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

Key Information

Early life

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Myers grew up in Belmont, County Durham,[2] and was a pupil at the estate's local comprehensive school where he became 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 the punk rock band Sour Face the next year.[4] The band quickly became involved in the Durham hardcore punk scene. Despite being one of the few bands in the scene that was not straight edge, Sour Face became the mascots, with their third performance seeing them open for NOFX. Voorhees' first performance was opening for Sour Face in September 1991.[5]

As a teenager Myers began writing for British weekly Melody Maker.[6] In 1997 he became their staff writer while residing in the Oval Mansions squat for several years. In 2011 he published an article, about his brief time as an intern at News 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 the University of Bedfordshire (formerly Luton University).[7]

Work

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Journalism

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As a journalist, Myers has written about literature, music and the arts for a number of publications including New 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, Mineshaft and Time Out.

Books

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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 the Brutalists, a literary collective including authors Adelle Stripe and Tony O'Neill. His second novel, Richard: A Novel, was a fictionalized account of the life of musician Richey Edwards. It was published by Picador in 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 by Bluemoose Books, it won the inaugural Gordon Burn Prize[8] and was longlisted for 3:AM Magazine's 'Novels of the Year'[9] and runner-up in The Guardian's 'Not The Booker Prize',[10] in the same year.

Myers' novel The Gallows Pole (2017), based on the true story of the Cragg Vale Coiners, received a Roger Deakin Award and won the 2018 Walter Scott Prize for 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 of Third Man Records in the US and Canada.[12] In 2021 the BBC announced an adaptation of the novel by director Shane Meadows.[13] It was first broadcast on BBC2 on 31 May 2023.[14][15]

His novel The Offing (2019) featured on Radio 4's Book At Bedtime, was a Radio 2 Book Club choice and was chosen as a book of the year in The Times. The audiobook was narrated by actor Ralph Ineson. A stage version of The Offing was produced in Scarborough and Newcastle in 2021,[16] and it was announced in 2023 that a film would be produced of the novel starring Helena Bonham Carter and directed by Jessica Hobbs.[17]

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

Cuddy, his eighth novel, combines poetry, prose, play, diary and real historical accounts of the story and legacy of St. Cuthbert and his connection to Durham Cathedral.[20][21]

Rare Singles, his ninth novel, is set across a Northern Soul weekender in Scarborough and is currently in development as a film.[22]

Personal life

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Myers lives in the Calder Valley with his wife, the author Adelle Stripe.[23]

Honours

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In 2014 Myers won the Society of Authors Tom-Gallon Trust Award[24] 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 by New Statesman as one of its Poems Of The Year 2015[25] and work from the same collection were read by Myers on BBC1 programme Countryfile.

His novel Beastings (2014) won the Portico Prize For Literature and the Northern Writers' Award. It was also longlisted for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize. In 2019 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from York St John University.[26]

Myers was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2023.[27] He was awarded the 2023 Goldsmiths Prize for his novel, Cuddy, which was described by the judges as "a book of remarkable range, virtuosity and creative daring."[28]

