📖 Overview
Benjamin Myers is a British author known for literary fiction and non-fiction works that often explore the landscapes and history of Northern England. His novels frequently blend historical events with literary prose, earning him multiple awards including the Roger Deakin Award and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction.
His breakthrough novel "The Gallows Pole" (2017) tells the true story of the Cragg Vale Coiners, a group of 18th-century counterfeiters in Yorkshire. The work established Myers' reputation for detailed historical research combined with atmospheric writing that brings rural settings and marginalized characters to life.
Myers has published across multiple genres, including poetry collections, nature writing, and crime fiction under the name Benjamin Meyers. His other notable works include "Pig Iron" (2012), "Beastings" (2014), and "The Offing" (2019), which showcase his recurring themes of class, landscape, and the relationship between humans and nature.
Prior to his literary career, Myers worked as a music journalist and continues to contribute to various publications including The Guardian and New Statesman. His work is characterized by its focus on the North of England, particularly Yorkshire and the surrounding regions, often incorporating local dialects and folklore into his narratives.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Myers' vivid descriptions of Northern England's landscapes and his ability to capture regional dialects. Many reviews note his skill at bringing historical events to life through detailed research and atmospheric prose.
Liked:
- Raw, unflinching portrayal of rural life
- Rich sensory details of nature and wilderness
- Strong sense of place and local character
- Deep historical research that doesn't overwhelm the narrative
Disliked:
- Slow pacing in several novels
- Dense prose style that some find challenging
- Heavy use of dialect can be difficult to follow
- Some readers find the darker themes overwhelming
Ratings across platforms:
Goodreads:
- The Gallows Pole: 4.0/5 (2,000+ ratings)
- The Offing: 4.1/5 (3,000+ ratings)
- Beastings: 3.9/5 (500+ ratings)
Amazon:
- The Gallows Pole: 4.3/5
- The Offing: 4.4/5
Reader quote: "Myers writes the northern landscape like no other author I've read - you can smell the heather and feel the wind cutting through you."
📚 Books by Benjamin Myers
The Perfect Golden Circle (2022)
Two men create vast, complex crop circles in the English countryside during the summer of 1989.
The Offing (2019) A teenage boy forms an unlikely friendship with an older woman in post-WWII Yorkshire while discovering poetry and his own path in life.
The Gallows Pole (2017) Based on true events, chronicles the rise and fall of "King" David Hartley and the Cragg Vale Coiners in 18th-century Yorkshire.
Turning Blue (2016) A detective investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl in a remote Yorkshire valley during a harsh winter.
Beastings (2014) A mute girl flees across the Cumbrian fells with a baby she has stolen, pursued by a priest.
Pig Iron (2012) The son of a Durham traveler attempts to escape his father's violent legacy while confronting his own identity.
Richard (2010) A fictional account of the life of Richard Edwards, the guitarist from the Manic Street Preachers who disappeared in 1995.
The Offing (2019) A teenage boy forms an unlikely friendship with an older woman in post-WWII Yorkshire while discovering poetry and his own path in life.
The Gallows Pole (2017) Based on true events, chronicles the rise and fall of "King" David Hartley and the Cragg Vale Coiners in 18th-century Yorkshire.
Turning Blue (2016) A detective investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl in a remote Yorkshire valley during a harsh winter.
Beastings (2014) A mute girl flees across the Cumbrian fells with a baby she has stolen, pursued by a priest.
Pig Iron (2012) The son of a Durham traveler attempts to escape his father's violent legacy while confronting his own identity.
Richard (2010) A fictional account of the life of Richard Edwards, the guitarist from the Manic Street Preachers who disappeared in 1995.
👥 Similar authors
Jim Crace writes historical fiction set in rural England with themes of landscape and isolation. His works like "Harvest" and "Being Dead" share Myers' focus on the relationship between humans and their environment.
Andrew Michael Hurley produces Gothic folk horror novels set in northern England's remote locations. His works explore local histories and dark rural traditions similar to Myers' focus on Yorkshire folklore.
Sarah Hall creates fiction centered in Cumbria dealing with wilderness and human nature. Her books examine northern communities and natural landscapes in ways that parallel Myers' regional focus.
Jon McGregor writes about ordinary lives in rural British settings with attention to place and community. His narrative style and treatment of landscape as character align with Myers' approach.
Cynan Jones crafts sparse narratives about people living and working in harsh rural environments. His books examine human endurance and natural forces in remote settings similar to Myers' work.
Andrew Michael Hurley produces Gothic folk horror novels set in northern England's remote locations. His works explore local histories and dark rural traditions similar to Myers' focus on Yorkshire folklore.
Sarah Hall creates fiction centered in Cumbria dealing with wilderness and human nature. Her books examine northern communities and natural landscapes in ways that parallel Myers' regional focus.
Jon McGregor writes about ordinary lives in rural British settings with attention to place and community. His narrative style and treatment of landscape as character align with Myers' approach.
Cynan Jones crafts sparse narratives about people living and working in harsh rural environments. His books examine human endurance and natural forces in remote settings similar to Myers' work.