Sebastian Faulks

Author

Sebastian Faulks is a British novelist, journalist, and broadcaster whose fiction spans the twentieth century and beyond, combining historical sweep, emotional depth, and meticulous research with compelling storytelling. His novels about the two World Wars, in particular, are among the most powerful and widely read works of historical... fiction in the English language. Born in Donnington, Berkshire in 1953, Faulks was educated at Wellington College and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he read English. He worked as a journalist, including as literary editor of The Independent, before turning to fiction full-time. Birdsong (1993) is his best-known novel — a devastating account of a young Englishman's experiences in the trenches of the First World War, intercut with a present-day narrative. The novel has sold millions of copies, been adapted for television and stage, and is regularly cited as one of the greatest novels about the First World War. Charlotte Gray (1998) followed, set in occupied France during the Second World War. The Girl at the Lion d'Or (1989), A Possible Life (2012), Where My Heart Used to Beat (2015), and Paris Echo (2018) continued his exploration of the twentieth century. Human Traces (2005) was an ambitious novel about the early history of psychiatry. Faulks has also written Bond continuation novels — Devil May Care (2008) — and a Jeeves and Wooster novel, Jeeves and the Wedding Bells (2013), demonstrating his range and versatility. His writing is characterised by its emotional power, its historical accuracy, and its ability to make readers feel the weight of history through the lives of individual characters. The audiobook editions of Faulks's novels are powerful and immersive, with narrators capturing the emotional depth and historical sweep of his storytelling. His books and audiobooks are essential for readers who love historical fiction at its most ambitious and emotionally resonant. Read more Show less