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Ben Myers

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Ben Myers
BornJanuary 1976 (age 48)
Durham,County Durham,England
OccupationWriter and journalist
Alma materUniversity of Bedfordshire
Notable awardsPortico Prize For Literature. Gordon Burn Prize. Roger Deakin Award. Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Goldsmiths Prize.
SpouseAdelle Stripe
Website
www.benjaminmyerswriter.com

Benjamin Myers(born January 1976) is an English writer[1]and journalist.

Early life[edit]

Myers grew up inBelmont, County Durham,[2]and was a pupil at the estate's localcomprehensive schoolwhere he become interested in reading and skateboarding.[3]

Myers attended his first concert in Durham in March 1990, when he was fourteen. It led to him forming thepunk rockband Sour Face the next year.[4]The band quickly became involved in the Durhamhardcore punkscene. Despite being one of the few bands in the scene that was notstraight edge,Sour Face became the mascots, with their third performance seeing them open forNOFX.Voorhees' first performance was opening for Sour Face in September 1991.[5]

As a teenager Myers began writing for British weeklyMelody Maker.[6]In 1997 he became their staff writer while residing in theOval Mansionssquat for several years. In 2011 he published an article, about his brief time as an intern atNews of the World.[6]He has spoken about failing English Literature at A-level and being rejected by "more than a hundred" universities before being accepted by theUniversity of Bedfordshire(formerly Luton University).[7]

Work[edit]

Journalism[edit]

As a journalist, Myers has written about literature, music and the arts for a number of publications includingNew Statesman,Mojo,The Guardian,NME,The Spectator,BBC,New Scientist,Alternative Press,Kerrang!,Plan B,Arena,Bizarre,The Quietus,Vice,Shortlist,Caught by the River,Metal Hammer,The Morning Star,Classic Rock,3:AM Magazine,MineshaftandTime Out.

Books[edit]

Myers' books span literary fiction, nature/landscape writing, crime, historical fiction and poetry. He has been translated into eight languages. He has published several poetry collections and written a number of music biographies which have been widely translated. He is a founding member of theBrutalists,a literary collective including authorsAdelle StripeandTony O'Neill.His second novel,Richard: A Novel,was a fictionalized account of the life of musicianRichey Edwards.It was published byPicadorin October 2010, and polarised critical opinion.

Pig Iron(2012) was set in the traveller/gypsy community of the northeast of England and was the first to be published under his full name Benjamin Myers. Published byBluemoose Books,it won the inauguralGordon Burn Prize[8]and was longlisted for3:AM Magazine.com's 'Novels of the Year'[9]and runner-up inThe Guardian's 'Not The Booker Prize',[10]in the same year.

Myers' novelThe Gallows Pole(2017), based on the true story of theCragg Vale Coiners,received aRoger DeakinAward and won the 2018Walter Scott Prizefor historical fiction.[11]As part of the prize, both author and book title appeared as the official Royal Mail franking stamp for a week on an estimated 60 million pieces of mail. It was released by Third Man Books, part ofThird Man Recordsin the US and Canada.[12]In 2021 the BBC announced an adaptation of the novel by directorShane Meadows.[13]It was first broadcast on BBC2 on 31 May 2023.[14][15]

His novelThe Offing(2019) featured onRadio 4's Book At Bedtime, was aRadio 2Book Club choice and was chosen as a book of the year inThe Times.The audiobook was narrated by actorRalph Ineson.A stage version ofThe Offingwas produced inScarboroughandNewcastlein 2021,[16]and it was announced in 2023 that a film would be produced of the novel starringHelena Bonham Carterand directed byJessica Hobbs.[17]

In late 2018 it was reported he had signed toBloomsbury Publishing.[18] The deal was satirised in the 'Books & Bookmen' column inPrivate Eye.[19]

Cuddy,his eighth novel, combines poetry, prose, play, diary and real historical accounts of the story and legacy ofSt. Cuthbertand his connection toDurham Cathedral.[20][21]

Personal life[edit]

Myers lives in theCalder Valleywith his wife, the authorAdelle Stripe.[22]

Honours[edit]

In 2014 Myers won the Society of AuthorsTom-Gallon Trust Award[23]for his short story, 'The Folk Song Singer'. He was runner-up in the same prize in 2018 for his story 'A Thousand Acres Of English Soil'. His poem 'The Path To Pendle Hill' was selected byNew Statesmanas one of its Poems Of The Year 2015[24]and work from the same collection were read by Myers on BBC1 programmeCountryfile.