Awards

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Bibliography

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ben Myers

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Benjamin Myers (born 1976) is a British author and journalist renowned for his literary fiction that often intertwines themes of landscape, class, history, and the rural north of England, with his works translated into thirteen languages. Myers was born in Durham, UK, and currently resides in the Upper Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, where he draws inspiration from the region's industrial and natural heritage. His debut novel, Richard (2010), marked his entry into publishing, followed by critically acclaimed works such as Pig Iron (2012), which won the Gordon Burn Prize for its portrayal of Traveller communities, and Beastings (2014), a Gothic tale that secured the Portico Prize. Myers achieved broader recognition with The Gallows Pole (2017), a historical novel about 18th-century coin counterfeiters that won the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and was adapted into a BBC and A24 television series in 2023. His 2019 novel The Offing, set in post-World War II Britain, became an international bestseller in the UK and Germany, selling over 300,000 copies and slated for screen adaptation. More recent publications include The Perfect Golden Circle (2022), exploring music festivals and rural life, Cuddy (2023), a polyphonic narrative centered on the life of Saint Cuthbert, which won the Goldsmiths Prize for innovative fiction, Rare Singles (2024), and his latest novel Jesus Christ Kinski (2025). In addition to novels, Myers has authored non-fiction, poetry, and journalism, contributing to outlets like The Guardian, and he holds a fellowship with the Royal Society of Literature. His body of work has earned multiple accolades, including the Northern Writers’ Award and the Tom-Gallon Prize, establishing him as a prominent voice in contemporary British literature.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Benjamin Myers was born in 1976 at Dryburn Hospital in Durham, , . He grew up in the suburb of Belmont, approximately three miles from the city center, on a postwar developed in the for young professionals starting families; his parents had relocated there in 1967 and remained throughout his childhood. The family resided in a lower-middle-class environment characterized by neat lawns, a sense of safety, and close-knit relations, amid the broader socioeconomic shifts in the North East, including the decline of the coal industry under Margaret Thatcher's policies during his formative years. Myers' early childhood was marked by a degree of independence fostered by his parents, who allowed him significant freedom as a "part-feral child." By age seven in , he was exploring the city alone via bus, browsing books, records, and antiques while interacting with strangers, and he received a bicycle that expanded his adventures around the neighborhood. He spent much time in natural surroundings, climbing trees, trespassing on municipal roofs and edgelands—transitional spaces of scrubland and farmed fields bordering Belmont—and along the banks of the , developing an early affinity for the region's uniform postwar landscapes and seasonal rhythms. These experiences, set against the spirited community life of summer holidays and local events like the 1984-1985 miners' strike, instilled a lasting sense of northern English identity tied to place, class dynamics, and industrial heritage. The Myers household provided early exposure to literature and culture, with a diverse collection of books including works by , , Bram Stoker’s , Daniel Defoe’s , Mark Twain’s , and Judy Blume’s novels, which he read avidly before age twelve. Music and broader artistic influences emerged through family and community, though specific pre-teen details are sparse; the era's punk and hardcore scenes in the North East later resonated with his exploratory spirit. Personal events, such as his grandfather's at age ten and his own removal at age twelve following a accident, underscored the fragility of life in this working landscape, shaping themes of resilience and community that would inform his later worldview.

Education and early influences

Myers grew up in Belmont, a suburb of Durham, where he attended the local and first developed a keen interest in reading. By age 10, he had devoured the works of American children's authors such as , Betsy Byars, and , often submitting weekly book reports on Blume's novels during junior school. His reading tastes soon veered toward the macabre; at around age 10 or 11, he encountered a graphic account of Denis Nilsen, which sparked an early fascination with darker themes. In his mid-teens, Myers immersed himself in the local music scene, forming the hardcore punk band Sour Face in 1991 at age 14 with school friends in a garage in Durham City. Playing bass alongside a 13-year-old singer and other bandmates, the group performed approximately 40 gigs over two years at youth clubs and venues like the Riverside in Newcastle, navigating challenges such as confrontations with neo-Nazi skinheads. This involvement was profoundly shaped by the DIY ethos of punk and acts including , , and the , instilling in him a rejection of formal permissions and an embrace of raw, unpolished creativity. A formative incident occurred at age 12 when a skateboarding accident led to the removal of a , followed by recuperation in , , deepening his connection to northern landscapes. After failing his A-levels, Myers persistently contacted over a hundred universities before securing a place at the University of Luton (now the University of Bedfordshire) to study English Literature, beginning his degree at age 18 and graduating in the late 1990s. This formal education, pursued amid his growing passion for writing and music, laid the groundwork for his intellectual development, though his early influences remained rooted in the working-class grit of his Durham upbringing.

Career

Journalism and media contributions

Myers began his journalism career in the mid-1990s as a staff writer for Melody Maker, where he covered music and culture during the Britpop era and beyond. Transitioning to freelance work in the late 1990s and early 2000s, he contributed regularly to music and culture magazines such as NME, Mojo, Kerrang!, and The Quietus, focusing on alternative and underground scenes. His early pieces often profiled emerging artists and critiqued the indie rock landscape, establishing his voice in music journalism. Throughout his career, Myers' journalism has centered on interconnected themes of , , , and social issues, including class disparities and environmental concerns. In The Quietus, he has penned notable series and essays, such as reflections on grime 's collision with urban life in "My (Half) Life Of Grime" (2011) and personal accounts of punk subcultures in "Sham 91: Benjamin Myers on his Teenage Punk Band Sour Face" (2024), highlighting underground scenes' raw energy and societal undercurrents. For broader outlets like and , he has delivered cultural critiques, including profiles of musicians and examinations of regional decline, such as his 2024 Guardian piece on neglected health and education in his hometown of Durham amid political shifts. These works blend personal insight with broader commentary on class and environment, influencing his literary style through vivid, place-based narratives. As a into the , Myers has sustained contributions across print and online media, evolving toward eclectic essays on anxiety in extreme music—like his analysis of Napalm Death's ultra-short track "" for —and nature's role in , as in his introduction to Glyn Hughes' . By 2024, he continued columns on pop music's ephemeral beauty in , such as "180 Seconds of Perfection: Benjamin Myers on the Beauty of the Three-Minute Pop Song," tying personal obsessions to wider artistic trends. While primarily essayistic, his media presence has extended to occasional radio discussions and appearances, though his core output remains in periodical .

