Justin Hill
Encyclopedia
Justin Hill is an English
novelist whose novels have been nominated for the Man Booker Prize
three times. Born in Freeport
, Grand Bahama Island in 1971, he grew up in Yorkshire. He was educated at the historic St Peter's School
, York
.
Hill was a member of St Cuthbert's Society
, Durham University
, where he studied English Language and Medieval Literature. After leaving university in 1992, he worked with the VSO
(Voluntary Service Overseas) for seven years in rural China
and Eritrea
. His first novel, The Drink and Dream Teahouse, was a commentary on contemporary China
. It won a 2002 Betty Trask Award
, the 2003 Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize
, and was recommended by The Washington Post
as one of the Top Reads of 2001.
Passing Under Heaven, about the life of female poet Yu Xuanji
, won the 2005 Somerset Maugham Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 2005 Encore Award
.
Ciao Asmara, about the history and present of Eritrea
was shortlisted for the 2003 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.
Shieldwall is the first in the Conquest Trilogy of books, which chronicles the events surrounding the Battle of Hastings, in 1066.
His work has been translated into 13 languages, and banned in China
. He reviews regularly for The Times Literary Supplement
and the South China Morning Post
. In 2001, Justin was listed in the Independent on Sunday
s Top 20 Young British Writers.
In October 2005 he was awarded the Xiaoxiang Friendship Award by the Governor of Hunan
Province, for his services to the province. He teaches Creative Writing at the City University of Hong Kong
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
novelist whose novels have been nominated for the Man Booker Prize
Man Booker Prize
The Man Booker Prize for Fiction is a literary prize awarded each year for the best original full-length novel, written in the English language, by a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations, Ireland, or Zimbabwe. The winner of the Man Booker Prize is generally assured of international renown and...
three times. Born in Freeport
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of Grand Bahama of the North-west Bahamas. In 1955, Wallace Groves, a Virginian financier with lumber interests in Grand Bahama, was granted 50,000 acres Freeport is a city, district and free trade zone located on the island of...
, Grand Bahama Island in 1971, he grew up in Yorkshire. He was educated at the historic St Peter's School
St Peter's School, York
St Peter's School is a co-educational independent boarding and day school located in the English City of York, with extensive grounds on the banks of the River Ouse...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
Hill was a member of St Cuthbert's Society
St Cuthbert's Society
St Cuthbert's Society, colloquially known as Cuth's, is one of sixteen collegiate bodies within the University of Durham. It was founded in 1888 for students who were not attached to the existing colleges...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, where he studied English Language and Medieval Literature. After leaving university in 1992, he worked with the VSO
Voluntary Service Overseas
Voluntary Service Overseas is an international development charity that works through experienced volunteers living and working as equals alongside local partners. It is the largest independent volunteer-sending organization in the world...
(Voluntary Service Overseas) for seven years in rural China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
and Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. His first novel, The Drink and Dream Teahouse, was a commentary on contemporary China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It won a 2002 Betty Trask Award
Betty Trask Award
The Betty Trask Prize and Awards are for first novels written by authors under the age of 35, who reside in a current or former Commonwealth nation. The awards were established in 1984 by the Society of Authors, at the bequest of the late Betty Trask, a reclusive author of over thirty romance novels...
, the 2003 Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize
Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize
The Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize is a British literary prize established in 1963 in tribute to Geoffrey Faber, founder and first Chairman publisher Faber & Faber...
, and was recommended by The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
as one of the Top Reads of 2001.
Passing Under Heaven, about the life of female poet Yu Xuanji
Yu Xuanji
Yu Xuanji , courtesy names Youwei and Huìlan , was a Late Tang Dynasty Chinese poet, from in Chang'an. Her family name, Yu, is relatively rare. Her given name, Xuanji, means something like "Profound Theory" or "Mysterious Principle," and is a technical term in Daoism and Buddhism...
, won the 2005 Somerset Maugham Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 2005 Encore Award
Encore Award
The £10,000 Encore Award for the best second novel - now awarded biennially - was first awarded in 1990. It is administered by the Society of Authors and is sponsored by Lucy Astor. The award fills a niche in the catalogue of literary prizes by celebrating the achievement of outstanding second...
.
Ciao Asmara, about the history and present of Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
was shortlisted for the 2003 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award.
Shieldwall is the first in the Conquest Trilogy of books, which chronicles the events surrounding the Battle of Hastings, in 1066.
His work has been translated into 13 languages, and banned in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He reviews regularly for The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation.-History:...
and the South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
. In 2001, Justin was listed in the Independent on Sunday
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
s Top 20 Young British Writers.
In October 2005 he was awarded the Xiaoxiang Friendship Award by the Governor of Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
Province, for his services to the province. He teaches Creative Writing at the City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong is a comprehensive research university in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and became a fully accredited university in 1994. It has achieved fast growth in recent years and received international recognition for its academic achievements...
.
External links
- JustinHillAuthor.com
- Blog
- Bibliofemme Interview
- www.contemporarywriters.com
- Independent On Sunday Feature
- The Globalist Feature
- Reading Notes for The Drink and Dream Teahouse
- Author's Statement On Writing
- Podcast of Justin Hill discussing “Yu Xuanji and the Tang Dynasty” at the Shanghai International Literary Festival