Donald J. Sobol, creator of the popular “Encyclopedia Brown” mystery series, died July 11 in Miami. He was 87.
A staple in school and public libraries across the country, the chapter books followed the adventures of 10-year-old amateur sleuth Leroy Brown (nicknamed “Encyclopedia” for his range of knowledge) as he solved the mysteries that took place in the fictional town of Idaville, FL. Ahead of his times, Sobol made his boy-wonder-protagonist part of a crime-solving team, along with his partner, the spunky and assertive Sally Kimble, who was never afraid to defend her friend from bullies.
The first book, Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective (T. Nelson, 1963) was rejected by two dozen publishers but ended up as the most successful series of his career, having been translated into 12 languages and selling millions of copies worldwide.
Sobol, who authored more than 80 books and received the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America in 1976, wrote every day until about a month before his death. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the series next year, Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme, the 28th book in the series, is expected for release in October.
“I will truly miss Don Sobol,” says Steven Meltzer, the associate publisher of Dutton Children’s Books and Sobol’s editor. “He was a generous writer who shared with boys and girls a lasting legacy of childhood. In the years I have worked with Don I have met people from all walks of life who have fond memories of his ‘Encyclopedia Brown’ books and now share them with their own children and grandchildren.”
Born in New York City in 1924, Sobol served in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. Inspired by a creative writing class at Oberlin College, he began his career as a copywriter at the New York Sun and continued working as a journalist until he left to pursue his dream as a freelance author. Sobol gained some success writing historical children’s novels, and in 1959, launched a syndicated fiction column for the Associated Press called “Two-Minute Mysteries.”
The inspiration for Encyclopedia Brown came while he was researching an article at the New York Public Library and a desk clerk accidentally handed him a game book of puzzles. The idea for the series—in which each chapter ends with a solved mystery—was born. It was picked up by T. Nelson and has remained in print ever since.
Sobol is survived by his wife, Rose; a sister, Helen; three children Diane, Eric and John, and four grandchildren, Gregory, Bryan, Lauren and Nicholas. The family has asked that donations in his memory be made to the New York Public Library Public Library.
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