John Murray (novelist)
Encyclopedia
John Murray is an English
writer
and novelist known for writing satirical
novels on a range of subjects.
In 1984 he founded the prestigious fiction magazine Panurge, which he edited with fellow author David Almond
until 1996. Murray's first novel, Samarkand
, was published in 1985 and in 1988 he received the Dylan Thomas Award for his collection of stories, Pleasure. In 2002 his novel John Dory won a Lakeland Book of the Year Award, and his book Jazz Etc was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize
in 2003. His 2004 novel, Murphy's Favourite Channels, was a "Novel of the Week" in The Daily Telegraph
. He has also published several other critically acclaimed novels including, Kin, Reiver Blues, Radio Activity, and A Gentleman's Relish.
Murray has been a regular fiction tutor at The Arvon Foundation
since 1989 and every summer since 1995 he has led a creative writing
workshop at Madingley Hall, Cambridge
. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Brampton
, near Carlisle.
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...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and novelist known for writing satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
novels on a range of subjects.
In 1984 he founded the prestigious fiction magazine Panurge, which he edited with fellow author David Almond
David Almond
David Almond is a British children's writer who has written several novels, each one to critical acclaim.-Early life:Almond was born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia, he was born in 1951...
until 1996. Murray's first novel, Samarkand
Samarkand (novel)
Samarkand is a 1988 historical novel by the French-Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf. The story is set in Central Asia in the 11th century, and revolves around the mystic and poet Omar Khayyám, and a love affair he has with a female poet at he court of Samarkand...
, was published in 1985 and in 1988 he received the Dylan Thomas Award for his collection of stories, Pleasure. In 2002 his novel John Dory won a Lakeland Book of the Year Award, and his book Jazz Etc was longlisted 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...
in 2003. His 2004 novel, Murphy's Favourite Channels, was a "Novel of the Week" in The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
. He has also published several other critically acclaimed novels including, Kin, Reiver Blues, Radio Activity, and A Gentleman's Relish.
Murray has been a regular fiction tutor at The Arvon Foundation
Arvon Foundation
The Arvon Foundation is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which promotes creative writing. It is based in the Free Word Centre for literature, literacy and free expression in London.-History:...
since 1989 and every summer since 1995 he has led a creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
workshop at Madingley Hall, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in Brampton
Brampton, Carlisle, Cumbria
Brampton is a small market town and civil parish within the City of Carlisle district of Cumbria, England about 9 miles east of Carlisle and 2 miles south of Hadrian's Wall. It is situated off the A69 road which bypasses it...
, near Carlisle.