Dolores Hitchens

Dolores Hitchens was a prominent American author, known for her prolific writing in the fiction genre. Born as Julia Clara Catharine Dolores Birk Olsen, she adopted the pen name Dolores Hitchens for her publications. Hitchens was active in the literary world for a significant period, starting from 1938 until her death.

Throughout her career, Hitchens used various pseudonyms, including D.B. Olsen, Dolan Birkley, and Noel Burke. Her works were not limited to a single genre, as she also ventured into writing Western stories. Hitchens' writing often featured a spinster character named Rachel Murdock, who was the central figure in many of her mystery novels.

One of Hitchens' notable achievements was her collaboration with her second husband, Bert Hitchens, who was a railroad detective. Together, they co-authored five railroad mysteries, which showcased their combined expertise and creativity. Moreover, Hitchens' work gained international recognition when French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard adapted her 1958 novel, Fool's Gold, into his film Bande à part (Band of Outsiders, 1964). Hitchens' contribution to the mystery genre and her versatility as a writer have left an indelible mark in the literary world.