Hornby, Nick (1957-…), is an English writer best known for books that portray young, white, middle-class males in England. These young men are emotionally immature and confused. They are typically fascinated by pop music and sports, especially soccer (called football in England). Critics have praised Hornby for the humor in his best writing and for his sharp ear for dialogue among the young, the frivolous, and the alienated.
Hornby gained recognition with his second book, Fever Pitch (1992), a memoir about his passion for the Arsenal football club in London. Hornby’s reputation grew with his comic novel High Fidelity (1995). The central character is Rob, a young man who runs a record store specializing in older pop music. Much of the story explores how Rob tries to deal emotionally with the breakup of a love affair.
Hornby’s novel About a Boy (1998) describes the bonding between a fatherless 12-year-old boy and a man in his 30’s. How to Be Good (2001) is about a troubled marriage. A Long Way Down (2005) brings together four suicidal young characters. Slam (2007) is a novel for young adults about a skateboarder and his girlfriend. Juliet, Naked (2009) is about an Englishwoman’s gradual involvement with an American pop singer and composer. Funny Girl: A Novel (2014) tells the story of a young woman who becomes a comedy star on British television in the 1960’s. Just Like You (2020) is about an unexpected romance.
Hornby’s first book was Contemporary American Fiction (1992), a collection of literary essays. Songbook (called 31 Songs in the United Kingdom, 2003) consists of essays that explore Hornby’s personal reaction to 31 pop songs. Hornby received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay for the motion picture An Education (2009).
Hornby was born in Redhill, Surrey, on April 17, 1957. He earned a degree in English from the University of Cambridge in 1979. He was a teacher and journalist before becoming a full-time writer. The Polysyllabic Spree (2004) is a book of his newspaper columns. Hornby also wrote the screenplay for the motion picture Brooklyn (2015).
