Patrick Gale began his writing profession scribbling in his three hour breaks whilst working as a singing waiter, and published his first two novels – at the same time – at the tender age of 24. Since then his career has gone from strength to strength, establishing him as an outstanding and critically acclaimed British author.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Gale was born on the Isle of Wight in 1962. His father was a prison governor, meaning that the majority of his early life was spent living in and around prisons.
Gale displayed extraordinary musical talent from an early age, and at the age of eight won a scholarship Winchester College's cathedral choir school. He went on to study at Winchester College and subsequently for an English degree at New College at Oxford University.
After graduation Gale pursued odd jobs, including being a typist, a designer’s secretary and a singing waiter, whilst working on his first novels.
Influences
Patrick’s early life was smudged with tragedy, which he believes to have largely contributed to his writing career. His mother was hospitalised and left completely paralysed down one side of her body after a car accident when Gale was just ten years old – an event which he says “was the point at which emotionally I became a writer”. Following the accident one of his siblings had a nervous breakdown, causing him to sink deeper into the soft comforts of literature. It was the death of his older brother in a car crash during Gale’s final year at Oxford that triggered a fierce determination to write his first novels.
Patrick Gale himself mused that “writing is a form of willed mental illness, a willed psychosis”, and that “most novelists are mentally ill.” This psychological awareness indefinitely seeps through and shapes many of Gale’s novels, no doubt influenced by the tragic events in his past. Such evidence of mental illness and tragedy is most famously apparent in his 2007 novel, Notes From an Exhibition.
Exploration of Notes From an Exhibition
Arguably Patrick Gale’s most renowned novel, Notes From an Exhibition tells the intriguing tale of Rachel Kelly, a wife and mother with extraordinary artistic abilities that are born from a crippling mental illness.
Due to the nature of her bipolar disorder, Rachel’s life is a vicissitude of manic highs and inevitable lows. Following her sudden death in the attic during a frenzy of painting, her calm Quaker husband Andy – assisted in part by their dysfunctional children – attempt to uncover the disturbing secrets of a history she has concealed for so long.
As the fragments of her life seam together – each chapter preceded by notes on pieces of her art work throughout her life (which is, obviously, where the novel gets its title) – it is clear that it is not only her fascinating paintings that she has left behind, but also a traumatic past.
In Notes From an Exhibition, Gale deals with issues concerning mental illness, religion, homosexuality and death in a remarkably sensitive, thought-provoking and humane fashion. It is no surprise that it was awarded Best Book Award in 2008 for the Richard and Judy Best Read of the Year.
Novels
Without a doubt Patrick Gale is most recognized for his novels, although he has also written a selection of short stories and novellas. To date, his novels include:
- The Aerodynamics of Pork (1985)
- Ease (1985)
- Kansas in August (1987)
- Facing the Tank (1988)
- Little Bits of Baby (1989)
- The Cat Sanctuary (1990)
- The Facts of Life (1996)
- Dangerous Pleasures (1996)
- Tree Surgery for Beginners (1999)
- Rough Music (2000)
- A Sweet Obscurity (2003)
- Friendly Fire (2005)
- Notes from an Exhibition (2007)
- The Whole Day Through (2009)
- Gentleman's Relish (2009)
Patrick Gale’s portfolio of work is highly inspirational and certainly impressive. His sensitive and skillful approach to writing has secured his place as a British bestseller. Find out more about Patrick Gale and his work on his Website.
Sources:
Author Profile of Patrick Gale; Harper Collins
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