Richard Hooker (author)

Richard Hornberger at the original Swamp

Richard Hooker (March 1924 – November 4, 1997) was the pen name of American writer H. Richard Hornberger, best known for his novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, which was the inspiration for the 1970 film and the television series of the same name.

Early Life and Education

Richard Hooker was born H. Richard Hornberger in Trenton, New Jersey. He attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he graduated in 1945. Following his undergraduate education, Hornberger attended Cornell University Medical College, earning his medical degree in 1948.

Military Service

After completing his medical education, Hornberger served as a surgeon in the United States Army during the Korean War. His experiences during the war provided the basis for his novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors.

Writing Career

Hornberger adopted the pen name Richard Hooker when he began writing. His first and most famous novel, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, was published in 1968. The book was a satirical account of the lives of three army doctors stationed at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. The novel's success led to its adaptation into a feature film in 1970, directed by Robert Altman, and subsequently into the highly successful television series that aired from 1972 to 1983.

Later Life and Death

After the success of MASH, Hornberger continued to write, though none of his subsequent works achieved the same level of acclaim. He spent his later years practicing medicine in Waterville, Maine, and passed away on November 4, 1997, in Waterville, Maine.

Legacy

Richard Hooker's work has had a lasting impact on popular culture, particularly through the enduring popularity of the M*A*S*H television series. The series is often cited as one of the greatest television shows of all time and has left a significant mark on the portrayal of war and medicine in media.

Bibliography

• MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (1968)
• M*A*S*H Goes to Maine (1972)
• M*A*S*H Mania (1977)

See Also

• M*A*S*H (film)
• M*A*S*H (TV series)
• Korean War
• United States Army Medical Corps