Nigel Farndale
Encyclopedia
Nigel Farndale is a British author and journalist, known for his award-winning interviews in the Sunday Telegraph
.
He has written five books: two novels, two biographies and a collection of interviews. His novel The Blasphemer was shortlisted for the 2010 Costa Book Awards
and selected for the Richard and Judy Spring Book Club 2011.His biography Haw-Haw: The Tragedy of William and Margaret Joyce was published by Macmillan in 2005 and shortlisted for that year’s Whitbread Prize and James Tait Black Memorial Prize
.
Farndale grew up in the Yorkshire Dales, was educated at Barnard Castle School
, read philosophy for a master's degree at Durham University
and worked as a farmer before becoming a journalist — he wrote an abusive letter to Auberon Waugh
, who then asked him to write for Literary Review
. He was a contributor to various papers and magazines after that, among them the Sunday Times, Country Life
and Spectator
.
Since 1995, he has been a regular feature writer and columnist for the Sunday Telegraph
. His interview subjects for that paper include Henry Kissinger
, Mick Jagger
, Woody Allen
, the Dalai Lama, Prince Charles, Hillary Clinton, Paul McCartney
, George Best
and Stephen Hawking
. He has won a British Press Award for his interviews, and three commendations for them. In 2005, he was the joint subject of a programme about interviewing on Radio 4 — he and Lynn Barber
compared notes on Between Ourselves.
He is married with three sons and lives on the border between Hampshire and Sussex.
Sunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961. It is the sister paper of The Daily Telegraph, but is run separately with a different editorial staff, although there is some cross-usage of stories...
.
He has written five books: two novels, two biographies and a collection of interviews. His novel The Blasphemer was shortlisted for the 2010 Costa Book Awards
Costa Book Awards
The Costa Book Awards are a series of literary awards given to books by authors based in Great Britain and Ireland. They were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2005, after which Costa Coffee, a subsidiary of Whitbread, took over sponsorship....
and selected for the Richard and Judy Spring Book Club 2011.His biography Haw-Haw: The Tragedy of William and Margaret Joyce was published by Macmillan in 2005 and shortlisted for that year’s Whitbread Prize and James Tait Black Memorial Prize
James Tait Black Memorial Prize
Founded in 1919, the James Tait Black Memorial Prizes are among the oldest and most prestigious book prizes awarded for literature written in the English language and are Britain's oldest literary awards...
.
Farndale grew up in the Yorkshire Dales, was educated at Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle School , is a co-educational independent day and boarding school situated in the market town of Barnard Castle, in the North East of England. It was founded in 1883 as the North Eastern County School, with the name changed to the current one in 1924, and to this day is generally...
, read philosophy for a master's degree at 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...
and worked as a farmer before becoming a journalist — he wrote an abusive letter to Auberon Waugh
Auberon Waugh
Auberon Alexander Waugh was a British author and journalist, son of the novelist Evelyn Waugh. He was known to his family and friends as Bron Waugh.-Life and career:...
, who then asked him to write for Literary Review
Literary Review
Literary Review is a British literary magazine founded in 1979 by Anne Smith, then head of the Department of English at Edinburgh University. Its offices are currently on Lexington Street in Soho, London, and it has a circulation of 44,750. Britain's principal literary monthly, the magazine was...
. He was a contributor to various papers and magazines after that, among them the Sunday Times, Country Life
Country Life (magazine)
Country Life is a British weekly magazine, based in London at 110 Southwark Street, and owned by IPC Media, a Time Warner subsidiary.- Topics :The magazine covers the pleasures and joys of rural life, as well as the concerns of rural people...
and Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
.
Since 1995, he has been a regular feature writer and columnist for the Sunday Telegraph
Sunday Telegraph
The Sunday Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper, founded in February 1961. It is the sister paper of The Daily Telegraph, but is run separately with a different editorial staff, although there is some cross-usage of stories...
. His interview subjects for that paper include Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
, the Dalai Lama, Prince Charles, Hillary Clinton, Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
and Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
. He has won a British Press Award for his interviews, and three commendations for them. In 2005, he was the joint subject of a programme about interviewing on Radio 4 — he and Lynn Barber
Lynn Barber
Lynn Barber is a British journalist, who writes for The Sunday Times.-Early life:Barber attended Lady Eleanor Holles School...
compared notes on Between Ourselves.
He is married with three sons and lives on the border between Hampshire and Sussex.
Publications
- The Blasphemer. London, 2010. ISBN 0385617798
- Haw-Haw: The Tragedy of William and Margaret Joyce. London, 2005. ISBN 0333989929
- Flirtation, Seduction, Betrayal: Interviews with Heroes and Villains. London, 2002. ISBN 1841196444
- Last Action Hero of the British Empire: Commander John Kerans 1915–1985. London, 2001. ISBN 0571208258
- A Sympathetic Hanging. London, 2000. ISBN 0704381419