His novelBeastings(2014) won thePortico Prize For Literatureand theNorthern Writers' Award.It was also longlisted for theJerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize.In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters fromYork St John University.[25]

Myers is a Fellow of theRoyal Society of Literature.[26]He was awarded the 2023Goldsmiths Prizefor his novel,Cuddy,which was described by the judges as "a book of remarkable range, virtuosity and creative daring."[27]

Awards[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

Fiction[edit]

Novels[edit]

Short stories[edit]

  • Male Tears(Bloomsbury, 2021)[49]

Crime fiction[edit]

  • Turning Blue(Moth/Mayfly, 2016. Bloomsbury, 2022)[50]
  • These Darkening Days(Moth/Mayfly, 2017. Bloomsbury, 2022)[51]

Short fiction[edit]

  • The Whip Hand(Tangerine Press, 2018). Short story (Signed/limited edition hand-sewn chapbook)[52]
  • Snorri & Frosti(Galley Beggar Press / 3:AM Press, 2013). Novella (limited edition paperback and Ebook)[53]

Non-fiction[edit]

  • American Heretics: Rebel Voices In Music(Codex, 2002)[54]
  • Under The Rock(Elliott & Thompson, 2018)[55]

Poetry[edit]

  • I, Axl: An American Dream(online only, 2008–2009)
  • Spam: Email Inspired Poems(Blackheath, 2008)[56]
  • Nowhere Fast(co-written with Tony O'Neill and Adelle Stripe (Captains Of Industry, 2008)
  • The Raven of Jórvíkshire(Tangerine Press, 2017)
  • Heathcliff Adrift(New Writing North, 2014. Reissued 2018)[57]
  • The Offing: Poems by Romy Landau(Bloomsbury/Tangerine Press, 2019)

