Caleb Carr

Easton Press Caleb Carr books

The Alienist - Caleb Carr - Signed Modern Classic - 2007

Franklin Library Caleb Carr books

The Alienist - signed first edition - 1994
The Angel of Darkness - signed first edition - 1997

 

Caleb Carr biography

Caleb Carr (born August 2, 1955) is an American military historian, novelist, and author known for his contributions to historical fiction and non-fiction, particularly in the realm of military and psychological history. Born in Manhattan, New York, Carr grew up surrounded by literature and historical interests, as his father, Lucien Carr, was a notable writer and one of the founding members of the Beat Generation. Caleb Carr's passion for history and military affairs manifested early in his life. He studied military history at New York University and went on to pursue a Ph.D. in military and diplomatic history at the University of London. His academic pursuits, combined with his interest in psychology, would later influence his writing.

Carr gained widespread recognition with the publication of his debut novel, The Alienist, in 1994. Set in 1896 New York City, the novel follows a team of investigators, including a psychologist (the alienist of the title), as they track down a serial killer. The book blends historical fiction with elements of mystery and psychological profiling, showcasing Carr's meticulous research and storytelling skills. The Alienist became a bestseller and earned critical acclaim. Following the success of The Alienist, Carr continued to explore historical themes in his fiction. He wrote novels such as The Angel of Darkness (1997), a sequel to his debut, and The Italian Secretary (2005), a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

In addition to his work in historical fiction, Carr is a respected military historian. He has written non-fiction books, including The Lessons of Terror: A History of Warfare Against Civilians (2002), where he examines the history of terrorism and counterterrorism, drawing on his deep knowledge of military and psychological history.

Caleb Carr is known for his engaging writing style, thorough research, and the interdisciplinary approach he brings to his work. His novels and historical studies reflect a keen interest in the human psyche, the impact of historical events on individuals and societies, and the intersection of psychology and crime. Beyond his literary career, Carr has contributed to various publications and worked as a military analyst. His diverse talents and interests have made him a notable figure in both historical fiction and military history, and his works continue to captivate readers interested in the complexities of the past.

 

The Alienist - Dr. Laszlo Kreizler Series Book 1

The year is 1896, the place, New York City. On a cold March night New York Times reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned to the East River by his friend and former Harvard classmate Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychologist, or "alienist." On the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge, they view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy, a prostitute from one of Manhattan's infamous brothels.

The newly appointed police commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt, in a highly unorthodox move, enlists the two men in the murder investigation, counting on the reserved Kreizler's intellect and Moore's knowledge of New York's vast criminal underworld. They are joined by Sara Howard, a brave and determined woman who works as a secretary in the police department. Laboring in secret (for alienists, and the emerging discipline of psychology, are viewed by the public with skepticism at best), the unlikely team embarks on what is a revolutionary effort in criminology amassing a psychological profile of the man they're looking for based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who has killed before and will kill again before the hunt is over.

Fast-paced and gripping, infused with a historian's exactitude, The Alienist conjures up the Gilded Age and its untarnished underside: verminous tenements and opulent mansions, corrupt cops and flamboyant gangsters, shining opera houses and seamy gin mills. Here is a New York during an age when questioning society's belief that all killers are born, not made, could have unexpected and mortal consequences.

The Angel of Darkness - Dr. Laszlo Kreizler Series Book 2

June 1897. A year has passed since Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a pioneer in forensic psychiatry, tracked down the brutal serial killer John Beecham with the help of a team of trusted companions and a revolutionary application of the principles of his discipline. Kreizler and his friends high-living crime reporter John Schuyler Moore; indomitable, derringer-toting Sara Howard; the brilliant (and bickering) detective brothers Marcus and Lucius Isaacson; powerful and compassionate Cyrus Montrose; and Stevie Taggert, the boy Kreizler saved from a life of street crime have returned to their former pursuits and tried to forget the horror of the Beecham case.

But when the distraught wife of a Spanish diplomat begs Sara’s aid, the team reunites to help find her kidnapped infant daughter. It is a case fraught with danger, since Spain and the United States are on the verge of war. Their investigation leads the team to a shocking suspect: a woman who appears to the world to be a heroic nurse and a loving mother, but who may in reality be a ruthless murderer of children.

Once again, Caleb Carr proves his brilliant ability to re-create the past, both high life and low. Fast-paced and chilling, The Angel of Darkness is a tour de force, a novel of modern evil in old New York.