Francis King

BritishLiterary Fictionb. 1923 — d. 2011

Francis King was a British novelist, poet, and short-story writer. Born in Switzerland in 1923, he spent his childhood in India and was educated in England at Shrewsbury School and Balliol College, Oxford. His education was interrupted by World War II, during which he served as a conscientious objector. After completing his degree, he worked for the British Council for 15 years, with postings in Italy, Greece, Egypt, Finland, and Japan, which influenced his writing. He resigned in 1964 to write full-time and also worked as a literary critic. King explored various themes in his work, including homosexuality, and was known for his craftsmanship and exploration of human themes. He died in 2011.

Awards

['Somerset Maugham Award', 'Katherine Mansfield Short Story Prize', 'Order of the British Empire (OBE)', 'Yorkshire Post Prize', 'Commander of the British Empire (CBE)', 'Golden PEN Award']

Notable Works

['To the Dark Tower', 'Never Again', 'An Air That Kills', 'The Dividing Stream', 'The Dark Glasses', 'The Man on the Rock', 'The Widow', 'The Custom House', 'A Domestic Animal', 'Act of Darkness', 'The Nick of Time', 'Cold Snap']