Louis de Bernières (born 8 December 1954) is an English novelist. He is known for his 1994
historical
History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some theorists categ ...
war novel
A war novel or military fiction is a novel about war. It is a novel in which the primary action takes place on a battlefield, or in a civilian setting (or home front), where the characters are preoccupied with the preparations for, suffering th ...
''
Captain Corelli's Mandolin''. In 1993 de Bernières was selected as one of the "20 Best of Young British Novelists", part of a
promotion in ''
Granta
''Granta'' is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centres on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story's supreme ability to describe, illuminate and make ...
'' magazine. ''Captain Corelli's Mandolin'' was published in the following year, winning the
Commonwealth Writers Prize
Commonwealth Foundation has presented a number of prizes since 1987. The main award was called the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was composed of two prizes: the Best Book Prize (overall and regional) was awarded from 1987 to 2011; the Best First ...
for Best Book. It was also shortlisted for the 1994
Sunday Express Book of the Year
The ''Daily Express#Sunday Express, Sunday Express'' Book of the Year also known as The Sunday Express Fiction Award was awarded between 1987 and 1993. Worth £20,000 for the winner and £1,000 for each of the five shortlisted authors, it was the ...
. It has been translated into at least 11 languages and is an international best-seller.
In 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by
De Montfort University
De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) is a public university in the city of Leicester, England. It was established in accordance with the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, Further and Higher Education Act in 1992 as a degree awarding body ...
in
Leicester
Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...
, which he had attended when it was Leicester Polytechnic.
Politically, he identifies himself as
Eurosceptic
Euroscepticism, also spelled as Euroskepticism or EU-scepticism, is a political position involving criticism of the European Union (EU) and European integration. It ranges from those who oppose some EU institutions and policies and seek refor ...
and has voiced his support for the United Kingdom's
exit
Exit(s) may refer to:
Architecture and engineering
* Door
* Portal (architecture), an opening in the walls of a structure
* Emergency exit
* Overwing exit, a type of emergency exit on an airplane
* Exit ramp, a feature of a road interchange
A ...
from the European Union.
Biography
Louis H. P. de Bernières-Smart was born near
Woolwich
Woolwich () is a town in South London, southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was mainta ...
in London in 1954 and grew up in Surrey. The name ''de Bernières'' is inherited from a French
Huguenot
The Huguenots ( , ; ) are a Religious denomination, religious group of French people, French Protestants who held to the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, ...
ancestor. He was educated at Grenham House school—where he reported the pupils were subjected to "hellish abuse"—and at
Bradfield College, and joined the army when he was 18, but left after four months of the officer training course at
Sandhurst. He next attended the
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester, usually referred to as simply the University of Manchester, was a university in Manchester, England. It was founded in 1851 as Owens College. In 1880, the college joined the federal Victoria University. A ...
and the
Institute of Education, University of London. Before he began to write full-time he held a wide variety of jobs, including being a mechanic, a motorcycle
messenger
Messenger, Messengers, The Messenger or The Messengers may refer to:
People
* Courier, a person or company that delivers messages, packages, or mail
* Messenger (surname)
* Bicycle messenger, a bicyclist who transports packages through cities
* M ...
and an English teacher in Colombia. he lived near
Bungay in Suffolk.
In 2009 he separated from his partner, actress
Cathy Gill, who took custody of their children, Robin and Sophie. Eventually, he gained equal custodial rights. He has never remarried.
De Bernières is an avid musician. He plays flute, mandolin, clarinet and guitar, although he considers himself an "enthusiastic but badly-educated and erratic" amateur. His literary work often references music and the composers he admires, such as the guitar works of
Villa-Lobos and
Antonio Lauro
Antonio Lauro (August 3, 1917 – April 18, 1986) was a Venezuelan musician, considered to be one of the foremost South American composers for the Classical guitar, guitar in the 20th century.
