Boyd Tonkin HonFRSL | |
|---|---|
| Born | London, England |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge University |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, journalist and literary critic |
| Awards | Benson Medal (2020) |
Boyd Tonkin Hon.FRSL is an English writer, journalist and literary critic. He was theliterary editor ofThe Independent newspaper from 1996 to 2013. A long-time proponent of foreign-language literature, he is the author ofThe 100 Best Novels in Translation (2018).[1] He has been involved with leadingliterary prizes such as theMan Booker International Prize and theIndependent Foreign Fiction Prize. In 2020 Tonkin was the recipient of theBenson Medal from theRoyal Society of Literature.[2]
Tonkin was born in North London[3] and studied English and French literature atTrinity College, Cambridge University,[4] as both an entrance scholar and a senior scholar.[5] He worked as a lecturer in literature, before exchanging academia for journalism, initially as a staff writer and features editor on the magazineCommunity Care.[3] He then worked at theNew Statesman as social affairs editor and on the books desk, before going on toThe Independent, where he was literary editor from 1996 to 2013 and Senior Writer and Art Critic until 2016.[6][5][7]
In 2001 Tonkin re-founded theIndependent Foreign Fiction Prize – established to honour author and translator equally – which he co-judged until it was merged with theMan Booker International Prize in 2015.[6] He chaired the judging panel of the Man Booker in 2016, and other prizes for which he has served as a judge include theOCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature,[8] theWasafiri New Writing Prize,[9] theWhitbread biography award, theCommonwealth Writers Prize, theDavid Cohen Prize (2007) and thePrix Cévennes.[10][5]
In addition to his work forThe Independent, Tonkin has written forThe Observer,Financial Times,The Guardian,The Economist,The Spectator,New Scientist andNewsweek, among other publications, is a contributor to arts and current-affairs programmes onBBC Radio, and has been a commentator on literary issues internationally, as well as an invited participant and speaker at festivals and educational institutions worldwide.[5]
He is the author of the bookThe 100 Best Novels in Translation (Galileo, 2018), a "cross-border guide to fiction",[11][12] about whichIan McEwan said: "This is a brilliant and extremely useful guide, approachable on every level. Boyd Tonkin opens up infinite worlds of the imagination."[13]
In November 2020, Tonkin was awarded theBenson Medal[14] and was elected an Honorary Fellow of theRoyal Society of Literature.[15]