This Goodly Land

W. E. Butterworth/W. E. B. Griffin (November 10, 1929–present)

Other Names Used

• William Edmund Butterworth, III: full name
• Alex Baldwin: pen name, Men at War series
• Walter E. Blake: pen name, novels
• W. E. Butterworth: pen name, novels and books for younger readers
• William E. Butterworth: pen name, with co-author Richard Hooker, M*A*S*H Goes to . . . series
• James McM. Douglas: pen name, books for younger readers
• Jack Dugan: pen name, The Deep Kill
• John Kevin Dugan: pen name, first two books in the Badge of Honor series
• W. E. B. Griffin: pen name, military and police novels
• Eden Hughes: pen name, romance novels
• Allison Mitchell: pen name, romance novels
• Edmund O. Scholefield: pen name, books for younger readers
• Blakely St. James: pen name, novels
• Patrick J. Williams: pen name, books for younger readers

Alabama Connections

• Fort Rucker, Coffee and Dale Counties: civilian employment
• Ozark, Dale County: adult residence
• Fairhope, Baldwin County: adult residence

Selected Works

• Butterworth, W. E. Stop and Search: A Novel of Small Boat Warfare Off Vietnam. Boston: Little, Brown, 1969. For younger readers.
• Butterworth, W. E. Susan and Her Classic Convertible. New York: Four Winds Press, 1970. For younger readers.
• Butterworth, W. E. LeRoy and the Old Man. New York: Four Winds Press, 1980. For younger readers.
• Griffin, W. E. B. Semper Fi. New York: Jove, 1986.
• Griffin, W. E. B. Blood and Honor. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1996.
• Griffin, W. E. B. Retreat, Hell. New York: Putnam, 2004.
• Griffin, W. E. B. The Hostage. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2005.
• Griffin, W. E. B., and William E. Butterworth, IV. Death and Honor. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2008.

Literary Awards

• Alabama Author Award, Alabama Library Association, 1982, for LeRoy and the Old Man
• Denig Award, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, 1991

Biographical Information

William E. Butterworth was born in New Jersey and grew up in Boston, Philadelphia, and Manhattan. He joined the US Army in 1946 at age sixteen and was trained in counterintelligence. Butterworth served in Germany until released from active duty in 1947. He was studying political science in Germany when he was recalled to active duty to serve in the Korean War. While in Korea, he served as a combat correspondent. After his discharge from the Army in 1953, Butterworth worked at Ft. Rucker as a civilian information officer. He began writing novels during this time. His first novel, Comfort Me with Love, was published in 1960. After his third novel was published in 1962, Butterworth resigned from his job at Ft. Rucker to write full-time and moved to Fairhope, Ala. His first book for younger readers, The Wonders of Astronomy, was published in 1964. Butterworth has published over 125 novels and books for younger readers, under his own and numerous pen names. He divides his time between Fairhope and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Interests and Themes

William E. Butterworth is a prolific writer of popular fiction and of books for children and young adults. He specializes in military fiction and has been praised for his wealth of detail, historical accuracy, and understanding of military culture.

For More Information

Please check your local library for these materials. If items are not available locally, your librarian can help you borrow them through the InterLibrary Loan program. Your librarian can also help you find other information about this author.

There may be more information available through the databases in the Alabama Virtual Library. If you are an Alabama citizen, AVL can be used at your public library or school library media center. You can also get a username and password from your librarian to use AVL at home.

Reference Book Chapters and Encyclopedia Entries

• Caton, Bill. "Bill Butterworth: What You Need"; Fighting Words: Words on Writing from 21 of the Heart of Dixie's Best Contemporary Authors. Montgomery: Black Belt Press, . 18-25.

Reference Web Sites

• Griffin, W. E. B. W. E. B. Griffin Home Page. http://www.webgriffin.com .

Photo by G. W. Miller, III; courtesy of Putnam & Riverhead Books.

Last updated on May 30, 2008.