Young UK Writers to watch for...

In response to a recent post elsewhere about young American novelists, who are some of the young British authors you've read and can recommend? For the purpose of discussion, let's call "young" under 40 years of age (born 1967 or later...).

Gosh, here's one that had me skittering through my books to find even one youthful author! Oh dear, it seems that I'm an middle-aged/old man reading books written by middle-aged/old people.

One brilliant shining light must be Rachel Seiffert whose brilliant debut book The Dark Room explores the Nazi legacy through the story of three Germans. She then published a book of superb short stories Field Studies and has recently published, as yet only in hardback a book called Afterwards.

Just inside the age criteria is Monica Ali a British Bangladeshi writer whose Brick Lane was universally praised but the more recent Alentejo Blue is less well regarded.

I see Seiffert is on the Orange Prize longlist and one of the few on the list I thought I might be interested in. Loved Brick Lane...it's so difficult for an author to follow up such a highly acclaimed first novel.

David Mitchell, of course, qualifies, as does Zadie Smith.

Ok, so I found a Granta list of 'Best Young British Novelists" from 2003. Apparently they only do this list every ten years. At the time they were all under 40. Comments?

(see new list below with touchstones)

Edited to remove untouchstoned list...untouchstoned...is that a word?

From the above list I much love and greatly recommend "The Mulberry Empire" by Philip Hensher who at 42 just exceeds the criteria for being young. I've also got a copy of "kitchen Venom" on my to be read list.

Avaland, for my ease and others, I'm transforming your list into touchstones. (It seemed nicer than asking you to do it. :) ) Many thanks for hunting it out!

Ian Jack
Sarah Waters
Monica Ali
Andrew O'Hagan
Dan Rhodes
Rachel Seiffert
Toby Litt
Rachel Cusk
Alan Warner
Nicola Barker
David Mitchell
Susan Elderkin
Stephen Gill
Peter Ho Davies
A. L. Kennedy
Ben Rice
David Peace
Hari Kunzru
Philip Hensher
Robert McLiam Wilson
Zadie Smith
Adam Thirlwell

I only recognize a handful of names, but look forward to getting to know a few more of them!

(Edited to fix Kennedy, who was picked up as Robert...!)

#5 I completely agree about The Mulberry Empire. I thought it was one of the most original uses of narrative style to convey meaning that I've ever read. I believe Philip Hensher has a new book out later this year.

>6 Eurydice: thank you! I completely forgot about touchstones! I will edit my message to exclude the list now...

I've been very impressed with Sarah Waters' work, alas she is no longer officially young (b. 1966). The Night Watch is excellent.

And I have very much enjoyed books by Hari Kunzru!

Of these writers I think David Mitchell shows the most promise - I'm sure he has much more to write and will do it very well.

Having read Sarah Waters Fingersmith around the same time as Monica Alis Brick Lane - I have to say that I preferred Sarah Waters, way preferred her.

Sarah's subsequent books were of a very high standard too, great reads and no disappointments, which I think gives her added credibility as a fine author.

' if you've got it, you've just got it '(talent that is).

I still have not read my Sarah Waters' books, and neither have I read Brick Lane, which is buried in one of my TBR piles.
Your comment, karenwardill, makes me feel the urge of tackling them asap.

Aluvalibri, I'd also recommend reading those Sarah Waters. Both Fingersmith and The Night Watch are fabulous reads. Tipping the Velvet is also very good, though I was less convinced by her second novel (whose name now escapes me!)

I've read a few of the authors listed. I'm eagerly awaiting the new Hari Kunzru; The Impressionist is probably my favorite contemporary novel written in the last 10 years. I was less impressed with Transmission.

It seems like the second novel by the authors I've read--Hari Kunzru, Sarah Waters, Monica Ali, Zadie Smith, David Mitchell--have all been less successful than their first. Smith certainly came back strong with On Beauty.

Is there word of a new Kunzru?

#14: Yes, it's due out in the fall, October, I believe. I'll see if I can find the information--can't remember where I saw it.

#14. The new Kunzru is titled My Revolutions: A Novel, and it comes out on August 30 in the UK. Here's a link to the synopsis on Amazon:

http://tinyurl.com/32ns68

Well, I can't say the subject matter much interests me (but it might be my age:-) But, I see he had a small collection of short stories called "Noise," has anyone read that? It sounds like the stories are absurdist or satirical as in Transmission.

I have recently picked up the most recent Rachel Sieffert, which finally came out in the US. I can't remember the title off the top of my head but it was on the Orange Prize long list this year. It will likely be a while before it comes off the TBR pile (which is accumulating at an alarming rate while I'm taking classes)