Lawrence Hill
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Hill is an award-winning Canadian
novelist and memoirist. He is best known for the 2001 memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada and the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes
.
Hill, the son of social scientist and public servant Daniel G. Hill
and social activist Donna Hill and the brother of singer-songwriter Dan Hill
, grew up in the Don Mills
neighbourhood of Toronto
. He currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife and five children.
In 1968, he signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In 2007, Hill collaborated with former US-Army soldier (now deserter) Joshua Key
to write Key's account of the Iraq War. His book The Deserter's Tale, the story of an ordinary soldier who walked away from the war in Iraq is the result of their interviews and meetings.
Lawrence Hill has a deep interest in the advancement of women and girls in Africa. He is an honorary patron with Canadian Crossroads International, and he volunteered overseas with Crossroads three times -- to Niger, Mali and Cameroon in the 1970s and 80s. This experience has had a profound impact on Hill as a person and as a writer. His first published work of fiction, a short story My Side of the Fence, recounted his experiences with Crossroads in Niger.
, the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize
, the 2008 Evergreen Award (presented by the Ontario Library Association) and the 2009 edition of Canada Reads
. The book was published in the US under the title Someone Knows My Name.
He won the 2005 National Magazine Award for best essay for his work entitled "Is Africa's Pain Black America's Burden?", published in The Walrus
. Hill also wrote the screenplay for Seeking Salvation, a documentary film about the Black church in Canada. Seeking Salvation won the American Wilbur Award for best national television documentary in 2005.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
novelist and memoirist. He is best known for the 2001 memoir Black Berry, Sweet Juice: On Being Black and White in Canada and the 2007 novel The Book of Negroes
The Book of Negroes (novel)
The Book of Negroes is a 2007 award-winning novel from Canadian writer Lawrence Hill. In the United States, Australia and New Zealand, the novel was published under the title Someone Knows My Name.-Plot introduction:...
.
Hill, the son of social scientist and public servant Daniel G. Hill
Daniel G. Hill
Daniel Grafton Hill III, was a Canadian sociologist, civil servant, human rights specialist, and Black Canadian historian....
and social activist Donna Hill and the brother of singer-songwriter Dan Hill
Dan Hill
Daniel Grafton "Dan" Hill IV is a Canadian pop singer and songwriter. He had two major hits with his songs, "Sometimes When We Touch" and "Can't We Try," a duet with Vonda Shepard.-Early life and career:...
, grew up in the Don Mills
Don Mills
Don Mills is a mixed-use neighbourhood in the North York district of Toronto, Canada. It was developed to be a self-supporting "new town" and was at the time located outside of Toronto proper. Consisting of residential, commercial and industrial sub-districts, it was planned and developed by...
neighbourhood of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario with his wife and five children.
In 1968, he signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. In 2007, Hill collaborated with former US-Army soldier (now deserter) Joshua Key
Josh Key
Joshua Key is a United States Army deserter, who fled while on leave from the Iraq War, and is a current resident of Canada. He is the author, with Lawrence Hill, of The Deserter's Tale, a book chronicling his service in Iraq and his subsequent departure from military life.-Personal life:Joshua Key...
to write Key's account of the Iraq War. His book The Deserter's Tale, the story of an ordinary soldier who walked away from the war in Iraq is the result of their interviews and meetings.
Lawrence Hill has a deep interest in the advancement of women and girls in Africa. He is an honorary patron with Canadian Crossroads International, and he volunteered overseas with Crossroads three times -- to Niger, Mali and Cameroon in the 1970s and 80s. This experience has had a profound impact on Hill as a person and as a writer. His first published work of fiction, a short story My Side of the Fence, recounted his experiences with Crossroads in Niger.
Awards
The Book of Negroes was longlisted for the Giller Prize and won the 2007 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction PrizeRogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize
The Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize is a Canadian literary award presented by Rogers Communications and the Writers' Trust of Canada after an annual juried competition between publishers who submit entries....
, the 2008 Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Writers' Prize
Commonwealth Writers is an initiative by the Commonwealth Foundation to unearth, develop and promote the best new fiction from across the Commonwealth. It's flagship are two literary awards and a website...
, the 2008 Evergreen Award (presented by the Ontario Library Association) and the 2009 edition of Canada Reads
Canada Reads
Canada Reads is an annual "battle of the books" competition organized and broadcast by Canada's public broadcaster, the CBC.-Overview:During Canada Reads, five personalities champion five different books, each champion extolling the merits of one of the titles. The debate is broadcast over a series...
. The book was published in the US under the title Someone Knows My Name.
He won the 2005 National Magazine Award for best essay for his work entitled "Is Africa's Pain Black America's Burden?", published in The Walrus
The Walrus
The Walrus is a Canadian general interest magazine which publishes long form journalism on Canadian and international affairs, along with fiction and poetry by Canadian writers. It launched in September 2003, as an attempt to create a Canadian equivalent to American magazines such as Harper's, The...
. Hill also wrote the screenplay for Seeking Salvation, a documentary film about the Black church in Canada. Seeking Salvation won the American Wilbur Award for best national television documentary in 2005.
Novels
- Some Great Thing (1992)
- Any Known Blood (1997)
- The Book of NegroesThe Book of Negroes (novel)The Book of Negroes is a 2007 award-winning novel from Canadian writer Lawrence Hill. In the United States, Australia and New Zealand, the novel was published under the title Someone Knows My Name.-Plot introduction:...
(2007), published as Someone Knows My Name in the U.S.A, Australia, and New Zealand.
Non-fiction
- Trials and Triumphs: The Story of African-Canadians (1993)
- Women of Vision: The Story of the Canadian Negro Women's Association (1996)
- Black Berry, Sweet Juice (2001)
- The Deserter's Tale (2007)