| Peter Bernhard Kyne | |
| Birth Date: | 12 October 1880 |
| Birth Place: | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Yearsactive: | 1914–1952 |
| Othername: | Peter Bernard Kyne |
Peter Bernhard Kyne (October 12, 1880 - November 25, 1957) was an American novelist who published between 1904 and 1940. He was born and died in San Francisco, California. Many of his works were adapted into screenplays starting during the silent film era, particularly his first novel, The Three Godfathers, which was published in 1913 and proved to be a huge success. More than 100 films were adapted from his works between 1914 and 1952, many of the earliest without consent or compensation.[1] Kyne created the character of Cappy Ricks in a series of novels.
Kyne was born October 12, 1880, to cattle rancher John Kyne and Mary Cresham. Cresham was from Headford, Co Galway in Ireland.[2] Young Kyne worked on his father's ranch in San Francisco, then attended a business college where he decided to become a writer.[3]
He was the Uncle of World War II veteran Joseph R. Kyne, great Uncle to Dennis Joseph Kyne and to the last living Kyne, decorated Desert Storm veteran, award-winning author and musician, Dennis Joseph Kyne, Jr. His cousin, Kathleen Curran, has been credited as the first female harbour master in Ireland.
When still younger than 18 years old, Kyne lied about his age and enlisted with Company L, 14th U.S. Infantry nicknamed "the Golden Dragons", which served in the Philippines from 1898 to 1899. The Spanish–American War and the struggle for Philippine independence led by General Emilio Aguinaldo provided background for many of Kyne's later stories.[4] During World War I, he served as a captain of Battery A of the California National Guard 144th Field Artillery Regiment, known as the "California Grizzlies".[5]
Kyne has described how he attempted to commit suicide at the age of 27. It happened when he got into heavy debts running a retail furnishing-goods business. He described how he took a .32-calibre revolver and "felt for the fifth rib ... cocked the pistol, thrust the barrel to the spot ... and pulled the trigger. Click! A defective cartridge." He then settled with his creditors and his first book was published six years later.[6]
| Title | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| The Three Godfathers | 1913 | |
| The Long Chance | 1914 | |
| Cappy Ricks | 1916 | |
| Webster—Man's Man | 1917 | |
| The Valley of the Giants | 1918 | |
| Kindred of the Dust | 1920 | |
| The Pride of Palomar | 1921 | |
| The Go Getter | 1922 | |
| Cappy Ricks Retires | 1922 | |
| Never the Twain Shall Meet | 1923 | |
| Outlaws of Eden | 1929 | |
| Golden Dawn | 1930 | |
| Cappy Ricks Comes Back | 1934 | |
| Cappy Ricks Special | 1935 | |
| Soldiers, Sailors and Dogs | 1936 | |
| The Parson of Panamint and Other Stories | 1936 |