Literary career overview

Ben Myers began his literary career with the publication of his Richard in 2010, a fictionalized account inspired by the life and disappearance of guitarist , which became a and was selected as a Sunday Times Book of the Year. This work marked the start of his exploration into music-influenced biography, drawing from his parallel path in to blend factual elements with narrative invention. Over the subsequent decade, Myers progressed to novels such as Pig Iron (2012) and Beastings (2014), establishing his reputation for gritty, character-driven stories rooted in the socio-economic realities of . Thematically, Myers' oeuvre consistently engages with northern English landscapes, portraying them as both haunting backdrops and active forces in tales of working-class resilience, historical upheavals, and environmental degradation. His narratives often weave post-industrial decline with ecological concerns, as seen in works like The Gallows Pole (2017), a historical fiction recounting the 18th-century Cragg Vale Coiners' rebellion against economic oppression, which earned the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Stylistically, Myers shifted from the raw, confessional tone of his early music biography-inspired fiction toward more experimental forms in historical novels, exemplified by Cuddy (2023), an innovative polyphonic retelling of St. Cuthbert's legacy across centuries that won the Goldsmiths Prize for innovative fiction. In recent years, Myers has continued to diversify, with Rare Singles (2024) receiving acclaim for its humorous yet poignant depiction of unlikely friendships and second chances amid northern stagnation, described as a "book of affection and frustration" that celebrates regional soul. His 2025 novel Jesus Christ Kinski, a daring autofictional plunge into the psyche of actor during a chaotic performance, has been praised as a "compelling" and "virtuoso" exploration of madness and artistry, further showcasing his evolving formal range. Career milestones include translations of his works into 13 languages and several adaptations, such as the / screen version of The Gallows Pole directed by and ongoing developments for The Offing and Rare Singles.

