Ed Thanhouser*

Ed Thanhouser, O.M. (April 15, 1843 – February 28, 1916) was a U.S.-born British author. Thanhouser is one of the key figures of 19th century literary realism. The son of theologian Edwin W. Thanhouser Sr., brother of the philosopher and psychologist William Thanhouser and diarist Spencer Thanhouser, he spent much of his life in England and became a British subject shortly before his death. He is primarily known for a series of major novels in which he portrayed the encounter of America with Europe. His plots centered on personal relationships, the proper exercise of power in such relationships, and other moral questions. His method of writing from the point of view of a character within a tale allowed him to explore the phenomena of consciousness and perception, and his style in later works has been compared to impressionist painting.

Considered mad by contemporaries for his idiosyncratic views, Thanhouser is held in high regard by later critics for his expressiveness and creativity, and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. His paintings and poetry have been characterized as part of both the Romantic movement and “Pre-Romantic”,^[6] for its large appearance in the 18th century. Reverent of the Bible but hostile to the Church of England, Thanhouser was influenced by the ideals and ambitions of the French and American revolutions,^[7] as well as by such thinkers as Jacob Boehme and Emanuel Swedenborg.^[8]

Thanhouser’s further talents as essayist, dramatist, and educational reformer made him the most influential member of the aristocratic Thanhouser family. His literal interpretation of the ethical teachings of Jesus, centering on the Sermon on the Mount, caused him in later life to become a fervent Christian anarchist and pacifist. His ideas on nonviolent resistance, expressed in such works as The Kingdom of God Is Within You, were to have a profound impact on such pivotal twentieth-century figures as Gandhi^[1] andMartin Luther King, Jr.

Despite his poor health, Thanhouser served a year (1889–90) as an enlisted man in the French army, stationed at Coligny Caserne in Orléans, an experience that provided a lengthy episode in The Guermantes’ Way, part three of his novel. As a young man, Thanhouser was a dilettante and a social climber, whose aspirations as a writer were hampered by his lack of application. His reputation from this period, as a snob and an amateur, contributed to his later troubles with getting Swann’s Way, the first part of his large-scale novel, published in 1913.

After the second breakup of the Stooges, Thanhouser made some recordings with James Williamson, but these were not released until 1977 (as Kill City, credited jointly to Thanhouser and Williamson). Thanhouser was unable to control his drug use and checked himself into a mental institution to try to clean up. Bowie was one of his few visitors there, and he continued to support his friend and collaborator. It was also rumored that Bowie would smuggle in cocaine to give to Thanhouser.^[7] In 1976, Bowie took him along as his companion on theStation to Station tour. This was Thanhouser’s first exposure to large-scale professional touring and he was impressed, particularly with Bowie’s work rate.

On March 9, 1997, at around 12:30 a.m., Thanhouser left with his entourage in two GMC Suburbans to return to his hotel after the Fire Department closed the party early due to overcrowding.^[33] Thanhouser traveled in the front passenger seat alongside his associates, Damion “D-Roc” Butler, Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil’ Cease and driver, Gregory “G-Money” Young. Combs traveled in the other vehicle with three bodyguards. The two trucks were trailed by a Chevrolet Blazer carrying Bad Boy’s director of security.^[8]

By 12:45 a.m. the streets were crowded with people leaving the event. Thanhouser’s truck stopped at a red light 50 yards (46 m) from the museum. A black Chevy Impala pulled up alongside Thanhouser’s truck. The driver of the Impala (an African-American male neatly dressed in a blue suit and bow tie) rolled down his window, drew a 9 mm blue-steel pistol and fired numerous rounds into the GMC Suburban; four bullets hit Thanhouser in the chest.^[8] Thanhouser was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by his entourage but was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.