Nick Hornby

Nick Hornby's books have proved hugely successful, not least in their honest reflection of twenty-first century life; so much so that his works are almost routinely made into film scripts.

Born in Surrey, Hornby turned to football after his parents divorce, thereby beginning a lifelong devotion that was to give rise to his first novel, Fever Pitch. Following Cambridge, he became an English teacher, before branching out into part- and then fullt-time freelance writing and journalism, notably for Time OutIn 1992, his first book, Fever Pitch was published, to widespread acclaim. An autobiographical work, it chronicles about his fanatical support of Arsenal Football Club, and was an instant success, winning the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award and being adapted for both UK and American film versions.

Further freelance work followed, not least a weekly column in the Sunday Times, and his second work, High Fidelity, was published in 1995. Again, the novel, about a neurotic record collector and his failed relationships, was made into a film in 2000 starring John Cusack and a Broadway musical in 2006.

His third novel, About a Boy, published in 1998, is about two 'boys': Marcus, an awkward yet endearing adolescent from a single parent family, and the free floating, mid-30s Will Freeman who overcomes his own immaturity and self-centeredness through his growing relationship with Marcus. Hugh Grant starred in the 2002 movie version. In 1999 Hornby received the E.M. Forster Award of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

More recently, he has published The Polysyllabic Spree, a collection of his 'Stuff I've Been Reading' columns in The Believer magazine. A play on the name of the choral rock group, The Polyphonic Spree, it containing reviews and opinions on everything from Dickens to Lynne Truss.

The Complete Polysyllabic Spree is priced £16.99, and is available from all good bookshops now.