Literary works

Novels

Ben Myers's novels often delve into the lives of outsiders and the undercurrents of British , , and , blending gritty realism with poetic evocations of place. His debut novel, The Book of Fuck (2004, Wrecking Ball Press), is a satirical written in real time over seven days, exaggerating the absurd underworld of and reality into a pun-filled homage and critique of the industry. (2010, Cargo Publishing), is a fictionalized biography of , the and of the , chronicling his struggles with depression, anorexia, self-harm, and eventual disappearance in 1995. The narrative unfolds through Edwards's introspective voice, exploring themes of identity, fame's toll on , and the punk ethos of rebellion against conformity. Critics praised its raw emotional depth and authentic portrayal of 1990s music scene angst, though some faulted it for potentially exploiting a real-life . In (2012, Bluemoose Books), Myers shifts to post-industrial , following John-John, a young Traveller confronting his father's violent legacy as a bare-knuckle boxer while seeking solace in the natural world. The plot traces his journey of redemption amid family trauma and societal marginalization, with key themes including cycles of violence, class disparity, and the healing power of wilderness. The novel received acclaim for its visceral prose and unflinching depiction of Traveller life, winning the inaugural Prize. Snorri & Frosti (2013, Galley Beggar Press), a haunting novella, depicts two elderly brothers living in isolation in a north European cabin, chopping wood and navigating their fraternal bond amid subtle tensions and memories. It explores themes of aging, companionship, and the quiet endurance of rural life. Beastings (2014, Bluemoose Books) presents a taut chase thriller set in the rugged Cumbrian fells, where a mute teenage girl flees with a stolen baby, pursued by a predatory and a poacher. Through multiple perspectives, it examines themes of lost, maternal , religious , and the brutality of rural isolation. Myers's use of stark, elemental language amplifies the novel's gothic intensity, earning it the Portico Prize and widespread praise as a modern folk tale of moral ambiguity. Turning Blue (2016, Bluemoose Books), the first in the Mace & Brindle series, is a rural noir crime novel set in the isolated Yorkshire Dales, where a teenage girl goes missing, drawing in a local journalist and elite detectives. It delves into themes of hidden depravity, rural decay, and personal sacrifice, praised for its atmospheric tension and unflinching portrayal of violence. These Darkening Days (2017, Bluemoose Books), the sequel, continues the series in a bohemian Pennine valley town rocked by savage attacks, following the investigators as they uncover layers of alternative lifestyles and underlying darkness. It builds on themes of community secrets, seasonal dread, and moral ambiguity in northern settings. Myers's historical novel The Gallows Pole (2017, Bluemoose Books) recreates the 18th-century , led by David Hartley, a gang clipping and forging coins as an act of defiance against economic oppression. The episodic structure weaves , , and , highlighting themes of community resistance, industrialization's encroachment, and the myth-making of outlaws. It won the Prize for and was lauded for its vivid dialect and atmospheric reconstruction of life, later adapted into a series. The Offing (2019, Bloomsbury), a post-World War II , follows 16-year-old Robert Appleyard, a miner's son along the coast, where he forms a profound bond with the reclusive Dulcie Piper. Their relationship unfolds against lush coastal backdrops, probing themes of personal liberation, intergenerational friendship, artistic awakening, and recovery from war's scars. An international bestseller selected for 2's Book Club, it was celebrated for its lyrical tenderness and evocative sense of place. Set in the late 1980s Wiltshire countryside, The Perfect Golden Circle (2022, Bloomsbury) tracks the unlikely duo of war veteran Calvert and drifter-musician Redbone as they craft intricate crop circles under the cover of night. Blending road-trip adventure with philosophical musings, it explores themes of trauma's aftermath, rural despoliation by , artistry, and the redemptive bonds of friendship. Reviewers hailed its rollicking energy, folkloric charm, and poignant commentary on Thatcher's Britain. Cuddy (2023, ), a polyphonic epic spanning 1,300 years, reimagines the life and legacy of St. Cuthbert—known as Cuddy—from his 7th-century death through medieval pilgrims, Victorian scholars, and modern Durhanites, all haunted by his spirit. Interlacing prose, poetry, and drama, it grapples with themes of versus , the North's enduring myths, , and cultural heritage. Winner of the , it was acclaimed as a visionary, genre-defying triumph that binds personal devotion to . In Rare Singles (2024, ), aging singer Earlon "Bucky" Bronco embarks on a British tour after decades of obscurity, forging an improbable alliance with a jaded supermarket clerk amid personal bereavements. The slim narrative celebrates themes of belated redemption, cross-cultural kinship, the solace of music, and resilience against loss. Critics appreciated its warm humor, concise emotional punch, and nod to soul's transcendent joy, selecting it as a highlight of 2024 . Myers's most recent novel, Jesus Christ Kinski (2025, ), ventriloquizes the volatile German actor during his infamous 1971 one-man stage rant portraying Jesus Christ in , intercut with a modern filmmaker's attempt to adapt it. It probes themes of performative madness, artistic , isolation, and the blurred line between prophet and provocateur. Early reception has lauded its feverish intensity and bold psychological immersion as a daring literary experiment. Across his oeuvre, Myers employs distinctive techniques such as authentic regional dialects—evident in the Yorkshire vernacular of The Gallows Pole and the Cumbrian cadences of Beastings—to ground characters in their locales and amplify social authenticity. Rural settings recur as active forces, from the unforgiving fells in Beastings to the enchanted fields of The Perfect Golden Circle, symbolizing both refuge and confrontation with human frailty, often infused with folkloric or historical resonance to underscore themes of displacement and endurance.

Short fiction

Male Tears (2021, Bloomsbury), Myers's debut short story collection, gathers over fifteen years of work focusing on men at the margins—farmers, outsiders, and ne'er-do-wells—in northern English settings. The stories explore fragility, complexity, and societal pressures on , from bitter hatreds to quiet desperations, praised for their raw insight and poetic .

