Researching Jim Thompson

Thompson wrote more than thirty novels, the majority of which were original paperback publications, published from the late-1940s through mid-1950s. Despite some positive critical notice—notably by Anthony Boucher in The New York Times—he was little-recognized in his lifetime. Only after death did Thompson's literary stature grow. In the late 1980s, several of his novels were re-published in the Black Lizard series of re-discovered crime fiction.

His best-regarded works include The Killer Inside Me, Savage Night, A Hell of a Woman and Pop. 1280. In these works, Thompson turned the derided crime genre into literature and art, featuring unreliable narrators, odd structure, and the quasi-surrealistic inner narratives of the last thoughts of his dying or dead characters. A number of Thompson's books were adapted as popular films, including The Getaway and The Grifters.

The writer R.V. Cassill has suggested that of all crime fiction, Thompson's was the rawest and most harrowing; that neither Dashiell Hammett nor Raymond Chandler nor Horace McCoy ever "wrote a book within miles of Thompson". Similarly, in the introduction to Now and on Earth, Stephen King says he most admires Thompson's work because "The guy was over the top. The guy was absolutely over the top. Big Jim didn't know the meaning of the word stop. There are three brave lets inherent in the foregoing: He let himself see everything, he let himself write it down, then he let himself publish it."

Thompson was called a "Dimestore Dostoevsky" by writer Geoffrey O'Brien. Film director Stephen Frears, who directed an adaptation of Thompson's The Grifters in 1990, also identified elements of Greek tragedy in his themes.

Thompson was probably best known to many as a regular contributor to the "Thought for the Day" segment on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Following his death in 2003, obituaries in the national press praised his deep humanity and lively sense of humour. One obituary referred to his gift of "conveying the warmth of his physical presence in his voice and in his words", adding that "his reflection on the events of 11 September 2001 was nominated for a Sony Broadcast Award, uniquely for religious broadcasting." He used his seat in the House of Lords to express his concerns for equality and education. The Telegraph described him as "the Church of England's best known commentator on social and political matters as well as a prominent advocate of religious and racial tolerance." Thompson wrote that "a bishop who doesn't give offence to anyone is probably not a good bishop." Thompson was also an important figure in interfaith relations in Britain, chairing the British Council of Churches advisory committee and co-chairing the Interfaith Network for the United Kingdom. He believed that when Christians helped to create opportunities for all faiths to participate in public and in institutional life (such as in educational and health care chaplaincy) they were being good neighbours in a multi-faith world.

Jim is the son of At The Races and Radio Five Live presenter Derek Thompson, and the grandson of the 'Voice of Rugby' Bill McLaren. His cousin Rory Lawson and uncle Alan Lawson were Scotland international Scrum-halves with Rory having also played for Edinburgh Rugby albeit before Thompson joined the club. His cousin Gregor Lawson also played rugby for London Scottish, Heriot's and Scotland 7s and is one of the founders and owners of Morphsuits.

He went to school at Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh and Dollar Academy in Clackmannanshire before graduating with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Napier University.

He represented Scotland Sevens at 18 World series tournament and was once the top try scorer at the Scotland Leg with 6 tries in one weekend.He played a major role in helping Edinburgh Rugby get to the Semi Finals of the Heineken Cup where they lost to Ulster in the Aviva Stadium. His last act for Edinburgh was scoring a try in the Semi-final. At the end of the 2011-122011–12 season his contract with Edinburgh Rugby expired and he left the club to join London Scottish, where he has been playing since the beginning of the 2012-132012–13 season. He quickly established himself as a key player at London Scottish, making 51 appearances over 2 seasons of the club's RFU Championship . He retired due to injury in January 2015

Thompson was born in London, Ontario to "Colonel" J. Gordon Thompson and Essie McCreery. The couple also had two daughters named Catherine and Essie. His father "Colonel" J. Gordon was a businessman involved in the manufacturing of gasoline pumps, and subsequently the selling of gasoline, a sportsman and a golfer who founded the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club. The Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre at Western in London, Ontario was named in his honour.

Thompson attended primary school in London and secondary school in St. Catharines, Ontario at Ridley College. In 1944, he graduated as a naval officer from the Royal Canadian Naval College/Royal Roads Military College. Thompson also spent two years studying engineering at the University of Toronto, and one year studying business at the University of Western Ontario. While attending the University of Toronto (Engineering) and the University of Western Ontario (Business), he continued to serve with the Naval Reserve on HMCS York and HMCS Prevost.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he competed in unlimited hydroplane racing. In 1950, Thompson and his father bought a hydroplane named Miss Canada IV from a retired racer named Harold Wilson. The Thompsons later renamed the boat Miss Supertest I and refurbished it. However, mechanical problems would lead Thompson to abandon Miss Supertest I and set his sights on designing and building a new boat. In 1954, he and his team built Miss Supertest II. She was long, wide, and equipped with a Rolls-Royce Griffon motor. On November 1, 1957, Miss Supertest II set a world Canadian and British Empire speed record for propeller-driven craft straightaway speed record of in Picton, Ontario. Miss Supertest II was retired the following year, and Thompson began designing his next boat.

Miss Supertest III, which also featured a Rolls-Royce Griffon motor, was designed specifically to compete for the Harmsworth Cup. Miss Supertest III was christened in 1959 and went on to win the 1959 Detroit Memorial Regatta and the Harmsworth Cup in 1959, 1960, and 1961. When Miss Supertest III won the 1959 Harmsworth Trophy for Canada it ended 39 years of American domination. When Miss Supertest III's pilot, Bob Hayward, was killed in 1961 while driving Miss Supertest II in the Detroit River Silver Cup races in 1961, Thompson retired from racing. He said: "With the untimely death of Bob Hayward, the members of our racing team would derive little satisfaction from further success."

In 1959, Thompson was elected into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and inducted in 1960. During the same year he received the Medal of Honour from the Union of International Motorboating. He also became the president of Supertest Petroleum Corporation Limited, a position he held until the company was purchased by British Petroleum in 1971.Thompson was inducted into the Canadian Boating Federation Hall of Fame in 1995. In 2005, he was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, along with the London Sports Hall of Fame.

He served as honorary Colonel of the 1st Hussars Regiment (RCAC) from 1979 to 1999.

Thompson has also been involved in the operations of the golf course that his father co-founded in London, Ontario during the Great Depression. He was appointed Chairman of the Building and Construction Committee at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in 1972. He initiated and completed a study on water requirements and clubhouse expansion needs for future years. Then in 1983 he was elected President of the Club. Currently, Thompson serves as Greens Committee Chairman.

Thompson is now retired and lives in London, Ontario with his wife Beverly. The couple supports a number of local charities. They have five children and 15 grandchildren.

Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp in August 2011 honouring a hydroplane racingboat Miss Supertest III, her driver Bob Hayward and businessman Jim Thompson, who designed and built her.