Nick Barlay

Back | Genres | Bibliography | Further reading on this site | Contact details | Related links | Printer-friendly version

	Photo: © Nick Barlay

Biography

Nick Barlay is the author of three novels: Curvy Lovebox (1997); Crumple Zone (2000); and  Hooky Gear (2001). Together they form a loose trilogy of urban tales that map out the underbelly of contemporary London using an experimental mixture of genre and voice.

With his debut novel, he became the first writer to be published by the black publishing house, The X Press. The story focuses on 24 hours in the life of a petty London criminal and is based on people with whom the author grew up. The second, Crumple Zone, is narrated by a young female teacher whose brother goes missing. The third, Hooky Gear, relates the story of a burglar whose life falls apart, and gained him a nomination for the Granta magazine's list of 20 'Best of Young British Novelists' in 2003. The books have been widely praised for their 'brilliantly literary' first-person voices, their mixture of realism and humour, and their fine chronicling of urban sub-culture.

He has contributed to the British Council short story anthologies, New Writing 12 (2003) and New Writing 14 (2006), as well as to other collections, including The X Press's Westside Storeys (2003). He also contributed to the Holocaust memorial book, Storeys of Memory (2001).

Barlay was born to Hungarian Jewish refugee parents who came to Britian in 1956. His current work, supported by the Arts Council, explores a 200-year family history.

In addition, Barlay has written award-winning radio plays and wide-ranging journalims for newspapers and magazines, including a long-running series about London for The Times. He has also written reviews and features for Time Out, and created a walk for the Time Out Book of London Walks Volume 2 (2001).

He regularly teaches journalims and creative writing, has toured with the British Council, and has participated in many spoken workd and live literature events.

Top of page

Genres (in alphabetical order)

Fiction, Radio drama, Short stories

Bibliography

Curvy Lovebox   The X Press, 1997

Crumple Zone   Sceptre, 2000

Hooky Gear   Sceptre, 2001

Storeys of Memory   (contributor)   Wiener Library, 2001

Time Out Book of London Walks Volume 2   (contributor)   Penguin, 2001

New Writing 12   (contributor)   British Council/Picador, 2003

Westside Storeys   (contributor)   The X Press, 2003

New Writing 14   (contributor)   British Council/Granta, 2006

Read about books by Nick Barlay at encompassculture.com - the British Council's book database and global online book club

Buy books by Nick Barlay at Amazon.co.uk

Top of page

Further reading on this site

New Authors on site June 2009
New Authors added on the Contemporary Writers website for June 2009 include: Nick Barlay John F. Deane Ian Whybrow more...   (01/06/2009)

Top of page

Contact information

Publisher (General enquiries) Sceptre c/o Hodder & Stoughton General 338 Euston Road London  NW1 3BH England Tel: +44 (0)20 7873 6000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7873 6024 http://www.hodderheadline.com

Agent Sarah Such Literary Agency 81 Arabella Drive London  SW15 5LL Tel: +44 (0)20 8876 4228 Fax: +44 (0)20 8878 8705 E-mail: sarah@sarahsuch.com

Top of page

Related links

http:/ / www.nickbarlay.com

Top of page