Non-fiction

Myers's non-fiction oeuvre spans and place-based explorations, reflecting his early career as a rock critic and his later interest in regional landscapes and cultural history. His debut book, American Heretics: Rebel Voices in Music (, 2002), compiles interviews and profiles of countercultural musicians, including punk and alternative figures like of and , emphasizing themes of rebellion and artistic dissent in American scenes. Structured as a series of vignettes, the work draws on Myers's experience writing for publications like and Kerrang!, offering insights into the socio-political undercurrents of genres from hardcore to hip-hop, and it received praise for its raw, insider perspective on subversive artistry. Building on this foundation, Myers produced several band-focused biographies in the mid-2000s, establishing him as a chronicler of punk and alternative rock's evolution. These include John Lydon: The Sex Pistols, PiL and Anti-Celebrity (Independent Music Press, 2004), an in-depth account of the musician's post-Sex Pistols career, activism, and anti-celebrity stance; Muse: Inside the Muscle Museum (Indigo, 2004); Green Day: American Idiots & The New Punk Explosion (Disinformation, 2005), which examines the band's rise and the punk revival amid post-9/11 politics; and System Of A Down: Right Here in Hollywood (ECW Press, 2006), tracing the band's formation, Armenian genocide activism, and critiques of war; along with The Clash: Uncensored on the Record (Crescent Fire Publishing, 2007). These works highlight Myers's skill in weaving personal artist stories with genre histories, earning acclaim for their accessibility and depth in outlets like MOJO magazine. A decade later, Myers shifted toward introspective, location-specific writing with Under the Rock: The Poetry of a Place (Elliott & Thompson, 2018), a memoir-essay hybrid centered on the Valley in , where he resides. The book interweaves personal reflections on living in the former home of poet with explorations of the landscape's , , , and industrial past, including chapters on badgers, balsam invasions, and local crimes like the 1975 Moors murderer case. Organized thematically rather than linearly, it meditates on themes of belonging, environmental change, and northern English identity, drawing parallels to Hughes's work while critiquing modern rural disconnection. Shortlisted for the 2019 Portico Prize, it was lauded by for its "lyrical unflinchingness" and by as a "vibrant to a overlooked corner of Britain." Across these non-fiction titles, Myers employs a journalistic precision informed by his reporting background, prioritizing vivid over academic rigor to illuminate social commentaries on , place, and . No collaborative or edited volumes appear in his up to 2025, though his essays on and have appeared in anthologies and periodicals.

Poetry and essays

Ben Myers's poetic output, though not as prolific as his prose, demonstrates a commitment to experimental and lyrical forms that intertwine personal introspection with the rhythms of and urban decay. His early work includes the collaborative pamphlet Brutalism 1: Nowhere Fast (2007), co-authored with Tony O'Neill and Adelle Stripe under the Captains of Industry imprint, which features six poems each from the contributors in a raw, unadorned style evoking the starkness of modern industrial life and emotional desolation. This exemplifies Myers's use of brevity and rhythmic intensity, drawing on dialect-inflected language to capture fleeting moments of alienation in contemporary Britain. Themes of industry and human endurance recur, reflecting his broader interest in the grit of working-class existence without romanticization. Myers's poetry matured in Heathcliff Adrift (2014), a full collection of narrative poems commissioned by New Writing North and published by Mayfly Press, which imagines the post-Wuthering Heights wanderings of Emily Brontë's iconic anti-hero across the . Accompanied by photographs from , the work explores themes of nature's indifference, personal dislocation, and mythic reflection, employing lyrical verse that blends dialect with evocative to evoke the wild, elemental forces of the British countryside. Critics noted its rhythmic propulsion and experimental structure, which eschews traditional sonnets for free-flowing sequences that mirror Heathcliff's restless journey. Later, during the , Myers released the pamphlet We'll Meat Again (2021) through Alimentation Press, a slim volume of 47 pages offering terse, observational poems on isolation, rural quietude, and subtle environmental shifts, such as the heightened audibility of owls in an emptied world. These pieces highlight his mastery of concise forms, using natural for personal and ecological . Beyond poetry, Myers has produced standalone essays that delve into cultural and environmental concerns, often blending argumentative depth with vivid prose. His contributions to , an online platform for , include pieces like the 2016 review-essay on First Light: A Celebration of , where he examines themes of place and identity in British folklore and landscape literature, praising Garner's fusion of and . Similarly, his 2013 on Essex: The Making of a underscores the interplay of human history and , advocating for a rooted understanding of Britain's altered terrains. In music-focused essays, such as those in The Quietus on artists like —in shorter pieces beyond his full biography—Myers analyzes the intersection of , personal turmoil, and cultural rebellion, employing incisive arguments to trace influences on British indie scenes. Lesser-known works include contributions to anthologies like (2009), where his on and adds to collective reflections on environmental intimacy, and online pieces in (2015) pondering Pendle Hill's occult history through a poetic lens. These essays showcase Myers's argumentative rigor, often weaving personal reflection with broader socio-ecological critiques, distinct from his longer non-fiction narratives.

