which care providers such as Health professional, medical professionals and those with first aid knowledge determine the order of priority for providing treatment to injured individuals and/or inform th ...
'' (Scribner 1999 ) * ''Moonlight Hotel'' (Doubleday 2006 )


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Scott Living people American war correspondents 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American male writers Gainesville High School (Florida) alumni 21st-century American novelists American military writers Place of birth missing (living people) American male novelists 21st-century American male writers 20th-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers American male non-fiction writers 1959 births