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Jonathan Trigell

ジョナサン・トリゲル

Jonathan Trigell

Profile

Gender
Male
Nationality
British, French
Languages
English
Residence History
Chamonix, French Alps → United Kingdom (residence/origin) → Family connections in Stanley, County Durham

Career

Occupations
author, novelist
Active Years
2004-
Influenced By
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (inspirational basis for a character in Genus)
Nominations
Cham was shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature

Education

University of Manchester
English
Degree: BA
Country: United Kingdom
Undergraduate study in English
University of Manchester
Creative Writing
Degree: MA
Country: United Kingdom
Completed an MA in Creative Writing

Awards

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
2004
Work: Boy A
Organization: John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
Result: 受賞
Waverton Good Read Award
Work: Boy A
Organization: Waverton Good Read
Result: 受賞
World Book Day Prize (inaugural)
2008
Work: Boy A
Organization: World Book Day
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Boy A

2004 Novel (social/psychological)

A novel centered on a young offender attempting reintegration into society; explores guilt, redemption and identity.

guilt and redemptionreintegrationsocial stigmaidentity
Adaptations
  • [Film (TV film)] Boy A / John Crowley (2007)

Cham

2007 Novel (elements of mountain literature)

Set in Chamonix, France; reflects on mountain life, tourism and interpersonal dynamics in an alpine town.

mountain lifeisolationcommunity

Genus

2011 Dystopian novel

A dystopian tale of a genetically divided near-future Britain; the central character is inspired by Toulouse-Lautrec.

genetics and classdystopiaboundaries of humanity

The Tongues of Men or Angels

2015 Historical fiction (Biblical-era fiction)

A factional account of the Apostle Paul's role in transforming a Jewish sect into a separate faith, portrayed as a Biblical-era 'road movie'.

religious transformationpower and faithinterpretation of history

Under Country

2022 Social novel

Set largely in Blackmoor, a fictional pit village in County Durham; chronicles a family's and town's fortunes amid the 1984–85 miners' strike and subsequent coal-industry decline.

working-class strugglesindustrial declinefamily history

Bibliography

  • Boy A
  • Cham
  • Genus
  • The Tongues of Men or Angels
  • Under Country

Adaptations

  • Adaptation of 'Boy A' into a film directed by John Crowley starring Andrew Garfield, Katie Lyons and Peter Mullan

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realisticgrittysocially focused prose
Recurring Motifs
guilt and redemptionfamily relationshipsclass and identitysense of place (mountains, pit villages)

Legacy

Recognized for realistic narratives that prompt social conversation and for depictions of locality and the working class. Gained wider recognition through the film adaptation of 'Boy A' and has drawn attention for later work addressing regional history and industrial decline.

Quotes

  • “Trigell's compelling tale is written with granular precision and subtle insight; it is a moving, often excoriating story of struggle and redemption: a tale of the recent but still living past that speaks volumes about today.”
    Source: A. C. Grayling (review/comment) (2022)
  • “Brilliant. A superb book.”
    Source: James O'Brien (praise) (2022)

Trivia

  • Holds dual British and French nationality.
  • Studied at the University of Manchester for both undergraduate and MA.
  • 'Boy A' was adapted into a film (TV film) starring Andrew Garfield.
  • 'Cham' is set in Chamonix (known as 'Cham'), reflecting the author's time living there.
  • 'Under Country' draws on family connections to Stanley, County Durham.