Personal life

Family and residences

Benjamin Myers is married to the novelist Adelle Stripe, with whom he shares a life centered on writing and the landscapes of . The couple maintains a low public profile regarding personal details, focusing instead on their collaborative creative environment. After years in pursuing journalism and early literary work, Myers relocated to in 2009, initially settling in a rented 17th-century near before moving to a home in the nearby area of the Calder Valley. This shift from urban to the rural marked a pivotal change, fostering a profound connection to the region's rugged terrain and history, which he credits with revitalizing his writing process. The move has influenced Myers' sense of place, as detailed in his 2018 nonfiction work Under the Rock, where he describes how the Calder Valley's "edgelands"—blending and natural reclamation—spurred daily explorations on foot and shaped his narrative focus on locality and environment. In interviews, he has spoken of balancing his routine of solitary writing with shared family activities, such as long walks with their dog Cliff, which provided companionship and inspiration amid the demands of authorship; Cliff passed away in November 2024. By 2024, Myers continued to highlight this grounded domestic life in the Calder Valley as essential to his productivity and well-being.

Interests and activism

Benjamin Myers maintains a deep interest in music, stemming from his early career as a music journalist for publications such as Kerrang!, NME, and Melody Maker, where he covered rock and alternative scenes. He collects vinyl records and plays guitar, pursuits that have influenced his non-fiction writing, including a biography of Manic Street Preachers' Richey Edwards and the 2024 novel Rare Singles, which draws on Northern Soul culture to explore themes of friendship and redemption through music. These hobbies intersect with his creative life, as he has noted that listening to records provides inspiration for projects outside traditional novel-writing, such as essays on cultural history. Myers is an avid walker, frequently exploring the countryside around his home in the Calder Valley, which serves as a source of personal rejuvenation and creative fuel. In his non-fiction work Under the Rock, he chronicles hikes around Scout Rock, blending observations of local , fauna, and to reflect on the restorative power of rural landscapes. Beyond his own writing, he engages with broader literature on and place, citing influences like Roger Deakin's Waterlog and rural American fiction by authors such as . Myers advocates for environmental causes, particularly conservation and addressing climate change impacts on British landscapes, as discussed in interviews where he links his writing to wildlife protection and sustainable land use. He has expressed support for rewilding efforts in Yorkshire, emphasizing the need to preserve moorlands and valleys against industrial pressures, drawing from his observations of the region's ecological fragility. On social issues, Myers has commented on class inequality in media and society, critiquing the north-south divide and intra-regional disparities that marginalize working-class voices in cultural narratives. He has highlighted how rural poverty exacerbates these divides, often in the context of northern England's economic challenges. Myers actively participates in literary festivals and community events, fostering dialogue on literature and place. He has appeared at events such as the Durham Book Festival in 2023, the , and the Manchester Literature Festival, where he discusses his work's ties to regional identity and environmental themes. These appearances often overlap with his interests, such as sessions on music's role in .

Recognition

Honours and fellowships

In 2023, Benjamin Myers was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of (FRSL), a lifetime recognizing his contributions to and granting him opportunities to mentor emerging writers and advocate for the literary community. This prestigious affiliation elevates his standing among peers, connecting him to a network of influential authors and enabling participation in initiatives that promote reading and writing across the . Earlier in his career, Myers received targeted support through several non-competitive grants that underscored his emerging talent and provided essential resources for his work. These included funding from the K Blundell Trust, administered by the Society of Authors to aid established writers in dedicating time to new projects, as well as the Royal Society of Literature's Brookleaze Grant, designed to assist authors facing financial challenges. Additionally, he benefited from grants, which recognize artistic merit and facilitate creative development without the structure of competitions. Myers has also held invitational roles that highlight his expertise, such as serving as a judge for the 2022 Pleasure of Reading Prize, where he helped select works that celebrate the joys of for adult readers. In 2015, he undertook a writer-in-residence position along , immersing himself in the historical landscape to inform his narrative explorations of place and heritage. These appointments reflect his growing influence in literary circles, fostering connections and inspiring his focus on regional and environmental themes up to 2025.

