His works in nonfiction and in fiction reflect his appreciation of the natural wonders of the American Southwest and his appreciation of its indigenous people, particularly the Navajo.
Hillerman's writing is noted for the cultural details he provides about his subjects: Hopi, Zuni, European settlers, federal agents, and especially the Navajo Nation Police. Hillerman's books have been translated into eight languages, among them Danish and Japanese. His literary honors were awarded for his Navajo books. He wrote more than 30 books total, among them a memoir and books about the Southwest, its beauty, and its history. Ī consistently bestselling author, he was ranked as New Mexico's 22nd-wealthiest man in 1996. At the time of his death, they had been married 60 years and had 10 grandchildren. He lived there with his wife Marie until his death in 2008. He taught journalism from 1966 to 1987 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and also began writing novels. During his time as a writer for the Borger News-Herald in Borger, Texas, he became acquainted with the sheriff of Hutchinson County, the man upon whom he would pattern the main character in his Joe Leaphorn novels. In 1966, he moved his family to Albuquerque, where he earned a master's degree from the University of New Mexico. įrom 1948 to 1962, he worked as a journalist, moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1952.
The couple wed and had one biological child and five adopted children. Hillerman attended the University of Oklahoma after the war, meeting Marie Unzner, a student in microbiology. He earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. He was a decorated combat veteran of World War II, serving from August 1943 to October 1945 as a mortarman in the 103rd Infantry Division in the European theatre.
"Growing up Indian," Hillerman said of his childhood, "you did not have an 'us and them.'" Jeffrey Herlihy argues that this background made possible "a significantly different portrayal of Native Americans in his writing", in comparison to other authors of his time. He grew up in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, attending elementary and high school with Potawatomi children. His paternal grandparents were born in Germany, and his maternal grandparents were born in England. He was the youngest of their three children, and the second son. Tony Hillerman was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, to August Alfred Hillerman, a farmer and shopkeeper, and his wife, Lucy Grove. Several of his works have been adapted as theatrical and television movies. Special Friends of the Dineh Award Purple Heart AwardĪnthony Grove Hillerman (– Octo) was an American author of detective novels and nonfiction works, best known for his mystery novels featuring Navajo Nation Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.
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