Biography
Patrick Gale was born on the Isle of Wight in 1962, where his father was prison governor at Camp Hill prison. Later the family moved to London. He boarded at The Pilgrim's School, where he was a chorister, then went to Winchester College before reading English at Oxford University. He did a series of odd jobs to support his writing before becoming a full-time novelist, moving to Cornwall in 1987. He is the author of several novels, and also writes short stories and novellas. He has written one book of non-fiction, on the American novelist Armistead Maupin, and also writes book reviews for The Daily Telegraph.
His first two novels, Ease and The Aerodynamics of Pork, were published on the same day in 1986. The Facts of Life (1995) tells the story of Edward Pepper, an exile saved from Nazi Germany in the Kindertransport, and Tree Surgery for Beginners (1998) is about Laurence Frost, an inarticulate tree surgeon. A Sweet Obscurity (2003) is told from the alternating viewpoints of four separate characters. Friendly Fire (2003) draws on the author's own experience of a late 1970s adolescence, and his latest novel, Notes from an Exhibition (2007) is set in Cornwall, exploring the effects of mental illness on artist Rachel Kelly and her family.
Patrick Gale's book of short stories, Dangerous Pleasures (1996) contains his first published short story, 'Borneo', shortlisted for the Whitbread Short Story Award in 1985, and 'Wig', which has since been produced on stage as a touring live literature performance.
In 2002, Rough Music (2000) was shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and in 2008, Notes from an Exhibition was shortlisted for the British Book Awards: Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year, and won the Booksellers Association Independent Booksellers' Book Prize.
Mr. Gales latest book, The Whole Day Through Fourth Estate, is due out May 2009,
Bibliography
Ease Abacus, 1986
The Aerodynamics of Pork Abacus, 1986
Kansas in August Century, 1987
Facing the Tank Hutchinson, 1988
Little Bits of Baby Chatto & Windus, 1989
The Cat Sanctuary Chatto & Windus, 1990
Secret Lives (contributor) Constable, 1991
The Facts of Life Flamingo, 1995
Dangerous Pleasures (short stories) Flamingo, 1996
Tree Surgery for Beginners Flamingo, 1998
Armistead Maupin Absolute, 1999
Rough Music Flamingo, 2000
A Sweet Obscurity Flamingo, 2003
Friendly Fire (illustrated by Aidan Hicks) Fourth Estate, 2005
Notes from an Exhibition Fourth Estate, 2007
The Whole Day Through, Fourth Estate, due out May 2009
Prizes and awards
1985 Whitbread Short Story Award (shortlist - 'Borneo')
2002 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (shortlist) Rough Music
2008 Booksellers Association Independent Booksellers' Book Prize Notes from an Exhibition
2008 British Book Awards: Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year (shortlist) Notes from an Exhibition