Biography
Antonio Lauro was born in Ciudad Bol� ...
in the Latin American trilogy, and the mandolin works of
Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, impresario of Baroque music and Roman Catholic priest. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lif ...
and
Hummel in ''Captain Corelli's Mandolin''. He has
dystonia
Dystonia is a neurology, neurological Hyperkinesia, hyperkinetic Movement disorders, movement disorder in which sustained or repetitive muscle contractions occur involuntarily, resulting in twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal fixed po ...
, which affects his playing.
Books
Latin American trilogy
According to de Bernières, his experiences in
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
, and the influence of writer
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José García Márquez (; 6 March 1927 – 17 April 2014) was a Colombian writer and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo () or Gabito () throughout Latin America. Considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th centur ...
—he describes himself as a "Márquez parasite"—profoundly influenced his first three novels, ''
The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
''The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts'' is a novel by Louis de Bernières, first published in 1990. It is the first of his Latin American trilogy. The other two parts are ''Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord'' and ''The Troublesome Offspring of ...
'' (1990), ''
Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord'' (1991) and ''
The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman'' (1992).
''Captain Corelli's Mandolin''
De Bernières' most famous book is his fourth, ''
Captain Corelli's Mandolin'', in which the eponymous hero is an Italian soldier who is part of
the occupying force on the Greek island of
Cephalonia
Kefalonia or Cephalonia (), formerly also known as Kefallinia or Kephallonia (), is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece and the 6th-largest island in Greece after Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Rhodes and Chios. It is also a separate regio ...
during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. In the US it was originally published as ''Corelli's Mandolin''.
In 2001, the book was turned into a
film
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
. De Bernières strongly disapproved of the film version, commenting, "It would be impossible for a parent to be happy about its baby's ears being put on backwards." He does however state that it has redeeming qualities, and particularly likes the soundtrack.
Since the release of the book and the movie, Cephalonia has become a major tourist destination, and the tourist industry on the island has begun to capitalise on the book's name. Of this, de Bernières said: "I was very displeased to see that a bar in Agia Efimia has abandoned its perfectly good Greek name and renamed itself Captain Corelli's, and I dread the idea that sooner or later there might be Captain Corelli Tours, or Pelagia Apartments."
''Red Dog''
His book ''
Red Dog'' (2001) was inspired by a statue of a dog he saw during a visit to the
Pilbara
The Pilbara () is a large, dry, sparsely populated regions of Western Australia, region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people; wealth disparity; its ancient landscapes; the prevailing r ...
region of Western Australia. It was adapted as a
film of the same name in Australia in 2011.
''Birds Without Wings''
''
Birds Without Wings'' (2004) is set in
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, and portrays the tragic fate of the diverse people in a small village, who belong to different language-speaking groups and religions, towards the end of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
, the rise of
Kemal Atatürk, and the
Gallipoli Campaign of the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
from the Turkish viewpoint. The book was shortlisted for the 2004
Whitbread Novel Award and the 2005 Commonwealth Writers Prize (Eurasia Region, Best Book).
''A Partisan's Daughter''
''
A Partisan's Daughter'' (2008) tells of the relationship between a young Yugoslavian woman and a middle-aged British man in the 1970s, set in London.
''Notwithstanding''
''
Notwithstanding'' (2009) is a collection of short stories revolving around a fictional English village, Notwithstanding, and its eccentric inhabitants. Many of the stories were published separately earlier in de Bernières's career. ''Notwithstanding'' is based on the village of
Hambledon in Surrey where he grew up, and he muses whether this is, or is no longer, the rural idyll. Some of the stories are autobiographical, such as "Silly Bugger 1" about a boy who brings up an abandoned rook, which becomes his companion, the rook sitting on his shoulder as he goes about his life – de Bernières is pictured on his website with a rook sitting on his shoulder. ''Notwithstanding'' is rich in local detail, containing references to the nearby villages and towns of
Godalming
Godalming ( ) is a market town and civil parish in southwest Surrey, England, around southwest of central London. It is in the Borough of Waverley, at the confluence of the Rivers Wey and Ock. The civil parish covers and includes the settl ...
