Graham Robb facts for kids
Graham Macdonald Robb was born on June 2, 1958, in Manchester, England. He is a British author and critic who loves to write about French literature. He is known for his interesting biographies and books about French history.
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About Graham Robb
Graham Robb grew up in Manchester. He went to the Royal Grammar School, Worcester. Later, he studied Modern Languages at Exeter College, Oxford, which is part of the University of Oxford. He did very well, earning top grades in 1981.
After college, Robb trained to be a teacher at Goldsmiths' College in London. He then moved to the United States to study at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. There, he earned his PhD in French literature. A PhD is a very high university degree, showing deep knowledge in a subject.
From 1987 to 1990, Robb worked as a research fellow at Exeter College, Oxford. This means he was a scholar who focused on research. After this, he decided to leave university life to become a full-time writer.
His Books and Awards
Graham Robb has written many popular books, especially biographies. A biography is a book about someone's life.
Famous Biographies
- His book Victor Hugo won the Whitbread Best Biography Award in 1997. Victor Hugo was a famous French writer.
- His biography of Rimbaud was nominated for the Samuel Johnson Prize in 2001. Rimbaud was another important French poet.
- His book Balzac also became a "Best Book of the Year" for The New York Times. Balzac was a well-known French novelist.
All three of these biographies were very successful.
Other Notable Works
- In 1996, his book Unlocking Mallarmé won an award from the Modern Language Association.
- His book The Discovery of France won the Duff Cooper Prize in 2007. It also won the Ondaatje Prize in 2008 from the Royal Society of Literature. This book explores the history and geography of France.
- In 2013, Robb wrote The Discovery of Middle Earth: Mapping the Lost World of the Celts. In this book, he suggested that the ancient Celts used special lines based on the sun's path to plan their towns and travel routes. He found old maps and art that seemed to support his idea.
Honors and Recognition
Graham Robb has received several important honors for his work.
- In 1998, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. This is a special honor for writers in the United Kingdom.
- In 2009, he was made a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This is a high award from the French government for people who have done great things in art and literature.
- In 2012, he received the Medal of the City of Paris. This was after his book Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris was translated into French.
Graham Robb married Margaret Hambrick, who is also an academic, in 1986.
See also
- Royal Society of Literature