Literary awards

Benjamin Myers has received several prestigious literary awards for his novels, particularly those exploring historical, rural, and experimental themes, highlighting his distinctive voice in contemporary British fiction. These accolades have elevated his profile, often providing significant career boosts through monetary prizes, increased visibility, and critical acclaim from juries praising his innovative storytelling and atmospheric prose. In 2012, Myers won the inaugural Prize for Pig Iron, a gritty novel about a bare-knuckle boxer in a declining northern community; the £10,000 award, named after the influential journalist , recognized the book's raw and was a pivotal early validation that helped secure further support. Myers received the Northern Writers' Award in 2013 for Beastings, his stark tale of pursuit across the Cumbrian fells, which provided developmental funding and mentorship through New Writing North; this led to the novel's publication and subsequent honors. The book later won the 2015 Portico Prize for Literature, a £10,000 award celebrating the best book connected to the North of , with judges lauding its "brutal " and unflinching portrayal of vulnerability. Beastings was also longlisted for the 2015 Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize, underscoring its impact on literary discussions of marginal lives. In 2014, Myers won the Tom-Gallon Prize for his "The Folk Song Singer". For The Gallows Pole (2017), a historical novel based on the , Myers secured the 2018 Prize for , the world's largest such award at £25,000, with the jury commending its "vivid evocation of a lost world" and blend of and dialectics that revitalized the . The novel also received the Award from the Society of Authors, honoring elements in its depiction of 18th-century Yorkshire moors. Myers' experimental polyphonic novel Cuddy (2023), reimagining the life of St. Cuthbert, won the 2023 , a £ honor for innovative that "breaks the mould," with judges describing it as a "vital, genre-defying" work merging poetry, prose, and history. In 2024, Cuddy also claimed the £3,000 Historical Prize, awarded by the Literary Festival for its "powerful sense of place" in evoking Durham's landscapes and myths. It was shortlisted for the 2024 RSL Ondaatje Prize and longlisted for the 2024 Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Myers has garnered nominations and shortlists that reflect a consistent pattern of recognition, including a 2019 shortlisting for the Portico Prize for his non-fiction Under the Rock. In 2020, The Offing won the Lieblingsbuch der Unabhängigen, the German Independent Booksellers' Award. More recent works like Rare Singles (2024), a tender exploration of culture and late-life romance, have been celebrated in media selections such as and books of 2024, though no competitive prizes were awarded as of November 2025. Similarly, Jesus Christ Kinski (2025), a ventriloquistic on actor Kinski's chaotic performance, received early critical praise but no awards or nominations as of November 2025. This trajectory of awards, spanning independent presses to major imprints, demonstrates ' growing influence in , with juries frequently noting his ability to infuse regional histories with universal resonance and formal innovation.