,
Chiddingfold
Chiddingfold is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Weald in the Waverley, Surrey, Waverley district of Surrey, England. It lies on the A283 road between Milford, Surrey, Milford and Petworth. The parish includes the h ...
, and
Haslemere
The town of Haslemere () and the villages of Shottermill and Grayswood are in south-west Surrey, England, around south-west of London. Together with the settlements of Hindhead and Beacon Hill (Hindhead, Surrey), Beacon Hill, they comprise ...
, as well as to Waitrose, Scats, the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, the Merry Harriers pub and the "suicidal driving" of the nuns at St Dominic's School. De Bernières reflects in the Afterword:
"I realised that I had set so many of my novels and stories abroad, because custom had prevented me from seeing how exotic my own country is. Britain really is an immense lunatic asylum. That is one of the things that distinguishes us among the nations... We are rigid and formal in some ways, but we believe in the right to eccentricity, as long as the eccentricities are large enough... Woe betide you if you hold your knife incorrectly, but good luck to you if you wear a loincloth and live up a tree.
''Blue Dog''
The movie ''
Red Dog: True Blue'' (2016) is adapted from a screenplay by Daniel Taplitz. In this prequel to the ''Red Dog'', a boy named Mick is sent to the outback to live with his Granpa after a tragedy befalls on him, it looks as if he has a lonely life but while exploring the floodwaters, he finds a lost puppy covered in mud and half-drowned. Mick and his dog immediately become inseparable as they take on the adventures offered by their unusual home, and the business of growing up, together. Louis de Bernières tells the story of a young boy and his Granpa, and the charismatic and entertaining dog..
''The Daniel Pitt Trilogy''
The ''Daniel Pitt Trilogy,'' comprising the three novels ''The Dust that Falls from Dreams'' (2015), ''So Much Life Left Over'' (2018), and ''The Autumn of the Ace'' (2020)'','' follows the life of its central character Daniel Pitt, a flying ace in WWI, and the McCosh family through the 20th century. The story was strongly inspired by de Bernières' own grandfather's life.
Bibliography
Novels
*''
The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts
''The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts'' is a novel by Louis de Bernières, first published in 1990. It is the first of his Latin American trilogy. The other two parts are ''Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord'' and ''The Troublesome Offspring of ...
'' (1990)
*''
Señor Vivo and the Coca Lord'' (1991)
*''
The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman'' (1992)''
*''
Captain Corelli's Mandolin'' (1994), originally published as ''Corelli's Mandolin'' in the US
*''
Red Dog'' (2001)
*''
Birds Without Wings'' (2004)
*''
A Partisan's Daughter'' (2008)
*''
The Dust that Falls From Dreams ''(2015)
*''Blue Dog'' (2016)
*''
So Much Life Left Over'' (2018)
*''
The Autumn of the Ace'' (2020)
*''Light Over Liskeard'' (2023)
Short story collections
*''
Notwithstanding: Stories from an English Village'' (2009)
*''
Labels and Other Stories'' (2019)
Plays
*''
Sunday Morning at the Centre of the World'' (2001)
Poetry
*''A Walberswick Goodnight Story'' (2006)
* ''Imagining Alexandria'' (2013)
* ''Of Love and Desire'' (2016)
* ''The Cat in The Treble Clef'' (2018)
Non fiction
*''The Book of Job: An Introduction''
[Edinburgh: Canongate, 1998. ] (1998)
References
External links
ITV Local Anglia's interview with Louis de Bernières May 2008*
At home with Louis de Bernieresinterview with ''The Times''.
– Features, Books –
The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Bernieres, Louis
1954 births
Living people
English people of French descent
Fellows of the Royal Society of Literature
20th-century English novelists
21st-century English novelists
People educated at Bradfield College
Magic realism writers
Alumni of De Montfort University
Alumni of the UCL Institute of Education
Alumni of the Victoria University of Manchester
British Book Award winners
British postmodern writers
English male novelists
20th-century English male writers
21st-century English male writers
Writers from the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Writers from Surrey
People with dystonia