Music biography / essays[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Myers, Benjamin (3 January 2020)."'I was half-insane with anxiety': how I wrote myself into a breakdown ".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved3 January2020– via www.theguardian.com.
  2. ^Writing Durham: Ben Myers.7 August 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 22 December 2021.Retrieved7 August2019.
  3. ^Myers, Benjamin (13 October 2018)."Benjamin Myers on Durham: 'I spent a lot of time up trees or trespassing on roofs'".The Guardian.Retrieved7 December2020.
  4. ^"The Quietus | Features | Baker's Dozen | The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Music: Benjamin Myers' Favourite Music".The Quietus.Retrieved24 March2023.
  5. ^Stewart, Ethan (2 December 2020)."A Look at the '80s and '90s UK Straight Edge Hardcore Scenes".Retrieved7 December2020.
  6. ^abMyers, Ben (8 July 2011)."My Time Undercover At The News Of The World".Vice.Archivedfrom the original on 24 May 2021.Retrieved24 May2021.
  7. ^Law, Jackie (15 January 2018)."Author Interview: Benjamin Myers".neverimitate.Retrieved24 March2023.
  8. ^"Benjamin Myers wins Gordon Burn Prize".Newwritingnorth.com. Archived fromthe originalon 3 February 2014.Retrieved12 August2014.
  9. ^"3:AM Awards 2012: Longlist".3:AM Magazine.Retrieved12 August2014.
  10. ^Jordison, Sam (15 October 2012)."Not the Booker prize: The winner | Books".The Guardian.theguardian.com.Retrieved12 August2014.
  11. ^"Benjamin Myers wins Walter Scott Prize 2018".BBC News.17 June 2018.Retrieved18 June2018.
  12. ^"Jack White's imprint signs Benjamin Myers | The Bookseller".www.thebookseller.com.
  13. ^Bley Griffiths, Eleanor."BBC announces new Shane Meadows drama The Gallows Pole, based on 'the biggest fraud in British history'".Radio Times.Archivedfrom the original on 19 May 2021.Retrieved24 May2021.
  14. ^Richardson, Hollie; Davies, Hannah J.; Verdier, Hannah; Virtue, Graeme (31 May 2023)."TV tonight: Shane Meadows's first period drama is about the Cragg Vale Coiners".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2023.Retrieved31 May2023.
  15. ^"The Gallows Pole - Watch the trailer for Shane Meadows' new drama".www.bbc.co.uk.19 May 2023. Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2023.Retrieved31 May2023.
  16. ^Fisher, Mark (22 October 2021)."The Offing review – soft-pedalled adaptation of Benjamin Myers novel".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved10 March2023.
  17. ^Barraclough, Leo (8 February 2023)."Helena Bonham Carter to Star in 'The Offing,' Reteaming With 'The Crown' Director Jessica Hobbs".Variety.Retrieved10 March2023.
  18. ^"Myers moves to Bloomsbury for 'exquisite' novel | The Bookseller".www.thebookseller.com.
  19. ^"Private Eye".21 December 2018.
  20. ^Allan, Nina (9 March 2023)."Cuddy by Benjamin Myers review – a visionary history".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved24 March2023.
  21. ^Anderson, Hephzibah (19 March 2023)."Cuddy by Benjamin Myers review – a polyphonic hymn to the north-east".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved24 March2023.
  22. ^Charlesworth, Antonia (23 May 2022)."Radical and gently revolutionary".Big Issue North.Retrieved16 July2022.
  23. ^"Tom-Gallon Trust Award | Society of Authors – Protecting the rights and furthering the interests of authors".Society of Authors. Archived fromthe originalon 19 July 2014.Retrieved12 August2014.
  24. ^"Poems of the year".www.newstatesman.com.8 June 2021.
  25. ^"York St John University announces 2019 honorary graduates".York St John University.11 October 2019.
  26. ^Creamer, Ella (12 July 2023)."Royal Society of Literature aims to broaden representation as it announces 62 new fellows".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved31 July2023.
  27. ^Creamer, Ella (8 November 2023)."Benjamin Myers wins 2023 Goldsmiths prize for 'vital' novel Cuddy".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved10 November2023.
  28. ^"Northern Writers' Awards 2013".New Writing North.Archivedfrom the original on 27 May 2021.
  29. ^"Gordon Burn Prize 2013".Gordon Burn Prize.Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2017.