References

  1. https://www.benjaminmyerswriter.com/about
  2. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/author/benjamin-myers/
  3. https://www.theguardian.com/profile/benmyers
  4. https://bookblast.org/blog/interview-benjamin-myers-author/
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/13/mde-in-durham-benjamin-myers
  6. https://afictionhabit.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/qa-with-ben-myers/
  7. https://www.3ammagazine.com/musicarchives/2004/aug/interview_ben_myers.html
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/aug/10/benjamin-myers-interview-the-offing-new-novel
  9. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2019/09/personal-story-one-fall-and-a-whole-new-world
  10. https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/black-sky-thinking/sham-91-benjamin-myers-band-sour-face/
  11. https://neverimitate.wordpress.com/2018/01/15/author-interview-benjamin-myers/
  12. https://www.bigissuenorth.com/features/2016/08/the-way-i-work-benjamin-myers/
  13. https://www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/The-Interview/ben-myers.html
  14. https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Writer/ben-myers
  15. https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ben-myers/6153
  16. https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/black-sky-thinking/my-half-life-of-grime-by-ben-myers/
  17. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/09/my-home-town-how-durham-changed-under-conservative-rule
  18. https://www.newstatesman.com/author/ben-myers
  19. https://www.benjaminmyerswriter.com/journalism
  20. https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/180-seconds-of-perfection-benjamin-myers-on-the-beauty-of-the-three-minute-pop-song/
  21. https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/03/rare-singles-by-benjamin-myers-review-northern-soul-and-second-chances
  22. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/20/jesus-christ-kinski-by-benjamin-myers-review-a-trip-inside-the-frazzled-mind-of-klaus-kinski
  23. https://wreckingballpress.com/product/the-book-of-fuck/
  24. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/oct/23/richard-ben-myers-review
  25. https://thequietus.com/culture/books/richard-manic-street-preachers-richey-edwards-ben-myers/
  26. https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/benjamin-myers/
  27. https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/books/snorri-frosti
  28. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/turning-blue-9781526650221/
  29. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/these-darkening-days-9781526650306/
  30. https://inews.co.uk/culture/books/the-offing-benjamin-myers-review-new-novel-tight-lyrical-painfully-truthful-335041
  31. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/perfect-golden-circle-9781526631428/
  32. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/may/28/the-perfect-golden-circle-by-benjamin-myers-review-rollicking-crop-circle-folk-tale
  33. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/mar/09/cuddy-by-benjamin-myers-review-a-visionary-history
  34. https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/aug/11/rare-singles-by-benjamin-myers-review-a-short-but-sweet-scarborough-story
  35. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/rare-singles-9781526671905/
  36. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/discover/articles/interviews/kinski-was-a-man-out-of-step-with-everyone-so-that-allowed-a-little-more-freedom-for-exploration/
  37. https://bookmunch.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/he-is-becoming-a-ron-rash-of-northern-england-beastings-by-ben-myers/
  38. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/male-tears-9781526611352/
  39. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/may/01/male-tears-by-benjamin-myers-review-men-at-the-margins
  40. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/727091.American_Heretics
  41. https://www.abebooks.com/9780953994274/John-Lydon-Sex-Pistols-Pil-0953994279/plp
  42. https://eandtbooks.com/books/under-the-rock-2/
  43. http://www.caughtinthecrossfire.com/books/brutalism-one/
  44. https://www.alimentation.cc/product/well-meat-again/
  45. https://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2016/05/alan-garner-ben-myers/
  46. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/writers-and-husband-and-wife-benjamin-myers-with-adelle-news-photo/1209373379
  47. https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2019/dec/11/two-authors-one-prize-competing-spouse-portico-prize
  48. https://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2024/12/shadows-reflections-benjamin-myers-cliff-the-dog/
  49. https://shinynewbooks.co.uk/under-the-rock-the-poetry-of-a-place-by-benjamin-myers
  50. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/2024/07/27/benjamin-myers-like-most-writers-i-live-in-fear-of-having-to-get-a-real-job/
  51. https://bookishbeck.com/2019/04/22/under-the-rock-by-benjamin-myers-paperback-giveaway/
  52. https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/prompted-by-nature/episodes/4-7a-Benjamin-Myers-Writing-with-the-Land-in-The-Perfect-Golden-Circle-e1j5nlr
  53. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/12/north-south-divide-portico-prize-2020-shortlist-interviews-myers-adelle-stripe-caveney-jessica-andre
  54. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/winterson-kunial-and-myers-to-attend-the-2023-durham-book-festival
  55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3V2kE0GAmo
  56. https://www.gold.ac.uk/news/goldsmiths-prize-2023-winner/
  57. https://rsliterature.org/fellows/benjamin-myers/
  58. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/connect/latest-news/two-new-judges-for-the-pleasure-of-reading-prize/
  59. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/dec/09/portico-prize-winner-benjamin-myers-beastings-why-bother-chasing-the-big-publishers
  60. https://newwritingnorth.com/gordon-burn-prize/benjamin-myers/
  61. https://newwritingnorth.com/about-us/new-impact-page/impact-case-study-benjamin-myers/
  62. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/benjamin-myers-beastings-wins-portico-literature-prize-2015-fiction-317462
  63. https://bluemoosebooks.com/blog/201406/ben-myers-wins-another-national-literary-award
  64. https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/benjamin-myers-wins-2018-walter-scott-prize/
  65. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-44514229
  66. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/08/benjamin-myers-wins-2023-goldsmiths-prize-cuddy
  67. https://www.thebookseller.com/news/benjamin-myers-cuddy-wins-3k-winston-graham-historical-prize
  68. https://rsliterature.org/2024-rsl-ondaatje-prize-shortlist-revealed/
  69. https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/2024-longlist-announced-as-prize-comes-home-to-abbotsford/
  70. https://www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/portico-prize-literature-announces-2019-shortlist
  71. https://www.benjaminmyerswriter.com/product-page/rare-singles
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