Paul Torday
Encyclopedia
Paul Torday is a British writer and the author of the comic novel, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. The book was the winner of the 2007 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize
for comic writing and was serialised on BBC Radio 4
. It won the Waverton Good Read Award
in 2008.
Born in 1946 and educated at Pembroke College, Oxford
, Torday only turned to fiction-writing later in life, and his first novel was published at the age of 59. Prior to that he was a successful businessman living in Northumberland
. The inspiration for the novel stemmed from Torday's interest in both fly fishing
and the Middle East
. From these two strands, he weaves a political satire that centres around the world of political spin management.
His second novel is entitled The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (titled Bordeaux in the United States) and is about a man who drinks himself to death.
In 2008 he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Galaxy British Book Awards.
Torday's third book The Girl on the Landing was published in 2009. This novel deals principally with the themes of schizophrenia
and racism
.
Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize
The Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize is the UK's only literary award for comic literature. Established in 2000 and named in honour of P G Wodehouse, past winners include Paul Torday in 2007 with Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and Marina Lewycka with A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian 2005 and...
for comic writing and was serialised on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. It won the Waverton Good Read Award
Waverton Good Read Award
The Waverton Good Read Award was founded in 2003 by villagers in Waverton, Cheshire, England, and is based on Le Prix de la Cadière d'Azur, a literary prize awarded by a Provençal village. Adult debut novels written by UK residents and published in the previous twelve months are eligible for...
in 2008.
Born in 1946 and educated at Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
, Torday only turned to fiction-writing later in life, and his first novel was published at the age of 59. Prior to that he was a successful businessman living in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. The inspiration for the novel stemmed from Torday's interest in both fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. From these two strands, he weaves a political satire that centres around the world of political spin management.
His second novel is entitled The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce (titled Bordeaux in the United States) and is about a man who drinks himself to death.
In 2008 he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Galaxy British Book Awards.
Torday's third book The Girl on the Landing was published in 2009. This novel deals principally with the themes of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
and racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
Novels
Torday's novels include:- (2006) Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
- (2008) The Irresistible Inheritance of Wilberforce
- (2009) The Girl on the Landing
- (2010) The Hopeless Life Of Charlie Summers
- (2011) More Than You Can Say