Patrick Barkham

patrickbarkhamsmallPatrick Barkham was born in 1975 in Norfolk and was educated at Cambridge University. He is a Natural History Writer for the Guardian where he has reported on everything from the Iraq War to climate change.

His first book, The Butterfly Isles, was shortlisted for the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje prize. His second, Badgerlands, was hailed by Chris Packham as “a most read for all Britain’s naturalists” and was shortlisted for both the Ondaatje Prize and the Wainwright Prize for Nature and Travel Writing. Badgerlands won the best general non-fiction prize at the East Anglian Book Awards 2014.

His latest book, Coastlines, was published in 2015 by Granta Books and explores our changing relationship with the seaside through explorations of the 742 miles of coastline protected by the National Trust. Blake Morrison judged it as “an informative, enthusiastic and at times rapturous celebration of our shores”.

Patrick lives on the edge of the Norfolk Broads with his family.


Join Patrick For

Friday 10th June

19:30 International Nature & Travel Writing

Patrick Barkham, Helen Macdonald & Sara Wheeler in conversation with Susie Nicklin

H is for HawkBritish Nature writing is enjoying a resurgence of popularity in the UK. But how does it work internationally? Where is the overlap with travel writing and how does it compare with literature from different narrative traditions?

Three acclaimed writers in these genres discuss.

Price: £15