  30. ^"Tom-Gallon Trust Award 2014".Society of Authors.8 May 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2020.
  31. ^"Fiction Uncovered Prize Longlist 2015".Jerwood Arts.12 May 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 21 January 2021.
  32. ^Cowdrey, Katherine (30 November 2015)."Myers and Benson win £10k Portico Literature Prize".The Bookseller.Retrieved27 May2021.
  33. ^Duffy, Kevin (29 December 2016)."The Society of Authors' Roger Deakin Award 2016".Bluemoose Books.Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2021.
  34. ^Griffiths, Neil."The Republic of Consciousness Prize longlist".TLS.Archivedfrom the original on 21 September 2020.
  35. ^"Past winners of the Tom-Gallon Trust Award".Society of Authors.8 May 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 6 August 2020.Retrieved27 May2021.
  36. ^"Benjamin Myers wins Walter Scott Prize 2018".BBC Scotland.18 June 2018.
  37. ^"Le Prix Polars Pourpres".Polars Pourpres.Archivedfrom the original on 17 June 2015.
  38. ^"Portico Prize Shortlist 2020".The Portico Library.Archivedfrom the original on 1 November 2019.
  39. ^"Benjamin Myers'" Offene See "ist das Lieblingsbuch der Unabhängigen 2020".Buch Markt.7 November 2020.
  40. ^"Myers wins Goldsmiths Prize for Cuddy".Books+Publishing. 9 November 2023.Retrieved9 November2023.
  41. ^Sherburn, Lucy (22 March 2024)."Winston Graham Historical Prize Winner Announced!".Royal Cornwall Museum.Retrieved23 March2024.
  42. ^Wood, Heloise (26 April 2024)."Isabella Hammad and Benjamin Myers shortlisted for £10k Ondaatje Prize".The Bookseller.Retrieved30 April2024.
  43. ^Myers, Benjamin (2004).The book of fuck.North Cave, East Yorkshire: Wrecking Ball Press.ISBN1-903110-15-7.OCLC56791363.
  44. ^"Richard: Amazon.co.uk: Ben Myers: Books".Amazon.co.uk.Retrieved12 August2014.
  45. ^"benjamin myers pig iron: Books".Amazon.co.uk.Retrieved12 August2014.
  46. ^Myers, Benjamin (2019).Beastings.London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.ISBN978-1-5266-1122-2.OCLC1111949459.
  47. ^Myers, Benjamin (2019).The gallows pole.London.ISBN978-1-5266-1115-4.OCLC1102319901.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  48. ^Cook, Jude (21 August 2019)."The Offing by Benjamin Myers review – poignant story of an unlikely friendship".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved3 January2020– via www.theguardian.com.
  49. ^Myers, Benjamin (2021).Male Tears.London, UK: Bloomsbury.ISBN978-1-5266-1134-5.OCLC1238056757.
  50. ^Myers, Benjamin (2016).Turning blue.Rainton Bridge.ISBN978-1-911356-00-4.OCLC945718656.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  51. ^Myers, Benjamin (2017).These darkening days.Tyne and Wear, England.ISBN978-1-911356-02-8.OCLC990643416.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  52. ^MYERS, BENJAMIN (2018).WHIP HAND.SICK FLY PUBLICATIONS.ISBN978-1-910691-39-7.OCLC1059320282.
  53. ^"Snorri & Frosti by Ben Myers Ltd Edition Christmas paperback from 3AM Press – with added sparkles! – Galley Beggar Press".Galleybeggar.co.uk. 1 December 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2014.Retrieved12 August2014.
  54. ^Myers, Benjamin (2002).American heretics: rebel voices in music.Hove: Codex.ISBN1-899598-23-5.OCLC50175926.
  55. ^MYERS, BENJAMIN (2019).UNDER THE ROCK: the poetry of a place.ELLIOTT & THOMPSON LIMITE.ISBN978-1-78396-436-9.OCLC1079920878.
  56. ^Myers, Benjamin (2008).Spam: email inspired poetry.[Llanteg]: Blackheath Books.ISBN978-1-906099-07-7.OCLC648080523.
  57. ^MYERS, BENJAMIN (2018).HEATHCLIFF ADRIFT.MAYFLY Press.ISBN978-1-911356-08-0.OCLC1028232969.
  58. ^Myers, Benjamin (2004).John Lydon: PiL, Pistols and anti-celebrity.London: Independent Music.ISBN0-9539942-7-9.OCLC56640176.
  59. ^Myers, Benjamin (2005).Green Day: American idiots & the new punk explosion.Church Stretton: Independent Music Press.ISBN0-9539942-9-5.OCLC64553821.
  60. ^Myers, Benjamin (2006).System of a Down: right here in Hollywood.Church Stretton: Independent Music.ISBN978-0-9549704-6-8.OCLC63136435.
  61. ^Myers, Benjamin (2004).MUSE.London: Independent Music.ISBN0-9539942-6-0.OCLC56438421.
  62. ^Lowry, Ray; Ben Myers (2007).The Clash.Warwick: Angry Penguin.ISBN978-1-906283-36-0.OCLC165412921.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Myers&oldid=1230862366"