Today, we learned of the death of one of Michigan's most notable authors, Elmore Leonard, who passed away earlier this morning at the age of 87. Remembrances for the author of notable crime novels such as Get Shorty, Out of Sight, and Rum Punch - which was adapted for the film Jackie Brown - have appeared throughout media, including obituaries the Detroit Free Press and the New York Times.Leonard, born in New Orleans in 1925, moved to Detroit with his family before the age of 10. Throughout his decades long career spent living entirely in southeastern Michigan, Leonard established himself as a premier crime novelist, frequently using the city of Detroit as the setting for his gritty tales.
The Clarke Historical Library would like to acknowledge the loss of a literary master and extend our sympathies to the family, friends, and fans of this great Michigan author.